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Western Illinois University Athletics

Lance Lenoir
20
Northern Arizona NAU 0-2
34
Winner Western Illinois WIU 2-0
Northern Arizona NAU
0-2
20
Final
34
Western Illinois WIU
2-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
NAU Northern Arizona 13 0 7 0 20
WIU Western Illinois 3 10 14 7 34

Game Recap: Football | | WIU Athletic Communications

#17 Western Powers Past NAU in Second Half for Home Opening Win

Lance Lenoir recorded a career-high 231 receiving yards in 34-20 victory


PHOTO GALLERY

MACOMB, Ill. – Lance Lenoir set a career-high with 231 receiving yards and took sole possession of the career touchdown record, helping Western Illinois break a halftime tie and get a 34-20 home-opening win over Northern Arizona on Saturday afternoon. The 17th-ranked Leathernecks improved to 2-0.
 
Lenoir, who surpassed 200 career receptions during the first half, had the first 200-yard receiving game since Lito Senatus at home versus Illinois State in 2010. His 231 yards ranked as the fourth-most in a game.
 
"By the numbers, he's the best receiver to have come through our program. Having him involved in our gameplan was of emphasis," said head coach Charlie Fisher. "Number 7 is someone we want to get the ball. He's a talented player."
 
Sean McGuire nearly matched his career-high throwing for 336 yards and two scores, and running back Steve McShane also matched a career-high. He rushed for two touchdowns for the second straight week, and gained a game-high 155 yards on 24 attempts.
 
The Lumberjacks, also ranked in the 'Top 20' nationally, wasted no time scoring. Electing to take the opening kick, Case Cookus and the NAU offense capped a 75-yard drive with a 42-yard touchdown that Elijah Marks caught off a deflection for a score just 1:12 into the game.
 
Western drove down the field, but its drive was stalled on the 10. Nathan Knuffman kicked a 27-yard field goal to make it 7-3. NAU (0-2) drove down the field again, and this time it was a trick play when wide receiver Hunter Burton took a pass from Cookus and he found Emmanuel Butler wide open for a 37-yard touchdown.
 
Down by 10, Knuffman added a 24-yard field goal during the second quarter. The defense held, and with just over two minutes remaining in the half, McShane scored from four yards out to tie the game at 13-13.
 
In the second half, McShane broke another long run (for the second straight week) when he raced for a 62-yard touchdown. That snapped the tie, and according to Fisher was a key play in the second half.
 
"I think the big play had to be McShane's homerun. When you can hit an explosive play and get a quick score, it gave us a lot of momentum and it was able to create so much excitement on the sideline."
 
The third quarter also saw another big play when facing 4th-and-21 from the 26. McGuire hit Isaiah Lesure down the middle for a 26-yard scoring strike, extending the lead to 27-13.
 
With seconds remaining in the third, Cookus connected with Jonathan Baldwin on an 18-yard TD. Midway through the fourth, McGuire and Lenoir connected on a 10-yard scoring strike for the final margin.
 
"Hats off to Northern Arizona. They have a very good offense led by a very good quarterback. Our defense got their sea legs under themselves and was able to play well against them. I thought as the game went on, we were able to rally behind and tackle better. We understood that there was a lot of football to be played and we've been able to respond the past two games," said Fisher. "We play one snap at a time and we look forward to the next one. I think we saw that unfold as the game went on. Our defense has played better in each the past two games.
 
"It's about being able to see the big picture. As an offensive coach and a head coach, you have to see the big picture. To win consistently, you have to be able to play great defense and be able to run the ball. For the most part, we were able to limit their big plays against us. We knew they would make plays, but the most important thing is how are we going to respond on offense after they make a play, and I thought we responded well."
 
Lenoir increased his career yardage total to 2,949 and now with 22 career touchdowns he moved past his tie with Senatus for the all-time mark. The senior also added to his career record with 11 100-yard receiving games. With a catch in 32 consecutive games, Lenoir is now one game shy of tying the WIU record.
 
McGuire was 22-of-31 passing and his 336 yards were five shy of his career-high. He matched his personal-best of two TD passes.
 
All of McShane's yards came in the first three quarters, including 90 yards in the third. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry.
 
The defense helped dominate the time of possession as Western held a 13-plus minute advantage (36:44-23:16). Xavier Rowe and Brett Taylor shared the team lead with 10 tackles apiece. Taylor added two tackles for a loss, including a sack. Quentin Moon added a career-high nine tackles and a sack.
 
Cookus finished 26-of-33 passing for 263 yards and two TDs. Kendyl Taylor added 97 rushing yards. Keith Graham recorded a game-high 11 tackles.
 
Western will have a week off before traveling to in-state foe Northern Illinois. Kickoff will be announced next week for the September 24 game.
 
GAME NOTES: For the second straight game Western did not commit a turnover… The Leathernecks won their seventh straight home opener, and improved to 33-4 against non-conference teams dating back 1999… Rowe now has three career 10-tackle games and Taylor notched his 10th all-time… Taylor has 196 career tackles… Knuffman matched a career-high with two field goals and averaged 46 yards on his three punts… Joey Borsellino overtook sixth place all-time with 1,900 receiving yards, and he moved into a tie for third all-time with 149 receptions... Western gained 321 yards in the second half, and held NAU to 168 over the final 30 minutes, while out-gaining NAU overall 539-425… Attendance was 6,732.
 
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