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Nikko Watson FP at Coastal Carolina
WIU Visual Productions Center
27
Western Illinois WIU 1-2
34
Winner Coastal Carolina COASTAL 3-0
Western Illinois WIU
1-2
27
Final
34
Coastal Carolina COASTAL
3-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WIU Western Illinois 0 7 14 6 27
COASTAL Coastal Carolina 3 7 10 14 34

Game Recap: Football | | WIU Athletics

Western's Rally At No. 1 Coastal Falls Short

Leathernecks dominate offensive stats but loses 34-27

PHOTO GALLERY

CONWAY, S.C. – Western Illinois came up short in its two final drives late in the game in attempt to even things up, falling 34-27 at No. 1 ranked Coastal Carolina Saturday night.

It marked the second time in as many years playing nation's top-ranked team and eighth time in the Division I era. During those last two occurrences Western (1-2 overall) led both times heading into the fourth quarter but fell a score shy. The game also featured three players on the College Football Performance Awards 'National Player of the Year' watch list – Trenton Norvell, and Alex Ross and De'Angelo Henderson of Coastal.

Norvell rebounded from a career-low passing performance last week to throw for a career-high 370 yards on 31-of-48 passing with two touchdowns. It was the 12th-highest passing yardage total in program history and he fell one completion shy of matching the program record.

He was joined offensively by senior running back Nikko Watson who made his season-debut by rushing for 156 yards on 29 attempts – his second-highest career rushing total. Watson also tied a career-high of two rushing touchdowns.

During both of the final drive attempts Western looked to have a chance at a game-tying touchdown but Coastal knocked the pass away, the final one from 35 yards in the right corner of the endzone.

The Chanticleers got on the board first after marching inside the five. Western's defense stopped the run on third down and Ryan Granger kicked a 21-yard field goal.

Both teams came up with stops, but midway through the second quarter Norvell used two big pass plays – 23 yards to Stacey Smith, Jr. and a career-long 38 yard catch by J'Vaughn Williams to set up 1st-and-goal at the two. Watson powered through on his second rush to give Western the lead, 7-3 following Nathan Knuffman's extra point.

Coastal took the kickoff and went 78 yards on nine plays, capped by DeAngelo Henderson's 1-yard plunge, to take a 10-7 lead.

Western had a great opportunity late in the first half when Colin Olson forced a fumlbe that was recovered by Khalen Saunders inside the CCU 30. However, Western could not convert on third down and Knuffman's 41-yard field goal attempt was blocked. The Leathernecks didn't miss on their opening drive of the second half though.

Thanks to a big 39-yard run by Watson, and a pass play from Norvell to Joey Borsellino to inside the five, Watson punched it in for a 2-yard run covering the 83 yards on nine plays and a 14-10 lead.

Coastal wasted no time scoring, as Devin Brown took the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown. The Leathernecks responded themselves using an 11-play, 75-yard drive to take a 21-17 advantage. Norvell connected with Borsellino on a 13-yard touchdown with 5:25 left in the third.

After getting stopped on third down, the Chanticleers settled for a 45-yard field goal by Granger with 3:28 left in the third quarter.

Alex Ross connected with Chris Jones on a 19-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter. The Leathernecks knocked away the 2-point conversion pass leaving the score 26-21 with 12:34 remaining.

Western took over and used more big pass plays, one each to Borsellino and Lance Lenoir, Jr., to make it eventually 1st-and-goal. Three plays later Norvell found Smith on a 5-yard touchdown. The 2-point conversion was no good, making it a 27-26 game in favor of Western.

Coastal needed 65 seconds to take a 34-27 lead with 7:55 remaining following Henderson's 3-yard touchdown run.

Lenoir, who now sits tied for fourth in career receptions (136) at WIU and jumps up to sixth in career receiving yards (1,759), matched a WIU record with his eighth career 100-yard receiving game totaling 116 yards on 10 receptions. Borsellino set a career-high of 113 receiving yards while matching his personal-best of 10 catches. Borsellino moved into 10th place in career receptions at Western and 24th in career receiving yards (1,162). It marked the first time in five years that Western had a pair of 100-yard receiving games.

Smith (51 yards) and Williams (62 yards) both set career-highs in receiving yards.

Aaron Diggs set a career-high of 10 tackles. Brett Taylor added six. 

The Leathernecks out-gained the nation's top-ranked team 546 yards to 349 while holding a 16-plus minute advantage in time of possession (38:08-21:52). Western was also 8-of-18 on third downs while holding the Chanticleers (3-0 overall) to 1-of-10.

For Coastal Carolina, Henderson gained 165 yards on the ground with two touchdowns. Ross completed 15-of-23 passes for 153 yards and a score. Kerron Johnson added 11 tackles. Brown finished with 195 kickoff return yards on five attempts.

Western takes a week off before starting Missouri Valley Football Conference play on Saturday, October 3. Homecoming weekend is highlighted by the Leathernecks playing host to Southern Illinois, kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m.

GAME NOTES: True-freshman cornerback Justin Fitzpatrick made his first collegiate start… Watson, who made his first start since 2013, picked up his 11th career rushing TD, tying a career-high of two TD runs… Watson's 39-yard run on the opening drive of the third quarter was the longest since his freshman year… Watson gained 100 yards for the fourth time in his career in a season-opening game… He finished one carry shy of his career-high of 30 attempts… WIU gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown for the first time since 2012… A Brooks Stadium record of 10,311 was in attendance.
 
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