TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Back in the state of Indiana for the second time this season, Western Illinois football (1-5, 1-2) arrived on the grounds of Indiana State (3-3, 1-2) for a Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) week three matchup. Trailing for the game's duration, WIU made some noteworthy comeback attempts to trim the Sycamores' lead in the second half but ultimately fell 37-27.

In the loss, quarterback Connor Sampson had a career day for the Leathernecks -- reaching new career-highs in single-game completions and passing yards.

On its second drive of the afternoon, Indiana State firstly found its way into the end zone after completing an off-balanced catch. Led by Sampson, Western was able to get into Sycamore territory, but the home team made a fourth-down sack and bumped its advantage to 10-0 after sending a 35-yard field goal through the uprights as the first quarter winded down.

After scooping up a fumble to begin the second period, ISU soon went for another field goal but was unsuccessful on a 37-yard kick. Four minutes later, after getting a hand on a Leatherneck punt, the Sycamores ran in a three-yard touchdown to go ahead 17-0. Western plugged in a solid drive behind Sampson's passing game to get on the scoreboard, as Jack Whyte completed a 1-yard catch. Nevertheless, ISU delivered another immediate punch on a 59-yard run, increasing the advantage to 24-7. WIU again passed its way into another scoring opportunity late in the period, but a 44-yard field goal did not go through before halftime arrived.

Minutes into the third, an 88-yard receiving touchdown had the score sitting at 31-7 with ISU still in front. Ludovick Choquette gave Western its second score with a 5-yard grab around the eight-minute mark. The Leatherneck offense began to get in a groove and cut further into the deficit when Daniel Bender's 10-yard touchdown reception had his squad trailing 31-21. Before the quarter came to a close, ISU delivered its second field goal of the game.

A defensive effort from WIU prevented another ISU touchdown that was inches away from occurring early in the fourth. Still, the Sycamores scored a third field goal to stay ahead, 37-21. After a few traded defensive stretches, Western posted one final receiving touchdown by Tony Tate, but ISU was able to hold on for the home victory.

Western returns to its home field next week -- bringing in the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State on Saturday (Oct. 16) for Breast Cancer Awareness/Youth Day.
 

Notes

• Connor Sampson's 449 passing yards were a personal career-best and sit third in the all-time single-game rankings. Additionally, his 36 completions are the second-most in a program game.

• Dallas Daniels' 143 receiving yards and seven receptions were both single-game, season-highs.

• Daniels and Tate (109 receiving yards) are the first pair of Western receivers to finish with 100 or more receiving yards apiece since Dennis Houston and Daniel Bender achieved the feat in this year's home opener versus Eastern Washington.

• Jack Whyte scored his first touchdown of the fall.

• Ludovick Choquette has now scored a receiving touchdown in four consecutive games.

• Darius Joiner led the team's defense with 11 total tackles (nine solo). He has racked up double-digits in tackles in all but one of the Leathernecks' games this year.

• WIU had a punt blocked for the first time since playing South Dakota in 2019.