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Western Illinois University Athletics

Rachael Keating
15
Western Ill. WIU 0-1 , 0-0
54
Winner NIU NIU 1-0 , 0-0
Western Ill. WIU
0-1 , 0-0
15
Final
54
NIU NIU
1-0 , 0-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WIU Western Ill. 3 0 5 7 15
NIU NIU 6 28 13 7 54

Game Recap: Football | | WIU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Leathernecks Open Season with Loss at Northern Illinois

DEKALB, Ill. – The Western Illinois University football team kicked off the season on Saturday, falling on the road at in-state foe, Northern Illinois, 54-15.

The Leathernecks (0-1) were able to hang tough for the first 15 minutes, trailing 6-3 after a quarter. But the second quarter belonged to the Huskies. Northern Illinois (1-0) outscored WIU 28-0 in the second, taking a 34-3 lead into the break.

NIU extended the lead to 47-3 before Western Illinois' special teams would make a pair of big, scoring plays.

On a Huskie extra point, Mayo Bola blocked the kick. Fredrik Greenhoward snatched the ball out of the air and raced over 100 yards for a two-point return.

On the ensuing drive, WIU marched the ball down the field to add three more points as Antonio Chadha's 46-yard field goal made it a 47-8 game. The field goal was Chadha's second of the game, as the transfer converted on a 44-yard kick in the first quarter. 

After a Huskie touchdown, Western Illinois would get into the endzone for the first time this season, capping the game's scoring. 

With 2:59 to go in the game, Nathan Lamb threw his first touchdown as  Leatherneck quarterback, hitting Torrance Farmer Jr. for a 27-yard catch and run. The scoring reception was also Farmer Jr's. first as a Leatherneck.

To begin the game, WIU went three and out. On the ensuing drive, NIU went 46 yards, scoring first to lead 6-0. The Leathernecks had a chance to answer but a missed field goal kept the lead at 6-0 in favor of NIU.

Northern Illinois threatened to score on its next drive but a tackle forced a fumble that was recovered by Leatherneck Braylen Brooks.  Western Illinois then went 61 yards on 11 plays, capping the 4:35 drive with Chadha's first field goal.

Lamb went 17-29 for 204 yards and a touchdown at quarterback. Tristan Duncan led the receivers with five catches for 68 yards. On the ground, Cam Smith led the way with 51 yards on 14 carries. As a team, WIU rushed 29 times for 94 yards.

Defensively, Willie Jones led Western Illinois with a career-high 13 tackles. Jones had eight solo and five assists. Ryan Crandall added six tackles and Noah Epley had five. 

On special teams, Toriano Tate had nine kickoff returns for 164 yards, and punter Jared Campbell punted six times for an average of 37 yards. Campbell had a long of 45 yards. Chadha went 2-3 on field goals and made his lone extra-point attempt.

Western Illinois is next in action next Friday, playing at Indiana at 6 p.m. It is the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

Notes ­– Antonio Chadha's two field goals were the most by a Western Illinois kicker since Owen Valek made a pair against Lindenwood last season … The blocked extra point by Bola and return for a score by Greenhoward was the fourth time in Leatherneck history the football program has accomplished the feat. The last time it occurred was November 8, 2014, when Kevin Kintzel recorded the block and Martinez Davis had the return … Bola's blocked extra point was the first by a Leatherneck since Brian Bruce's block last season vs. Southern Utah … The touchdown pass by Nathan Lamb was his first TD pass as a Leathernecks while the scoring grab was the first with WIU for Torrance Farmer Jr. … Western Illinois' offense did not commit a turnover, the first time for the Leathernecks since the game vs. Lindenwood last season.
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