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Western Illinois University Athletics

football at lindenwood
Sarah Ritter
38
Western Ill. WIU 3-5 , 2-2
49
Winner Lindenwood LWU 4-5 , 3-2
Western Ill. WIU
3-5 , 2-2
38
Final
49
Lindenwood LWU
4-5 , 3-2
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WIU Western Ill. 7 10 14 7 38
LWU Lindenwood 14 7 14 14 49

Game Recap: Football | | WIU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Western Illinois Football Falls in Shootout at Lindenwood

St. Charles, Missouri – A historic offensive day by the Western Illinois University offense, and especially quarterback Nathan Lamb, went for naught as the Western Illinois University football team fell at Lindenwood on Saturday, 49-38.

Lamb set a new single-game program record in passing yards (564) and completions (42) while his five touchdown passes tied for second-most.

Matthew Henry also established himself in the record books as his 15 receptions now rank second and his 226 yards rate sixth.

As an offense, the Leathernecks ran 86 plays for 713 yards. The total yards were the second-most in program history, behind the 743 the team put up against Carthage in 1951.

But three fourth-quarter fumbles, costly penalties, and Lindenwood's ground game were enough to dash WIU's hopes of improving to .500 overall as the team falls to 3-5 and 2-2 in the Big South-Ohio Valley Football Association.

The game had a track meet feel from the start and continued the whole day afternoon as the two teams combined for 87 points and 1285 yards.

After Lindenwood scored on the game's opening possession, Western Illinois answered, going five plays, 65 yards, scoring on Lamb's 14-yard pass to Henry.

Lindenwood answered, scoring on the game's next possession, but the Leathernecks responded as Lamb hit Cameren Smith (17 carries, 67 yards; six catches, 57 yards, two touchdowns) to even the score at 14.

After the fast start, the defenses settled in as the teams traded punts. Lindenwood was able to get back on the board, getting a touchdown late in the half, but the Leathernecks were able to get a field goal right before the break as Antonio Chadha's 34-yard kick made it 21-17 in Lindenwood's favor at halftime.

Intermission did not slow the offenses as WIU went to work in its first drive of the half. Lamb hit Henry for 19 yards. As Henry was nearing the goal line, the ball was knocked loose. Eli Aragon (nine catches, 131 yards, two touchdowns, two carries, 11 yards) was in the right place at the right time, picking up the ball and carrying it into the endzone to give the Leathernecks their first lead of the game, 24-21.

The WIU score was the first of six straight second-half touchdowns as Lindenwood came right back to grab the lead on its next drive. Following the Lion score, Lamb hit Smith for a five-yard touchdown pass, putting the Leathernecks ahead 31-28. Lindenwood answered again to take a 35-31 lead only for Western Illinois to retake the lead, 38-35 on a 15-yard pass to Aragon.
Lindenwood came right back, scoring on its ensuing possession to go ahead 42-38.

Western Illinois had a chance to retake the lead but fumbled at the Lindenwood 32. The Leatherneck defense finally made a big play, forcing a Lion punt.

On the next drive, Western Illinois drove inside the Lindenwood 10. Lamb hit Henry for the go-ahead touchdown with two minutes remaining, but a holding call on the Leathernecks wiped out the score. The Lion defense then made another huge play, forcing a fumble inside their five to get back the ball.

On the next play, Lindenwood would get a 93-yard touchdown run, going ahead 49-38.

Western Illinois once again drove deep into Lion territory, but a fumble gave Lindenwood the ball back and allowed the Lions to knee out the win.

Ryan Crandall led the defense with eight tackles. Jordan Anderson added six while Mayo Bola had five.

Western Illinois is next in action next Saturday, heading to Charleston to face in-state rival, Eastern Illinois.

NOTES: The performances of Henry and Aragon made them the first WIU receiving duo to have over 100 yards receiving in a game since Jay Parker and Jaylin Jackson did it vs. Lindenwood last year … Lamb set a new single-game program record in passing yards (564) and completions (42) while his five touchdown passes tied for second-most … Matthew Henry also established himself in the record books as his 15 receptions now rank second and his 226 yards rate sixth … As an offense, the Leathernecks ran 86 plays for 713 yards. The total yards were the second-most in program history, behind the 743 the team put up against Carthage in 1951.
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