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Western Illinois University Athletics

Rachael Keating
48
Winner Missouri St. MSU 2-4 , 1-2
7
Western Ill. WIU 0-6 , 0-3
Winner
Missouri St. MSU
2-4 , 1-2
48
Final
7
Western Ill. WIU
0-6 , 0-3
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
MSU Missouri St. 10 10 14 14 48
WIU Western Ill. 0 7 0 0 7

Game Recap: Football | | WIU Athletic Communications

Western Illinois Drops Homecoming Game to Missouri State

Bears top Leathernecks on Saturday

MACOMB – The Western Illinois football team took on Missouri State for Homecoming on Saturday, falling 48-7 on Saturday at Hanson Field.

The Leathernecks were able to move the ball, between the 20 yard lines, grinding out 268 yards of offense while going 8-13 on third down, but Western Illinois could not finish drives with scores.

"It was mistakes and turnovers, we were moving the ball all over the place, we had almost the same amount of first downs, the score did not reflect it, but we have to keep drives going and finish," coach Myers Hendrickson said. "The first half, it was disappointing we couldn't be closer, when you look it, we convert a huge fourth and 17, Matt (Morrissey, 23-32-1, 213 yards, 1 TD) hit Donald (McKinney, three catches, 38 yards, 1TD) on a vertical route and we score.

"We needed to capitalize on that momentum, it's 10-7 at that point in the second quarter, we have to find a way to go into half 10-10 or up 14-10. We could not finish the second quarter, then we came out and committed some unfortunate penalties and mistakes to put our defense in a bad position."

After the Leatherneck score, Missouri State was able to answer, going 65 yards on 11 plays to take a 17-7 lead. On Western Illinois' next possession, an interception gave the Bears a short field, with which they capitalized, converting a field goal to go up 20-7 at halftime.

Missouri State added two more touchdowns in the third quarter and two more in the fourth to cap the scoring.

"We have to play with confidence, build on the good things and fix mistakes, protect the football, not turn It over on offense and get off the field on defense," Hendrickson said. "Offensively, we put our defense in a bad spot late in the first half, but if we can get off the field, especially on that first drive of the game when they dropped the kick and we had them pinned, unfortunately we could not get off the field on those."

For the Leathernecks, Ryan Crandall had a career day, recording a season-high nine tackles.

"A lot of their tight ends were blocking down a lot, a lot of the time, I was unblocked, so you have to make the play if you're unblocked," Crandall said. "A couple of those (tackles) came from them running drags across the field, five or six yards on second-and-long situations."

Almarion Bell also had a solid afternoon, finishing with four tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Offensively, Jaylin Jackson added six catches for 61 yards while Jay Parker had seven receptions for 38 yards.

On special teams, Jared Campbell made the most of his one punt, hitting the second-longest punt in program history, an 86-yarder.

Western Illinois is in action again next Saturday, heading north to take on North Dakota State in Fargo. The game is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. start.
 
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