YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Whenever its back is against the wall, Western Illinois football (1-3, 1-0) has proven to stay resilient in displaying a collective effort of never giving up. Last Saturday (Sept. 18), in a home opener, the group clawed back admirably but ultimately fell short in a 62-56 decision versus Eastern Washington. 

Tonight (Sept. 25), victory would be the outcome.

Facing a high-scoring Youngstown State offense (1-2, 0-1), WIU bounced back from a 35-7 deficit to collect its first win of the season, 38-35. The sensational team performance also set a new comeback record within the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC).

Youngstown State completed a 13-play, 75-yard frame on a short touchdown run by team standout Jaleel McLaughlin on its first drive of the evening. Nevertheless, it took even fewer plays by Western to make its way into the end zone, as Daniel Bender scored a 21-yard catch during the team's third play of the game, tying things at 7-7. The Penguins put up another touchdown after their quarterback ran for 11 yards to the left side at 4:11 in the first quarter.

Less than a minute into the second, YSU increased its lead to 21-7 on another quarterback rush. Tony Tate and Ludovick Choquette racked up notable yards during the period, but the WIU offense was stopped just short of reaching Penguin territory during its first drive of the period. YSU tallied an additional score at the 7:41 mark, and McLaughlin chipped in his third rushing touchdown of the half later on to make it 35-7. With Sampson directing traffic, Western looked to make something happen late. The result was a 7-yard receiving touchdown by Mason Sikes in the half's ticking moments, entering the break trailing 35-14.

The third quarter was an absolute swing of momentum for the Leathernecks. After having a touchdown call reversed, the offense stepped back onto the field unbothered, as Tate found Choquette in the end zone for 12 yards. An interception by Michael Lawson happened immediately during YSU's next drive, and Western had an answer again when Connor Sampson threw his third touchdown pass of the night, spotting Nathan Karsjens. The Leathernecks would not be done in the period, tallying a final receiving touchdown with Dennis Houston as the recipient and tying the contest at 35 all. Western mounted a 28-point turnaround in less than 16 minutes.

Defense primarily composed of the fourth quarter's first portion YSU picked off an interception with 8:28 on the clock but could not make anything out of the play before punting it back to WIU. Mostly sparked by Tate's efficient play, Western continued to exploit mismatches offensively and get key defensive stops, including a fourth-down try by the Penguins with under two minutes to play in regulation. Making way into field goal range, Choquette bullied his way into the YSU05 with seconds remaining. With just five seconds left, a field goal by Mason Laramie went up and over the crossbar, sealing the deal in a comeback win for the ages.
 

Game Notes

• The 28-point comeback victory was the biggest in both program and MVFC history. The previous record was 23 points in another Leatherneck performance decades ago when the team won 35-31 at Missouri State in 1988 after being down 31-8.

• Mason Laramie is the first WIU player to kick a game-winning field goal since Sam Crosa did versus Southern Illinois in 2018.

• Youngstown State's 76 passing yards were the fewest given up by Western since the team allowed only 81 by Montana State in 2018.

• In a single-game showing, Darius Joiner set new career-highs of solo (14) and total tackles (23). That mark for total tackles ranks sixth-best in program history.

• Connor Sampson tied a personal career-high in single-game passing touchdowns (four), matching his mark from last week versus Eastern Washington.

• Nathan Karsjens and Mason Sikes respectively scored the first receiving touchdowns of their careers.

• Tony Tate threw the first passing touchdown of his career.

• Michael Lawson's interception was his third of the season.