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Western Illinois University Athletics

WIU football at SIU
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7
Western Ill. WIU 0-6 , 0-3
30
Winner Southern Ill. SIU 5-2 , 4-0
Western Ill. WIU
0-6 , 0-3
7
Final
30
Southern Ill. SIU
5-2 , 4-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WIU Western Ill. 0 7 0 0 7
SIU Southern Ill. 14 9 7 0 30

Game Recap: Football | | WIU Athletic Communications

Salukis too much for Leathernecks

Western drops 30-7 contest at Southern

CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Western Illinois football team fell on the road Saturday afternoon, losing to in-state rival Southern Illinois 30-7 in Carbondale on Homecoming for the Salukis. The win was the fifth-straight overall victory for the Salukis, who improved to 5-2 and 4-0 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference while the loss drops the Leathernecks to 0-6 overall, 0-3 in league play.
 
Southern Illinois was able to keep control of the football, owning time of possession at a clip of 41:21-18:39. Saluki Javon Williams Jr. was a frequesnt visitor to the endzone, carrying the ball 17 times for 52 yards and four touchdowns.
 
Overall, the Leathernecks did a solid job against the Southern run game, holding the Salukis to 140 yards on 47 carries, three yards per carry but Southern Illinois was able to stay on the field, thanks in large part to going 8-16 on third down.
 
Southern Illinois was able to get off to a strong start to take an early lead. After holding the Leathernecks to a three-and-out on their first possession, the Salukis went 69 yards on five plays in two minutes, eight seconds, taking a 7-0 lead.
 
The Salukis would add another touchdown in the first quarter, one in the second quarter and a field goal to lead 23-0 late in the half.
 
The Leathernecks would get on the scoreboard late in the first half as Henry Ogala (7-19-1, 63 yards) hit Naseim Brantley for a 30-yard score to make it 23-7 at half. Brantley had another solid outing, hauling in a team high four catches for a team-leading 71 yards.
 
In the second half, Western Illinois' defense would lock in on Southern, allowing one final Saluki score in the third quarter before shutting out Southern Illinois the final 24:24 of game action.
 
Clay Bruno came in relief of Ogala and tossed a team-high 81 yards on 6-16 while also leading the Leathernecks on the ground with 15 yards rushing. As a team, Western Illinois ran the ball 19 times for 33 yards. Ogala and Bruno went a combined 13-35 with one touchdown and one interception for 144 yards. Third down was a struggle for the Leathernecks, as the team went 1-11.
 
Defensively, Bryce Cross had a career day, registering a personal-best, and team-high, 10 tackles. Juan DelaCruz and T.J. Limehouse both added nine tackles while Aiden Harrison had eight. Cole Watts added a sack.
 
On special teams, Jay Parker had three kickoff returns for a best 84 yards.
 
Western Illinois finally plays at home this month, playing their lone October home game next Saturday. The Leathernecks take on Youngstown State at 3 p.m. The game serves as Western Illinois' Homecoming contest.
 
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