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Western Illinois University Athletics

Nikko Watson
WIU Visual Productions Center
24
South Dakota State SDSU 8-3 , 5-3
30
Winner Western Illinois WIU 6-5 , 5-3
South Dakota State SDSU
8-3 , 5-3
24
Final
30
Western Illinois WIU
6-5 , 5-3
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT OT F
SDSU South Dakota State 0 10 0 7 7 0 24
WIU Western Illinois 3 0 7 7 7 6 30

Game Recap: Football | | WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks Win 2OT Thriller Against #5 South Dakota State

Nikko Watson rushes for 163 yards in the 30-24 double-overtime win, surpassing 1,000 yards

MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois football never played an overtime game in consecutive weeks. The Fighting Leathernecks also had not beaten a 'Top 5' nationally-ranked team since October 2003. All that changed Saturday afternoon (Nov. 21) at Hanson Field.
 
Redshirt-freshman quarterback Sean McGuire scored a 7-yard game-winning touchdown run in double-overtime as Western defeated No. 5 South Dakota State 30-24. The Leathernecks finished 5-3 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, good for a three-way tie for third place and owning the tie-breaker over the other two teams (SDSU and Northern Iowa). Western (6-5 overall) also clinched its first winning season since 2010, and in the process became playoff eligible.
 
"I said last week (overtime win at Indiana State) that I don't know if I've ever been prouder of a football team. I'll have to recant that now, because I tell you what I'm really proud of this group of guys. What a tremendous effort against a really good football team," said third-year head coach Bob Nielson. "South Dakota State is a really good football team, really well coached. They've got good players. There's a reason they beat Kansas and have the record they have and been to the playoffs the number of years in a row they have.
 
"I really thought we executed really well. Maybe our most complete football game. I'm sure we'd like to have a couple of plays back here and there, but our guys kept going after them and that's what you have to do against teams like that," said Nielson.
 
Just like last week, Western lost the coin toss and was forced to go on offense first. After a three-yard run by Nikko Watson and incomplete pass, Western was facing 3rd-and-7. McGuire connected with Joey Borsellino for 21 yards down to the one. On the next play, Watson hit the right corner and scored. SDSU answered with a four-play scoring drive, capped by Zach Lujan connecting with Jake Wieneke for an 8-yard touchdown.
 
The Jackrabbits (8-3, 5-3) started the second overtime with two runs by Kyle Paris to set up 1st-and-10 at the 12. After an incomplete pass near the endzone, Western's defense stopped quarterback Taryn Christion for a loss of one. Redshirt-freshman Khalen Saunders came up with a big 6-yard sack of Lujan to set up a 35-yard field goal. Jay Carlson's attempt went wide right, and Western took over.
 
McGuire started with a 1-yard run, then WIU took advantage of a pass interference call to set up 1st-and-goal at the nine. Watson ran for two yards, then McGuire took off through the right side for the game-winner.
 
Western got on the board first following a career-long 42-yard field goal by Nathan Knuffman. SDSU tied it on a 24-yard FG by Carlson, then took a 10-3 halftime lead on Brady Mengarelli's 8-yard run.
 
In the third quarter Devon Moore capped an 89-yard drive on a 2-yard run, then Western took the lead when McGuire connected with Isaiah Lesure on a 3-yard touchdown just nine seconds into the fourth quarter.
 
SDSU tied the game with 1:35 left when Paris scored from two yards out, eventually sending the game to overtime.
 
McGuire finished 19-of-39 for 282 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 29 yards. Now in just his second collegiate start, McGuire accounted for more than 300 yards of total offense for the second straight time.
 
Watson rushed 28 times for 163 yards, averaging 6.4 yards per carry. In the process of overtime he surpassed 1,000 yards rushing for the season (1,003), marking the 19th occurrence in program history and third consecutive year a running back accomplishing that feat.
 
Borsellino caught five passes for 91 yards while Lance Lenoir also had five catches totaling 85 yards. Stacey Smith caught five passes for 41 yards.
 
Brett Taylor led the defense with 11 tackles (nine solos) and recorded a career-best 4.0 tackles for a loss. Riggs Baxter made eight tackles (seven solos).
 
Timothy Smith picked off his team-leading third pass, intercepting Lujan on the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter. Luis Sharpe picked up his second interception this year, also in the fourth quarter. Myles Spearman intercepted his first-ever pass at the end of regulation on a desperation heave to the endzone.
 
Lujan went 21-of-37 for 246 yards and a touchdown with his three interceptions. Mengarelli rushed for 187 yards and a TD. T.J. Lally led all players with 17 tackles and a fumble recovery.
 
Now Western plays the waiting game on receiving one of the 14 at-large berths to the NCAA FCS playoffs. The announcement show will air Sunday (Nov. 22) at 10 a.m. (central) on ESPNU. It can also be seen live on the WatchESPN app on tablets and smart phones.
 
GAME NOTES: The game was delayed 95 minutes due to inclement weather causing travel issues for the Jackrabbits… The field was covered in snow earlier in the day but was cleared off for the game… Western honored its 13 seniors in a pre-game ceremony… The last time Western defeated a 'Top 5' team was Oct. 3, 2005, a 33-28 win over No. 5 Western Kentucky... The third place finish is the best by Western since a second place finish in 2010, the last year WIU qualified for the postseason… The Leathernecks recorded 12.0 tackles for a loss and forced SDSU to lose a fumble for the first time this year… Lenoir with 70 receptions this year now holds the top two spots in the season receptions list. He also ends the regular season with 994 receiving yards this year… Watson recorded his 22nd rushing touchdown and 12th 100-yard game in his career… Borsellino moved into a tie for fifth place all-time with 136 pass receptions... Western's win snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Jackrabbits, dating back to the 2007 four-overtime win to open the season... The Leathernecks out-gained SDSU 527-492 and scored the second-most points versus SDSU this season (38 by Kansas)... The last time Western posted three 'Top 25' wins in the same season was 2002.
 
 
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