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Western Illinois University Athletics

cameren smith
32
McKendree MCK 2-2 , 1-0
49
Winner Western Ill. WIU 1-3 , 0-0
McKendree MCK
2-2 , 1-0
32
Final
49
Western Ill. WIU
1-3 , 0-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
MCK McKendree 3 6 3 20 32
WIU Western Ill. 7 14 14 14 49

Game Recap: Football | | WIU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Leatherneck Football Captures First Win

MACOMB, Ill. – Saturday night, it was a great night to be a Leatherneck as the Western Illinois University football team picked up their first win of the Joe Davis Era and the 2024 season, topping McKendree 49-32 on Hanson Field on Saturday night.

"It's our first win, we set out every single week with a winning mindset, with a victory attitude and our goal is to go 1-0 every week so this week, it happened to be the McKendree game," WIU football coach Joe Davis said. "I'm proud of our players, I'm proud of our staff, I told the team, 'celebrate this for 24 hours because it is well earned, but we're turning the page quickly as we go into OVC play.' "

The run game shined and the defense was bend but don't break as Western Illinois wrapped the non-conference portion of the schedule at 1-3. The Leathernecks make their Big South-Ohio Valley Conference debut at Charleston Southern next weekend.

Cameren Smith had a career night, rushing for 199 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries as the Leathernecks ran for 273 yards on 38 attempts.

"Each week, we kept coming back despite losing, we kept our chemistry, we all had our work to do each week," Cameren Smith said. "Getting this dub, we kept going and will keep going, regardless of what's happening. We stay together, this win means everything, to be part of history and closing down this losing record, but we know we're going to keep getting it done on Saturdays."

Defensively, WIU allowed 402 yards, but when the Bearcats drove into deep Leatherneck territory, the group bowed and forced field goals instead of allowing touchdowns.

"We came out calm and composed, the sideline was different, it was not the same as previous years," defensive lineman Brian Bruce said. "Guys would turn on each other, blame each other, and point fingers, but everyone had their head on the right way. Guys were in the right lane, when we were doing those things, I knew it would be good."

After McKendree made a field goal on the game's opening possession, the Leathernecks responded, marching 82 yards on 11 players and 5:02. Nathan Lamb (14-19, 193 yards, one touchdown; 10 carries 34 yards, one touchdown) gave Western Illinois a lead on a two-yard run.

McKendree answered with another short field goal on its next possession to cut the WIU lead to 7-6, but the Leathernecks answered right back as Lamb hit Demari Davis (two catches, 85 yards) for a 74-yard catch and run that extended WIU's lead to 14-6.

Davis was just getting started, as the wide receiver found himself in the end zone for the second time on the night, taking a handoff 17 yards for a score to put WIU up 21-6.

"The first one, that's a play we call a lot, it seems to be open," Demari Davis said. "I saw I was open, I got the opportunity and Nate gave me a great ball. As soon as I caught it, I'm taught to catch and go, get vertical. I saw the corner had leverage on me, so I thought if I cut in, I'd get good yards, I saw daylight and had the speed to get outside.

"The second one, that was a reverse, we caught the defense with some misdirection and it got wide open for me. I did not have to make too many moves, I was able to trust my blocks and go."

McKendree tacked on a field goal before the break to cut WIU's lead to 21-9 at the half, but the Leathernecks were able to get those points back in a hurry as freshmen Avery Knight broke multiple tackles, going 20 yards for a 28-9 Leatherneck lead.

After another Bearcat field goal, Western Illinois again traded three for seven as backup quarterback Chris Irvin checked in for a play and hit Eli Aragon on a 20-yard pass and a 35-12 lead.

From there, McKendree hung around, scoring two touchdowns to cut the Leatherneck advantage to 35-25. From there, Cameren Smith iced the game, scoring on touchdown runs of seven and 47 yards, putting the exclamation point on his, and Western Illinois' big night.

Defensively, Ryan Crandall led the Leathernecks, registering a team-high 14 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss. Michael Newman added nine tackles, as well as a sack.

Tre Henry and KJ Coleman each added six tackles and in his first appearance of the season, Juan De La Cruz added five stops.
 
NOTES: Smith's 199 yards were the most since Steve McShane had 207 vs. Eastern Illinois in 2016…The 49 points were the most since the Leathernecks dropped 56 on Eastern Washington on September 18, 2021… The win was the first for the program since October 30, 2021…Bruce and De La Cruz were the only two players on the current roster who played the last win, a victory over Illinois State.
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