WIU TTU
Points per game 28.43 21.2
Points allowed 46.5 28.5
Total yards per game 340.0 310.0
First Downs 115 107
Rushing yards per game 122.8 143.2
Passing yards per game 217.17 166.8
Penalties-yards 42-371 38-374
Average per punt 41.37 37.1
Average time of possession 29:01 28:55
Third-down conversions 29-79 31-84
Fourth-down conversions 6-11 4-6
Sacks-yards 6-40 14-102
Field goals 5-7 7-10
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MACOMB, ILL. – The Western Illinois University football team remains home this week, taking on Tennessee Tech. The Leathernecks and Golden Eagles are each coming off losses to two of the top teams in the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association. The game kicks at 3 p.m.
WHO | Tennessee Tech (2-4, 2-1) at Western Illinois (2-4, 1-1)
WHEN |Saturday, October 19, 3 p.m.
WHERE |Hansen Field, Macomb, Illinois
FOLLOW ALONG | Watch; Listen; Live Stats
SOCIAL MEDIA | X; Facebook; Instagram
PREVIOUSLY | The Leathernecks fell at home on Homecoming to UT Martin. WIU trailed 7-3 in the first quarter before the Skyhawks scored touchdowns on three straight offensive possessions. Tennessee Tech lost to conference leader, SEMO, 34-3. TTU trailed 10-0 at half and 17-3 after three quarters, but a 17-0 SEMO fourth closed out the game.
NEXT |Western Illinois hits the road to take on Lindenwood at 2 p.m. Tennessee Tech hosts Charleston Southern.
ABOUT THE LEATHERNECKS | Cameren Smith leads WIU with 473 yards rushing and four touchdowns … QB Nathan Lamb has run for four touchdowns and completed 105-of-163 passes for 1130 yards, five touchdowns, and four interceptions … Eli Aragon leads the team with receptions (25), yards (290) and touchdowns (3). Matthew Henry has 20 catches for 282 yards … Ryan Crandall leads the team with 47 tackles and six tackles for loss.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN EAGLES | Jalen Mitchell leads TTU on the ground, averaging 44.2 per game. Obie Sanni adds 42.5 and Aiden Littles rushes for 36.0. Jordyn Potts has received the bulk of the snaps at QB. Potts is 97-171-5 for 965 yards and six TDs … D.J. Linkins leads the team with receptions (25) and yards (273). Ashton Maples leads the team with receiving touchdowns (three) … Cayman Spaulding leads the team in tackles (31). Kalvyn Crummie has 27 and Jalen Shephard has 25.
HISTORY | Western Illinois plays its second-straight home game, hosting Tennessee Tech at 3 p.m. on Saturday. It is the third time the two schools have met, splitting the two previous contests. Western Illinois won the first meeting, 41-14 at Tech in 2017 while TTU won in Macomb in 2018, 38-24.
NOTES | Jeremiah Piper recovered a fumble and had an interception in the game, highlighting the WIU defensive effort … This Saturday's game is Hall of Fame Weekend for Western Illinois University Athletics. The Leathernecks are honoring Monzel Jackson (Men's Basketball, 1950-52), Rich Lafnitzegger (Wrestling, 1974-78), Frisman Jackson (Football, 2000-01), Jennifer Alexander (Volleyball, 2003-06), and the 1978 Women's Field Hockey team are all set to be inducted at a ceremony held on Friday, October 18, 2024. In addition to the Friday night induction, members of the 2024 Hall of Fame class will be honored during the football game against Tennessee Tech on Saturday, October 19, 2024 … Western Illinois hits the road the next two weekends. The Leathernecks are at Lindenwood on October 26 and at Eastern Illinois on November 2. WIU is next at home on November 9 vs. Tennessee State at 1 p.m. … The Leathernecks have scored 159 points this season. WIU scored 132 points last year and 150 in 2022.
AROUND THE BIG SOUTH-OHIO VALLEY | Last week: SEMO took the outright lead in the conference, topping Tennessee Tech, 34-3. SEMO is the lone league unbeaten at 3-0. Tennessee State moved into second place at 3-1 in conference play, topping Eastern Illinois, 41-17. UT Martin, Lindenwood, and Tennessee Tech are next, all tied at 2-1. Martin topped the Leathernecks last week; Lindenwood topped Charleston Southern 29-14 and Tech fell to SEMO. Charleston Southern, Eastern Illinois, and Gardner-Webb are all winless in league play.
This week: There are only four games featuring league teams this week. TTU and WIU meet in Macomb, Lindenwood visits Gardner-Webb, Tennessee Tech is in nonconference play, visiting Howard, and Southeast Missouri is at Charleston Southern.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK |
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Paxton DeLaurent, QB • 6-5, 229, Sr. • Camdenton, Mo. • Southeast Missouri
DeLaurent was named Offensive Player of the Week for the third time in four weeks and the fourth time this season after passing for 418 yards and four touchdowns as Southeast Missouri defeated Tennessee Tech 34-3 to win its fifth-straight game. The senior completed 34-of-46 passes in achieving a new career-high for passing yards; the 418 yards are the fourth-most by an FCS player this season. After throwing a 13-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, his other three touchdowns (46, 31, and 5 yards) came in the second half as the Redhawks pulled away. DeLaurent broke three SEMO career records becoming the school's all-time leader in passing yardage (6,563), passing touchdowns (50), and completions (554) in just three seasons. He is only the second quarterback in program history to throw for over 6,000 yards. DeLaurent ranks first nationally in passing touchdowns (20) and points responsible for (128) and third in passing yards (2,087).
Others Nominated: Cooper Willman, Eastern Illinois; Draylen Ellis, Tennessee State; DJ Linkins, Tennessee Tech; Nathan Lamb, Western Illinois.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Bryce Norman, ILB • 6-0, 215, Sr. • Jackson, Mo. • Southeast Missouri
Norman recorded 15 tackles (3 solo, 12 assists) as Southeast Missouri toppled Tennessee Tech 34-3 to move into sole possession of first place in the Big South-OVC standings. He anchored a defense that forced three turnovers and limited the League's top rushing attack to only 34 yards on the ground. The senior added 1.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hurry. It marked the third time this season he had a double-digit tackle game; the 15 tackles are the second-most by a Big South-OVC player this season. Norman ranks 10th nationally in tackles per game (9.7).
Others Nominated: Trayson Fowler, Charleston Southern; Boogie Trotter, Tennessee State; Jalin Shephard, Tennessee Tech; Jaylon Sharpe, UT Martin; Jeremiah Piper, Western Illinois.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Logan Seibert, K • 5-10, 191, Jr. • Belleville, Ill. • Lindenwood
Seibert scored 17 total points as Lindenwood won its second Conference game of the season, knocking off Charleston Southern 29-14. The junior set a program record for field goals in a game by making a career-high 5-of-6 field goals in connecting from 34, 21, 37, 22, and 27 yards and was 2-of-2 on PATs. The five field goals are tied for the most by an FCS player this season. Seibert also pushed his career total to 41 career field goals, which also set a new Lindenwood record, while the 17 points scored by kicking was the second-most in school history. He also had eight kickoffs, five of which went for touchbacks.
Others Nominated: Gilbert Brown, Charleston Southern; DC Pippin, Southeast Missouri; Dom LeBlanc, Tennessee Tech; Jaren Van Winkle, UT Martin; Jared Campbell, Western Illinois.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Quenton Rogers, WR • 6-2, 190, R-Fr. • Mahomet, Ill. • Eastern Illinois
Rogers made his first career start for Eastern Illinois and hauled in five receptions for 103 yards against Tennessee State. The redshirt freshman had a 62-yard reception which set up one of the Panthers scores.
Others Nominated: Sanders Ellis, Tennessee State; Dom LeBlanc, Tennessee Tech; 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 DelaCruzand Ryan Crandall was 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.
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