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Western Illinois University Athletics

WIU at Minnesota football
Rachael Keating
10
Western Ill. WIU 0-2 , 0-0
62
Winner Minnesota UMN 2-0 , 0-0
Western Ill. WIU
0-2 , 0-0
10
Final
62
Minnesota UMN
2-0 , 0-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WIU Western Ill. 3 0 0 7 10
UMN Minnesota 14 17 21 10 62

Game Recap: Football | | WIU Athletic Communications

Western falls to Minnesota

Leathernecks return home next week

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. – The Western Illinois football team went on the road and ran into a tough Minnesota squad on Saturday as the Golden Gophers (2-0) defeated the Leathernecks (0-2) 62-10 at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
 
The Leathernecks had a strong start as Tre Henry forced his first fumble as a Leatherneck on Minnesota's opening series. Bryce Cross was in the right spot at the right time and recovered the loose ball to set Western Illinois up in Golden Gopher territory.
 
The Leathernecks would face fourth-and-short on their opening series but the Minnesota defense stood tall and recorded the stop. From there, the Gophers were off to the races, scoring on their next two drives to take a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
 
Western Illinois would get on the scoreboard on its next possession, going 60 yard in nine plays and chewing up two minutes, 30 seconds of clock. Mason Laramie connected on a 47-yard field goal, his longest since a 50-yard effort against South Dakota in 2021, making it a 14-3 at the end of the first quarter.
 
Minnesota's defense proved to be too stout the rest of the way while the Golden Gopher offense churned out yards. For the game, Minnesota rushed 52 times for 307 yards while completing 18-25 passing yards for 372 yards.
 
With the 14-3 lead, the Golden Gophers scored on their next eight drives, taking a 62-3 lead in the fourth quarter.
 
Western Illinois finally ended the Minnesota run as quarterback Nick Davenport connected with receiver Naseim Brantley on a 33-yard touchdown. It is the fourth time this season the duo has hooked up for a touchdown.
 
Davenport would go 8-15 for 125 yards, with one touchdown. Henry Ogala went 8-17 with on interception for 34 yards. On the ground, Ogala led the way, rushing twice for 17 yards. Ludovick Choquette was next with four carries for 16 yards. As a team, Western Illinois ran the ball 19 times for 35 yards. Jafar Armstrong was Western Illinois' leading receiver, hauling in five passes for 72 yards. Brantley added three catches for 52 yards.
 
T.J. Limehouse led the defense with eight tackles while J.J. Ross had seven stops and a pair of pass breakups. Juan De La Cruz also had seven tackle, one for a loss while Bryce Cross had six tackles and a fumble recovery.
 
On special teams, Jack Beulke had seven punts with a long of 48 yards and an average of 37.9. Davenport also punted once, registering a boot of 64 yards.
 
NOTES
Davenport's 64-yard punt was the longest by a Leatherneck since Adam Fellner's 69-yarder against South Dakota in 2021... Tre Henry's forced fumble was his first as a Leatherneck... Mason Laramie's 47-yard field goal is the second-longets of his career at Western Illinois. He had a 50-yarder in 2021... J.J. Ross finished with seven tackles, a new career high for the defensive back...In the second half, receiver Donald McKinney caught his first pass as a Leatherneck, a 23-yarder from Davenport... Chase Graham had a personal-best six tackles, his best performance as a Leatherneck.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Western Illinois plays in front of the home crowd for the first time next Saturday. The Leathernecks (0-2) open the home portion of the schedule, taking on Southern Utah at 3 p.m. Western Illinois is honoring the 2002 Gateway Conference championship football team at the game.
 
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