MACOMB – After two straight home games, including a victory last week, the Western Illinois University football team hits the road this weekend, making the trip south, taking on Lindenwood in St. Charles, Missouri. The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. kickoff on Saturday. It is also Lindenwood's Homecoming game.
WHO | Western Illinois (3-4, 2-1) at Lindenwood (3-5, 2-2)
WHEN | Saturday, October 26, 2 p.m.
WHERE | St. Charles, Missouri, Hunter Stadium
FOLLOW ALONG | Watch;Listen;Live Stats
SOCIAL MEDIA | X; Facebook; Instagram
PREVIOUSLY |In what may have been one of the best efforts in seasons, the Western Illinois University football team scored a convincing home victory on Saturday, topping Tennessee Tech 37-21 in Macomb.
The offense had 446 total yards, the defense forced three turnovers, had five sacks, and held the Golden Eagles offense in check most of the day improving the Leathernecks to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association.
The Lindenwood football team (3-5, 2-2 BS/OVC) fell short at Gardner-Webb (2-5, 1-2 BS/OVC) by a score of 42-35 on Saturday afternoon in Boiling Springs, N.C. Jeff Caldwell had six catches for 174 yards and one touchdown. RB Steve Hall had 11 carries, 78 yards, 1 TD, and 16 receiving yards. Vincent King added 15 tackles, 3 TFL, and 1 OBH.
NEXT | Western Illinois remains on the road, visiting in-state rival, Eastern Illinois. Lindenwood is at Tennessee Tech.
ABOUT THE LEATHERNECKS | Western Illinois is scoring 26.57 points per game while allowing 42.86 per contest … WIU rushes for 131.9 yards per game while passing for 223.29 … The Leathernecks allow 246.6 on the ground and 253.57 through the air … Cameren Smith averages 79.71 yards per game while Nathan Lamb adds 30.71 … Lamb is 120-187 for 1390 yards passing. He has seven touchdowns and four interceptions … Matthew Henry has 26 catches for 463 yards and two touchdowns … Eli Aragon has 28 catches for 312 yards and three TDs … Ryan Crandall leads the defense with 53 tackles while KJ Coleman has 41 … Punter Jared Campbell has 31 punts for an average of 41 yards … Kicker Antonio Chadha is 8-10 on field goals with a long of 48.
ABOUT THE LIONS | Lindenwood scores an average of 25.75 points per game while allowing 26.88 … The Lions rush for 169.9 yards per contest while passing for 194 … Cortezz Jones and Steve Hall do most of the work on the ground. Jones rushes for 55.63 yards per game while Hall averages 52.00 … QB Nate Glantz is 110-195 passing for 1437 yards, 11 touchdowns, and seven interceptions … Jeff Caldwell leads the team in receptions (34), yards (779) and touchdowns (9) … Vincent King leads the team in tackles with 77. King also has 7.5 tackles for loss. Jacob Waller adds 49 tackles … Patrick Turner has punted 34 times for an average of 38.06 yards per punt … Kicker Logan Seibert is 13-16 on field goals with a long of 46.
HISTORY | The two teams have met once before. Last year, Lindenwood topped WIU in Macomb, 43-40. WIU led 31-14 at halftime before the Lions roared back to win.
NOTES | The five sacks last week were the most by the defense since a five-sack effort vs. Southern Illinois in 2021 … Matthew Henry's 181 yards receiving were the most for a receiver since Dennis Houston had 237 vs. Ball State in 2021 … The 31 first-half points were the most scored by WIU since putting up 31 in the first half vs. Lindenwood last season … The three turnovers forced were the most by the Leatherneck defense since forcing three at Youngstown State in 2022 … Nathan Lamb was named Big South-OVC Offensive Player of the Week this week. Lamb is the first Leatherneck football player to earn a 'Player of the Week,' honor twice in one season since Steve McShane was named Special Teams Player of the Week in the Missouri Valley Football Conference twice during the 2018 season. Lamb is the first two-time Offensive Player of the Week in one season since Sean McGuire earned the honors in 2017 … Three wins in one season are the most for the program since 2018 when the squad went 5-6 … Western Illinois has scored 186 points in seven games. The Leathernecks scored 138 in 2023 and 150 in 2022 … Western Illinois remains on the road, playing at Eastern Illinois on November 2. WIU is next at home on November 9 vs. Tennessee State at 1 p.m.
AROUND THE BIG SOUTH-OHIO VALLEY | Last week: SEMO remained unbeaten in Big South-OVC play and atop the league standings, defeating Charleston Southern, 26-13 last week. Gardner-Webb scored its first conference win, topping Lindenwood 42-35. Western Illinois improved to 2-1 in the conference, beating Tennessee Tech 37-21. Tennessee State played a non-conference game, beating Howard 27-14.
This week: The Leathernecks (2-1) look to move up the league standings while Lindenwood (2-2) tries to move above .500 in conference play when the two meet Saturday. League-leading SEMO (4-0 in conference) hosts Gardner-Webb (1-2). Charleston Southern (0-4) looks for its first conference win, visiting Tennessee Tech. Eastern Illinois (0-3) is at UT Martin (2-1). Tennessee State is on bye this week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nathan Lamb, QB • 6-3, 230, Sr. • Tulare, Calif. • Western Illinois
Lamb accounted for 350 yards of total offense and three touchdowns as Western Illinois toppled Tennessee Tech 37-21 for its second Big South-OVC victory. The senior completed 15-of-24 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns and carried the ball 17 times for 90 yards (5.3 ypc) and a rushing score. Lamb had passing touchdowns of 27 and 13 yards in the first quarter while his rushing score came from two yards out in the second quarter. Lamb has accounted for 12 offensive touchdowns this season, the fourth-most in the Association.
Others Nominated: Chris Rhone, Charleston Southern; Quasean Holmes, Gardner-Webb; Jeff Caldwell, Lindenwood; Draylen Ellis, Tennessee State; Jalen Mitchell, Tennessee Tech.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Vincent King, LB • 6-0, 231, Sr. • Denver, Colo. • Lindenwood
King had 15 tackles (8 solo), 3.0 tackles for loss, and a quarterback hurry in the Lions game at Gardner-Webb. The 15 tackles are tied for the second-most by a Big South-OVC player this season, trailing only the 17 stops King had in a game earlier this season. His 9.6 tackles per game leads the Association and is tied for 10th nationally.
Others Nominated: Steve Zayachowsky, Charleston Southern; Cayman Spaulding, Tennessee Tech; KJ Coleman, Western Illinois.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
CJ Evans, KR/RB • 5-8, 180, R-Sr. • Mobile, Ala. • Tennessee State
After Howard cut the Tennessee State lead to 20-14 late in the third quarter, Evans took the ensuing kickoff and raced 99 yards for a touchdown to push the score to 27-14 which proved to be the final margin. His play is one of seven at the FCS level that have gone for 99 or more yards. For the day Evans averaged 50.0 yards on three kickoff returns and added 21 punt return yards, 20 rushing yards, and 19 receiving yards. His 210 all-purpose yards were the third-most in a game in the Big South-OVC this season.
Others Nominated: Gilbert Brown, Charleston Southern; DC Pippin, Southeast Missouri; Tremel Jones, Tennessee Tech; Antonio Chadha, Western Illinois.
CO-FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Steve Hall, RB • 5-9, 195, R-Fr. • St. Louis, Mo. • Lindenwood
Hall carried the ball 11 times for 78 yards and a touchdown and added a reception of 16 yards in Lindenwood's game at Gardner-Webb. The redshirt freshman averaged 7.1 yards per carry and found the end zone from 17 yards out in the third quarter.
CO-FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Sanders Ellis • 6-2, 225, Fr. • Nashville, Tenn. • Tennessee State
Ellis was a force on defense in Tennessee State's road victory over Howard. The freshman recorded seven total tackles (five solo), including 1.5 tackles for loss for negative 11 yards and half a sack. Ellis ranks 20th nationally, first among freshmen, in tackles for loss per game (1.25).
Others Nominated: Tyson Greenwade, Charleston Southern; Spencer Ashby, 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 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.
WIU LU
Points per game 26.57 25.75
Points allowed 42.86 26.88
Total yards per game 355.1 363.9
First Downs 141 154
Rushing yards per game 131.9 169.9
Passing yards per game 223.29 194
Yards allowed per game 500.1 392.4
Rushing yards allowed per game 246.6 182.3
Passing yards allowed per game 253.57 210.13
Penalties-yards 45-389 28-288
Average per punt 41.1 37.19
Average time of possession 30:16 29:58
Third-down conversions 37-96 41-109
Fourth-down conversions 8-14 3-10
Sacks-yards 11-77 15-80
Field goals 8-10 13-16
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