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Western Illinois University Athletics

Martinez Davis vs Illinois State
WIU Visual Productions Center
Martinez Davis recorded a game-high nine tackles, all solo tackles.
37
Winner Illinois State ILS 6-0 , 3-0
34
Western Illinois WIU 3-5 , 1-3
Winner
Illinois State ILS
6-0 , 3-0
37
Final
34
Western Illinois WIU
3-5 , 1-3
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
ILS Illinois State 6 0 7 24 37
WIU Western Illinois 10 14 3 7 34

Game Recap: Football | | WIU Athletic Communications

Game Ending Field Goal Sinks Western Illinois

MACOMB, Ill. – Illinois State's Nick Aussieker converted a 34-yard field goal as time expired, handing Western Illinois a 37-34 defeat at Hanson Field on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 18).
 
The field goal capped a 24-point quarter for the 9th-ranked Redbirds, as Western (3-5 overall, 1-3 Missouri Valley Football Conference) looked to make it two consecutive wins over a 'Top 10' nationally-ranked team but came up short.
 
Nathan Knuffman kicked a 30-yard field goal with 5:28 left in the third quarter to give the Fighting Leathernecks a 27-6 lead. The Redbirds (6-0, 3-0) rattled off three unanswered touchdowns to tie the game with just over 11 minutes in the game, the last TD on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Tre Roberson to James O'Shaughnessy.
 
Western responded right back in a big way during the ensuing drive. On the first play from scrimmage, Trenton Norvell hit Lance Lenoir, Jr. in stride for a 75-yard touchdown to put Western back on top 34-27. Western's defense could not hold on a 3rd-and-10 during the next ISU drive, and two plays after picking up a first down got a score to tie the game again.
 
The Leathernecks could not convert on fourth down at midfield, but the defense came up with a 3-and-out to force a punt. Norvell found Lenoir on a first down pass, then J.C. Baker picked up a first down thanks to a 6-yard run on 3rd-and-4. Another pass from Norvell, this time to Joey Borsellino, went for 15 yards down to the Redbird 41.
 
Western had a false start then Norvell fumbled but recovered. On 2nd-and-20 David Perkins stepped in front of a screen pass to intercept the ball and give ISU possession with 2:28 left. The Redbirds converted 3rd-and-9 at the WIU 31 for 10 yards, then two plays later Aussieker kicked his second game-winner in the final seconds for the second straight week.
 
"I was pleased with the way our kids played but Illinois State has a very good football team. They've demonstrated that over the first half of the season. You'd sure love to have the last couple minutes back, I'm sure our guys would. Just from a standpoint of a turnover, which was a great play by their guy and which put us in a bad position. Otherwise, the game might have been destined for us having a last second field goal attempt or at least for overtime," said head coach Bob Nielson. "I don't know a loss that isn't frustrating. I think the frustrating part of this one is how close you are. And I've been on both sides and I feel bad for our guys. They deserved a better outcome today in a number of ways."
 
On the game's first play, Luke Venegoni picked off Roberson in ISU territory to eventually set up a 25-yard field goal by Knuffman. ISU responded with a touchdown on a 69-yard Marshaun Coprich run, but Western would score 24 unanswered to take the lead.
 
Baker had a 12-yard touchdown run, Lenoir caught a 29-yarder from Norvell, and Devon Moore scored from two yards out midway through the second quarter.
 
Illinois State came into the game allowing just 9.8 points per game (second nationally) and 290 yards of offense to the opposition (ninth nationally). WIU had 24 points and 292 yards by halftime, and ended with 487 yards of offense. In fact, the Redbirds had allowed only 34 points in the last three games combined.
 
"They're a really good offensive football team and they're capable of scoring a lot of points. They changed some things defensively at halftime and gave us a different front, and we're really young and inexperienced on the offensive line - particularly at tackle right now. It confused us a bit and as a result we went through a little period there where we didn't do a good job of converting on third downs and keeping drives alive," said Nielson. "Early in the third quarter, the big thing is when you have a chance to really put a game away against a team like that (Illinois State) you have to do it. We had to settle for a field goal in the early possession and we didn't convert on a fourth down when we jump offsides. Those are the things where even though our effort was good and our executions as good at times, there's some things at critical times we didn't respond to very well."
 
Norvell ended 21-of-35 for 310 yards and his two scores, his second career 300-yard passing game. Lenoir set career-highs of 12 receptions and 195 yards while matching his high of two receiving TDs.
 
Baker recorded his 11th career 100-yard ground game, netting 111 yards on 26 attempts. Moore scored his team-leading fourth TD on the ground.
 
Martinez Davis led the Leathernecks with nine tackles, all solos, including one for a loss and a forced fumble. David McDaniel added eight tackles, recovered a fumble and picked off a pass.
 
Coprich netted 114 yards on 19 carries, the first running back this year to gain 100-yards on the Leathernecks. Roberson finished 15-of-26 for 256 yards and three TDs with his two interceptions and fumble lost. Mike Banks recorded a game-high 12 tackles.
 
Western could potentially face its fifth-straight ranked opponent next Saturday (Oct. 25) as it plays host to Northern Iowa (currently ranked 20th heading into this week). Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Hanson Field.
 
GAME NOTES: Twin brothers (senior) Chip Holtschlag and (junior) Eddy Holtschlag started at defensive end together for the first time in their career. Chip added five tackles while Eddy added four… J.J. Raffelson added 1.5 tackles for a loss… Western recorded 7.0 tackles for a loss while allowing just one TFL… When Western scored a field goal on the opening interception by Venegoni, it snapped a streak of eight drives getting a turnover and finally being able to turn it into points (dating back to the season-opener versus Valparaiso). WIU scored 10 points off ISU's turnovers… Norvell became the eighth player in WIU history to record 4,000 career passing yards. The sophomore quarterback now has 4,005 yards in 20 career games. His 75-yard TD pass to Lenoir was the longest of his career, and longest reception in Lenoir's career… Lenoir moved into an eight-way tie for 10th place all-time in touchdown receptions. With four the last two games, Lenoir has 11 in his career... Lenoir also notched his fourth career 100-yard receiving game this year, one shy of the season record, and fifth in his career to tie for seventh place… Baker moved into the WIU career 'Top 10' in rushing yards. In his second year with the program, Baker now has 1,991 yards all-time good for 10th place… Norvell moved into a tie for eighth place all-time in TD passes, now with 29… With 4,040 yards of total offense in his career, Norvell overtook 10th place all-time… Western faced its third straight 'Top 10' opponent, and led all three in the fourth quarter… Hi-C Scott caught a pass in his 20th straight game, taking sole possession of sixth place all-time in that category.
 
 

 
 
 
 
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