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Western Illinois University Athletics

Khalen Saunders
Larry Dean
38
Youngstown State YSU 1-3 , 0-1
45
Winner Western Illinois WIU 2-2 , 1-0
Youngstown State YSU
1-3 , 0-1
38
Final
45
Western Illinois WIU
2-2 , 1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
YSU Youngstown State 7 0 10 21 38
WIU Western Illinois 6 10 14 15 45

Game Recap: Football |

Leathernecks Defeat YSU in MVFC-Opening, Homecoming Victory

The Leathernecks and Penguins met at Hanson Field Saturday where WIU walked away the victor in a 45-38, MVFC-opening victory.

MACOMB, Ill. – In all of collegiate sports, there's only one Leatherneck and one Penguin. The two met at Hanson Field Saturday in their Missouri Valley Football Conference opener, where Western Illinois walked away the victor in a 45-38 decision over Youngstown State.
 
The Homecoming Weekend success also captured career days for Steve McShane and Sean McGuire.
 
"We feel like we've got a lot of different guys excelling in different positions. It's a true committee effort in our passing game and we're able to incorporate a bunch of different guys; guys are buying in and getting open, and guys are making plays on the ball," said head coach Jared Elliott. "Obviously, it takes all 11 on the field to execute. There some things we really need to improve on. At times it was sloppy, but we'll get to all of that tomorrow and just enjoy a great win. Being 1-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference, as you know wins don't come easy in this league."
 
Waiting in the end zone with a defender an arm's reach away, Adam Conrady hauled in an eight-yard lob for his first touchdown of the season. The play kept Western's scoring streak alive – it has now scored first in all four games this season – and marked the Leathernecks' third straight game with an opening-drive touchdown.
 
Momentum swung back-and-forth in the early goings of the first half, and after a 76-yard kick return, it seemed the Penguins were knocking on the door of their second touchdown. Instead, Western's defense forced a three-and-out as Quentin Moon tackled YSU's tailback behind the line of scrimmage for a seven-yard loss and Khalen Saunders' quarterback hurry forced fourth down.

YSU missed the subsequent 41-yard field goal wide left, and by halftime, Western padded its lead to 16-7 with a Sam Crosa field goal and McGuire rushing touchdown.
 
"Our defense was put in some spots and those guys made some unbelievable plays with the interception by [Justin Fitzpatrick] and holding them to three points after that explosive kick return. Our defense continued to do a lot of good."
  
McShane entered Saturday's game a few yards shy of cracking the Leathernecks' top 10 in career all-purpose yards, and not only did he etch his name on the list, but he also added one of the program's longest rushes. It took 14 seconds for him to travel 75 yards for a touchdown, and the run will rank eighth all-time. McGuire also tabbed a career day as he joined Paul Singer atop the team's career passing touchdown list with 62.
 
Youngstown State trailed by as much as 20 points in the second half but rallied in both instances (the third and fourth quarters) with back-to-back touchdowns.
 
The Leathernecks will travel to Illinois State next Saturday for a 2 p.m. kick.
 
Notes
•    Western has scored first in all four games this season
•    Sean McGuire has recorded 300-plus passing yards and at least three touchdowns in back-to-back games; he currently ties for No. 1 all-time in career passing TDs (62)
•    Steve McShane cracked the Leathernecks' top 10 in all-purpose yards; he sits ninth all-time with 3,080 yards
•    McShane posted 134 rushing yards Saturday for his fifth career game with 100-plus
•    The game captured season's firsts for Sean McGuire and Adam Conrady; McGuire's first rushing touchdown this year and Conrady's first touchdown
•    Khalen Saunders' first career reception (a three-yard catch) resulted in a touchdown in the third quarter; the defensive lineman recorded a rushing TD a season ago
•    Eric Carrera and Quentin Moon each finished with 10 tackles (seven solo and three assisted); Pete Swenson added seven tackles with three for a loss of 17 yards
•    Isaiah Lesure finished a yard shy of 100 receiving yards; he had six receptions  
 
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