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During an NCAA FCS football game between the Western Illinois Leathernecks and the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, ND on Saturday, October 7, 2023. By Russell Hons
Russell Hons
10
Western Ill. WIU 0-5 , 0-2
49
Winner North Dakota UND 3-2 , 1-1
Western Ill. WIU
0-5 , 0-2
10
Final
49
North Dakota UND
3-2 , 1-1
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WIU Western Ill. 0 3 0 7 10
UND North Dakota 7 14 14 14 49

Game Recap: Football | | WIU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Leathernecks drop contest to North Dakota

Western Illinois hosts Homecoming next week

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The Western Illinois football team came out of the bye week on Saturday, dropping a 49-10 contest to North Dakota. The Leathernecks fall to 0-5 overall and 0-2 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. WIU returns home next week, hosting Missouri State for Homecoming at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Jay Parker (three catches, 32 yards) hauled in a touchdown pass from Matt Morrissey (19-27-1, 145 yards, one TD) in the fourth quarter for the lone Leatherneck score of the game. Parker also had a nice day returning kicks, averaging close to 22 yards per return in five attempts.

Owen Valek made a 30-yard field goal in the first half, that at the time made it a 14-3 Fighting Hawk lead.

North Dakota had a quick start, scoring on its first drive of the game. The game would remain 7-0 after the first period, but the Fighting Hawks extended the advantage to 14-0 early in the second. The Leathernecks would then go on a 19-play, 63-yard drive that lasted 12 minutes, 24 seconds, ending with Valek's kick. UND would get a late score to go into half ahead 21-3.

Western Illinois had the ball to start the second half, but on the first play from scrimmage, UND returned an interception for a touchdown to go up 28-3.

Seth Glatz led WIU on the ground, rushing nine times for 38 yards. Receiving-wise, Jaylin Jackson had another big day, hauling in seven passes for 38 yards. Bradyn Smith led Western Illinois' defense, finishing with eight tackles while Kamal Mukarram had a career-high six tackles. The Leathernecks finished with 40 yards rushing on 27 carries while passing for 166 yards. The biggest play of the game for WIU was a fake punt that saw tight end Brandon Lanier complete a 21-yard pass to Juan DelaCruz for a first down. It was the first-ever pass for Lanier and reception for DelaCruz.

NOTES: Jared Campbell had his second over-50 yard punt of the season, unleashing a 53-yard effort. His season long is 56 against Illinois State ... Western Illinois won time of possession, controlling the ball 32:42 to 27:18 … Western Illinois went 3-4 on fourth down on Saturday, 4-13 on third down conversions.
 
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