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Western Illinois University Athletics

WIU-UNI football
WIU Athletics
52
Winner UNI UNI 1-3 , 1-1
17
Western Ill. WIU 0-4 , 0-1
Winner
UNI UNI
1-3 , 1-1
52
Final
17
Western Ill. WIU
0-4 , 0-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UNI UNI 0 17 21 14 52
WIU Western Ill. 0 3 7 7 17

Game Recap: Football | | WIU Athletic Communications

Western Illinois falters in second half vs. UNI

Leathernecks fall to Panthers, 52-17

MACOMB – After a scoreless first quarter, Northern Iowa put things together, earning its first win of the season, topping Western Illinois 52-17 at Hanson Field in Macomb on Saturday afternoon. The loss drops the Leathernecks to 0-4 overall, 0-1 in Missouri Valley Football Conference.
 
The Leathernecks and Panthers went toe-to-toe in the first quarter with the defenses dominating. Western Illinois forced a Northern Iowa punt to end the first drive of the game, taking over at the WIU 14.
 
Quarterback Clay Bruno drove Western Illinois into UNI territory but an interception in the Panther endzone ended the drive.
 
Neither team could muster much offense until the start of the second quarter when the Panthers scored on a six-yard touchdown pass.
 
The Leathernecks would answer on their next drive, going 59 yards on nine plays. Mason Laramie capped the three minute, 32 second drive, hitting a 34-yard field goal. The game did not remain a one-score contest long as the Panthers tallied a touchdown and field goal on their next two drives to lead 17-3 at halftime.
 
Western Illinois would get back into the game right out of the break, going 72 yards in four plays. The Leathernecks capped the drive with Jaylen Reed's first touchdown of the season, a 47-yard pass and catch from Bruno to make the score 17-10.
 
"We were right there, 17-10," quarterback Clay Bruno said. "The defense did a great job at the beginning of the game, we had a chance to go up early, we threw a pick in the redzone, which is inexcusable, but if we get that touchdown and a few more balls, it changes the game.

"I felt great about our halftime," head coach Myers Hendricksen added. "We had a great mindset, we got the ball the first possession and marched down and scored."
 
But Northern Iowa would score three touchdowns in the third quarter, highlighted by a pair of pick-sixes from Woo Governor to take control.
 
"The second one was batted up, it's one of those deals, but we have to keep fighting until the whistle blows, so that was unfortunate," Bruno said.
 
Northern Iowa added two more scores in the fourth quarter before Naseim Brantley hauled in a 22-yard pass from Henry Ogala to end the scoring.
 
Bruno went 15-29 throwing for 166 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. In one drive, Ogala went 2-2 for 29 yards and a score.
 
Reed led the way on the ground, getting seven carries for 36 yards. Reed added two catchers for 52 yards and a touchdown while Brantley had four catches for 51 yards and a score.
 
Defensively, T.J. Limehouse had a game-high 15 tackles, 12 solo. Chase Graham added 10 tackles, 1.5 for loss while Sam Cook had a career-high 10 tackles.
 
"I feel like they were not doing anything that special, nothing our coaches did not put us in position for today," Limehouse said.
 
Western Illinois returns to the road next week, visiting South Dakota State for a 2 p.m. kickoff next Saturday.
 
 
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