MACOMB, Ill. - At home for the first time of the 2021 season, Western Illinois football (0-3, 0-0) was involved in a memorable scoring outburst against Eastern Washington (3-0, 0-0). The Saturday decision ultimately went to the visitors, 62-56. Nevertheless, WIU was able to shake up several categories within its single-game records.

A great chunk of the scoring arrived in the game's opening quarter. EWU struck first on a five-yard reception, and a successful extra pick put them ahead, 7-0. During WIU's first drive of the afternoon, Dennis Houston sprinted to the end zone on a 53-yard rush. After EWU scored on another trip, Ludovick Choquette helped finish a strong Leatherneck drive with a one-yard run. The Eagles went up 21-14 with a 33-yard catch. Dallas Daniels helped Western pick up some strong yards, and Tony Tate completed the deed as fans watched him sky high over an EWU defender to make it a third tie in the quarter. As the clock ticked down, however, EWU was able to put seven more points on the board, going up 28-21.

Early in the second, EWU increased its lead to 35-21 on a three-play, 88-yard boost. A few minutes later, the team went up 41-21 and posted two more touchdowns before halftime.

Houston and Choquette picked up their second touchdowns in the first portion of the third quarter. On a single-play drive, EWU went for a 73-yard run, and the score sat at 62-35 at the end of three, with the Eagles still in front. 

Connor Sampson continued his efficient passing with a 6-yard find to Daniel Bender for a WIU touchdown in the opening moments of the fourth quarter. Choquette soon followed up on a 1-rush to cut the deficit to 62-49. Near the two-minute mark, a Sampson-Houston connection occurred on an 8-yard reception to make one last final cut into the lead, 62-56, as EWU held on to stop any last comeback attempts.

Western jumps back on the road for its next game at Eastern Washington -- a 5 p.m. CT Saturday evening showdown (Sept. 25). 
 

Notes

• Connor Sampson set a new career-high in single-game passing yards -- going for 425 on the day. It currently ranks as the fifth-highest spot in the program's single-game records. His previous mark was 368 vs. South Dakota on Nov. 2, 2019.

• A combined final score of 118 points was the most ever in a WIU game.

• Dennis Houston's 53-yard burst was both the longest overall rush and first rushing touchdown of his career.

• Western's 56 points was the most scored by the Leathernecks since plugging in 49 versus Missouri State in 2017.

• WIU's 21 first quarter points were the most it has scored all year long.

• Dallas Daniels set a new career-high in single-game rushing yards (40)

• Saturday saw the first receiving touchdown of the season for Daniel Bender, who finished second on the team with 102 yards. Alongside Houston's 175 yards, it became the first game that two Leatherneck receivers finished with 100 or more receiving yards since Lance Lenoir (116) and Joey Borsellino (113) achieved the feat at Coastal Carolina in 2015.

• Ludovick Choquette's three touchdowns were a single-game career-high for the sophomore running back.

• Tony Tate's first career pass resulted in a 43-yard catch by Bender.

• Garret Steffen was the first Leatherneck to block an extra point since Quentin Moore did at Northern Arizona in 2017.

• It was the first time that WIU had produced over 600 yards of total offense (ending with 643) since totaling 629 vs. Illinois State in 2010.

• Additionally, the evening ended as being the first time Western tacked 80 or more plays (ending with 80) since last spring versus Northern Iowa.

• The 62 points by EWU were sixth-most single-game points ever given up by WIU.