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Western Illinois University Athletics

Steve McShane
45
Winner WIU WIU 7-3 , 4-3
0
Indiana State INS 0-10 , 0-7
Winner
WIU WIU
7-3 , 4-3
45
Final
0
Indiana State INS
0-10 , 0-7
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WIU WIU 3 28 7 7 45
INS Indiana State 0 0 0 0 0

Game Recap: Football | | WIU Athletic Communications

Western Illinois Coasts To Historic 45-0 Win

Leathernecks smash Indiana State to earn program-record sixth road win of season

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Western Illinois Leathernecks rolled by the Indiana State Sycamores 45-0 Saturday (Nov. 11) to earn a single-season school-record sixth road win, as well as the program's first shutout since 2010.
 
"Your biggest worry in a game like this is, obviously we had just played three heavyweights," said Western Illinois head coach Charlie Fisher. "We were coming in playing a team that was 0-9, but a team that was hungry and always a threat. We had to take care of business."
 
The No. 11/13 Leathernecks (7-3, 4-3) jumped on the scoreboard first. A 12-play, 54-yard drive led to Sam Crosa's career-long 44-yard field goal to go ahead 3-0 with 4:27 to go in the first quarter.
 
"The field goal by Crosa was absolutely huge, just to get points at that point (of the game)," Fisher said. "That was really extended a little bit beyond his range, and Sam has continued to come up big for us."
 
Following a missed field goal by the Sycamores (0-10, 0-7), Western Illinois drove 79 yards in just six plays, 35 coming on a nice grab by Jarid Brown on the sideline, to widen their margin. Quarterback Sean McGuire hit tight end Adam Conrady for a 21-yard touchdown to make it 10-0 with 12:39 to go in the half.
 
After another three-and-out for Indiana State, the Leathernecks took over and gashed the Sycamores on the ground. Max Norris rumbled for 13 yards before Steve McShane darted for 38 on a nifty run. Three plays later, McGuire hit Jaelon Acklin for a 23-yard touchdown to increase the margin to 17-0 with 8:39 remaining in the second quarter.
 
Both teams exchanged punts from there before Justin Fitzpatrick picked off a Cade Sparks pass at the Indiana State 37. Following a Sycamore sack, McShane took a shovel pass 46 yards to paydirt for Western's third touchdown of the quarter.
 
From there, the Leathernecks defense, which racked up five sacks for the second straight week, forced another Indiana State punt. McShane took it to the house from 81 yards away, the seventh-longest punt return in WIU history, to take a 31-0 advantage into halftime.
 
"The punt return by McShane blew the top off of things and really took a lot of air out of Indiana State," said Fisher. "I give Indiana State a lot of credit. Their kids came out, they played hard and they were ready to play, make no mistake about it."
 
In the middle of the third quarter, Western Illinois embarked on a 10-play, 56-yard drive that spanned six minutes and 20 seconds. McGuire hit Tyler Slamans for a three-yard touchdown to pad the lead at 38-0. The touchdown was the fourth of the day for McGuire, matching a career-high, while Slamans earned his first career score.
 
With the game decided, the Leathernecks' second-teamers also put together a scoring drive in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Connor Sampson found Darron Wheeler for a three-yard touchdown, the first score of both players' careers to make it 45-0.
 
Western Illinois' defense held Indiana State to just 43 rushing yards on 36 carries, the third game this year that the Leathernecks have held an opponent below 50 rushing yards. Prior to this season, Western Illinois hadn't had such a contest since 2014.
 
The Leathernecks also forced Sparks to just 8-of-17 passing for just 90 yards and two interceptions, marking the first time since 2013 that Western's defense kept an opponent below 100 passing yards. In total, Indiana State recorded just 133 total yards, the first time since 2010 that Western Illinois held an opponent below 200 yards of total offense.
 
McGuire finished 17-for-25 for 253 yards and four touchdowns. McShane carried 13 times for 63 yards (4.8 average), while Norris compiled 59 yards on 10 attempts (5.9 average).
 
Defensively, Brett Taylor finished with nine tackles, leading the Leathernecks in that category for the 14th time in 15 games. Khalen Saunders, J'Len Smith, Pete Swenson and Kyle Williams each finished with a sack, while Colin Olson and Mick Nelson each registered a half-sack.
 
Western Illinois closes the regular season on Senior Day next Saturday (Nov. 18) when they host South Illinois. Kickoff in Macomb is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
"We have to continue to stay on that rise," Fisher said. "You want to stay on that upward plane this time of year. I certainly hope win No. 7 puts us another step closer to our goal. Quite honestly, in that locker room, these guys know we can play better, and they know where we are capable of getting another one."

GAME NOTES: 
• With four passing touchdowns, Sean McGuire moved into third place all-time in school history with 48 throwing scores. He is five away from tying Trenton Norvell for second.
• Acklin finished with five receptions for 66 yards, bringing him 25 yards away from breaking Lance Lenoir's single-season receiving record.
• Brown registered two receptions for 49 yards. He had two catches for 15 yards in a Western Illinois uniform prior to this game.
• Western Illinois outgained Indiana State 409-133, and the Leathernecks possessed the ball to a 35:49-24:11 advantage.
• The Leathernecks held Indiana State to just 1-for-12 on third down.
• Aaron Diggs picked off his second pass of the season in the effort. 
 
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