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Sarah Ritter

Leathernecks Host UT Martin for Homecoming

THE MATCHUP:
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
                                              WIU        UT Martin
Points per game                     26.4        29.00
Points allowed                         46.8        29.17
Total yards per game              349.2       335.7
First Downs                            97           107
Rushing yards per game          139.4       150.7
Passing yards per game           209.8       185.0
Penalties-yards                       39-343    42-311
Average per punt                    40.5        39.27
Average time of possession     27:41      32:36
Third-down conversions           24-62      33-89
Fourth-down conversions         4-8           8-11
Sacks-yards                           6-40         9-50
Field goals                              4-6          6-9
 
MACOMB, ILL. – After a successful Big South-Ohio Valley Conference debut last week, the Western Illinois football team returns home this week to serve as a host for the first time in a Big South-Ohio Valley Conference game.
 
This week, the Leathernecks host UT Martin for Homecoming. The game starts at 3 p.m.
 
WHO | UT Martin (3-3, 1-1) at Western Illinois (2-3, 1-0)
 
WHEN |Saturday, October 12, 3 p.m.
 
WHERE |Hanson Field, Macomb, Illinois
 
FOLLOW ALONG | Watch;Listen;Live Stats
 
SOCIAL MEDIA |  X; Facebook; Instagram
 
PREVIOUSLY | Western Illinois had a successful debut in the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference last week, topping Charleston Southern, 31-20. The offense was efficient as Nathan Lamb went 17-23 for 197 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Cameren Smith added 101 yards on 25 carries for a touchdown and receiver Eli Aragon added 129 yards on 10 catches for a touchdown.

Defensively, the Leathernecks gave up yards, but for the second-straight week, made the opposing offense have to work for yards and grind out long drives before scoring.

The Skyhawks (3-3, 1-1 Big South-OVC) picked up their first win in league play with an impressive showing in front of a large Homecoming crowd. UT Martin eclipsed 400 yards of total offense while rushing for 235 yards on the ground and four touchdowns in a 35-17 win over Gardner-Webb. 
 
NEXT | Western Illinois hosts Tennessee Tech on Saturday, October 19 at 3 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE LEATHERNECKS | Western Illinois is scoring 26.4 points per game while allowing 46.8. The Leathernecks are rushing for 139.4 yards per game while passing for 209.8. The team allows 270.4 yards per game on the ground while 255.6 passing. Cameren Smith leads the ground game, rushing for 89.2 yards per game. QB Nathan Lamb is 85-130 with five touchdowns, four interceptions and 194.4 yards. Eli Aragon leads WIU receivers with 23 catches, 273 yards and three touchdowns. Ryan Crandall leads the defense with 42 tackles while Michael Newman has 33. Punter Jared Campbell averages 40.5 yards per punt.
 
ABOUT THE SKYHAWKS | UT Martin averages 29 points per game while allowing 29.17 points per contest. UT Martin runs for 150.7 and passes for 185 yards per game. The Skyhawks allow 103.3 rushing and 248.67 passing yards per game. Patrick Smith leads the ground game, averaging 100.67 yards per game. QB Kinkead Dent is 62-11 passing with 716 yards, three interceptions and six touchdowns. Backup QB Kaiya Sheron is 38-47 for 394 yards with three touchdowns in three games. Trevonte Rucker leads the team with 21 catches, 293 yards, and four touchdowns. Tevin Shipp leads the defense with 36 tackles while Chris Hunter Jr. and Jaylon Sharpe each have 31. Punter Jaren Van Winkle averages 40.5 yards per punt.
 
HISTORY | Western Illinois is 1-1 all-time vs. Tennessee-Martin. UT Martin won the previous meeting, 42-25 in the 2022 season opener in Martin. WIU's lone victory came in Macomb, a 56-0 triumph in 2003.
 
NOTES | Last week's road victory was the first for the Leathernecks since winning at Youngstown State on September 25, 2021. The back-to-back victories are the first for the program since winning three in a row on October 20, 27, and November 3, 2018 ... Harrison's interception return for a touchdown was the first interception return for a score by the Leathernecks since Jalen Powe had an interception return for a score vs. Southern Illinois on October 2, 2021 … Smith's 100-plus yard rushing plus Aragon's 100-plus receiving yards is the first time WIU had a duo accomplish the feat since Steve McShane and Lance Lenoir Jr. turned the trick at South Dakota in 2016 … Aragon became the first wideout with 10 receptions since Jay Parker did it against Lindenwood in 2023 … Linebacker Aidan Harrison and kicker Antonio Chadha were honored by the league on Monday morning with Harrison earning Defensive Player of the Week and Chadha Special Teams Player of the Week … The duo joins Nathan Lamb, who was named Offensive Player of the Week earlier this season, as Western Illinois players who have earned league honors. It is both times either of them has won the award. It is the first time a Western Illinois defensive player has earned conference Defensive Player of the Week since Darius Joiner earned the honor the week of September 26, 2021. Chadha is the first Leatherneck to earn Special Teamer of the Week since Tony Tate earned the recognition on April 4, 2020.
It is the first time two Leathernecks have earned Player of the Week in the same week since Tate and defensive back Michael Lawson were honored on April 4, 2020 … Western Illinois' offense has scored 132 points this season in five games, the Leathernecks scored a total of 138 points in 11 games last year … Western Illinois scored a total of 250 points in 2022 and 2023 combined.
 
AROUND THE BIG SOUTH-OHIO VALLEY | Last week: Southeast Missouri and Tennessee State each stayed unbeaten in conference play. SEMO topped Eastern Illinois 38-27 while Tennessee State rallied to top Lindenwood, 24-20. Also in conference play, UT Martin earned its first league victory, topping Gardner-Webb 35-17. In non-conference action, Tennessee Tech fell to South Carolina State, 22-20.
This week: A pair of 2-0 teams in conference face off this week as Tennessee Tech heads to SEMO. Charleston Southern is at Lindenwood while Eastern Illinois is at Tennessee State. Gardner-Webb is on bye.
 
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK | 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Paxton DeLaurent, QB • 6-5, 229, Sr. • Camdenton, Mo. • Southeast Missouri
DeLaurent accounted for four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) while throwing for 364 yards as Southeast Missouri improved to 5-1 with a victory at Eastern Illinois. The senior completed 30-of-43 passes (completing passes to seven different receivers) while tossing touchdowns of 9, 29, and 3 yards and running one in from a yard out in the fourth quarter. With the three passing scores, DeLaurent tied the SEMO career passing touchdown mark (46). He has now thrown for over 300 yards and multiple touchdowns in three of his last four starts. Nationally, DeLaurent ranks first in completions (25.17/game), second in passing touchdowns (16) and points responsible for (104), fourth in passing yards (1,669), and ninth in total offense (280.3 yards/game).
Others Nominated: Autavius Ison, Charleston Southern; Pierce Holley, Eastern Illinois; Edward Saydee, Gardner-Webb; CJ Evans, Tennessee State; Jay Parker, Tennessee Tech; Patrick Smith, UT Martin; Eli Aragon, Western Illinois.
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aidan Harrison, LB • 6-2, 205, Sr. • New Lothrop, Mich. • Western Illinois
In his first career start, Harrison made a big impact, including returning an interception 38 yards for a touchdown as Western Illinois won 31-20 at Charleston Southern. The senior picked off the pass late in the first quarter to give the Leathernecks a 14-0 advantage. Harrison added six tackles (three solo) in the victory.
Others Nominated: Davion Williams, Charleston Southern; NiJhay Burt, Eastern Illinois; Vincent King, Lindenwood; Ahmad Nelson, Tennessee State; Tim Coutras, Tennessee Tech; Jaylon Sharpe, UT Martin.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
DC Pippin, K • 6-0, 195, Sr. • Springfield, Ill. • Southeast Missouri
Pippin was perfect on kicks as Southeast Missouri won its fourth game in a row, 38-27 at Eastern Illinois. The senior made his only field goal attempt (26 yards, coming in the first quarter) and was 5-of-5 on PATs, to move into second place on SEMO's career list. Pippin has made at least one field goal in every game this season and ranks third nationally in field goals made (1.83/game) and 20th in scoring (8.3 points/game). The senior also kicked off seven times, three of which went for touchbacks.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Antonio Chadha, K • 5-9, 200, R-So. • Bryn Mawr, Pa. • Western Illinois
Chadha was perfect in kicking attempts as Western Illinois won its second-straight game, 31-20 at Charleston Southern. The sophomore made a 48-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to extend the Leathernecks lead to 31-13 and was 4-for-4 on PATs. He also kicked off six times, three of which went for touchbacks.
Others Nominated: Gilbert Brown, Charleston Southern; Tremel Jones, Tennessee Tech.
 
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Tyson Greenwade, RB • 5-11, 200, R-Fr. • Dalton, Ga. • Charleston Southern
Greenwade carried the ball 12 times for a career-high 102 yards (8.2 ypc) in Charleston Southern's home game with Western Illinois. He was the second part of a one-two punch that saw the Bucs rush for 325 yards (with Autavius Ison adding 229 yards). He broke off a 54-yard run (and 67 yards total on the drive) as part of an 11-play, 92-yard touchdown drive for the team in the second quarter.
Others Nominated: Sanders Ellis, Tennessee State; Jordan Anderson, Western Illinois.
 
PRESEASON NOTES | For the Leathernecks, Nathan Lamb (quarterback), Torrance Farmer Jr. (running back), Demari Davis (wide receiver), Brandon Lanier (tight end), Isaiah Foote (offensive line), Tre Henry (defensive line), Juan DelaCruz (linebacker), Willie Jones (defensive back), Christiaan Masucci (placekicker) and Jared Campbell (punter) were named Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association Players to Watch … Western Illinois football team also was recognized by Phil Steele/Draftscout.com with five players named to the 2024 Phil Steele/Draftscout.com Preseason All-Big South-OVC Team. The Leathernecks had a pair of linebackers named second team as Juan DelaCruz and Ryan Crandall were honored. Western Illinois also had a trio of players named third team as wide receiver Demari Davis, offensive lineman Isaiah Foote, and cornerback Willie Jones were listed.
 
FOLLOW THE LEATHERNECKS
For all the latest information on Leatherneck Football, please visit GoLeathernecks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Leathernecks on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.
 
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