Who | Western Illinois (1-6, 0-3) vs. Charleston Southern (1-6, 0-3)
When | Saturday, October 18, 3:00 P.M.
Where |Hanson Field, Macomb, IL 

Western Illinois Hosts Charleston Southern
Western Illinois returns home to Hanson Field for Homecoming, hosting Charleston Southern in an OVC–Big South matchup. The Leathernecks aim to keep their offense rolling under freshman quarterback Cason Carswell, who turned in another excellent performance last week. They'll face a Charleston Southern team coming off a 27–13 loss to Tennessee Tech.

Last Week – UT Martin Recap
Western Illinois suffered a crushing defeat last week at UT Martin. The Leathernecks trailed 32–31 late in the fourth quarter and had a chance to take the lead, but a blocked field goal attempt in the final minute ended their comeback bid. Despite the loss, the offense continued to show strong progress behind freshman quarterback Cason Cason Carswell, who threw for 327 yards and two touchdowns, while Demari Davis added 109 receiving yards and a score.

Junior running back Markell Holman powered the Western Illinois ground game, rushing for 59 yards and two touchdowns, including a 16-yard score in the second quarter.

Western's offense rolled to 403 total yards, averaging 7.9 yards per play, while the defense came up with key stops throughout the afternoon. Christian Pierce and Justin Richardson led the way defensively with nine tackles each, while Kevin Washington Jr. added eight tackles and a sack.

Honors of the Week
Western Illinois quarterback Cason Carswell was named one of the conference's Co-Freshmen of the Week, earning the honor for the second straight week. Carswell continued his strong play in his second career start, throwing for 327 yards and two touchdowns in the Leathernecks' matchup at UT Martin. His steady command of the offense and ability to make plays downfield have been key to the Leathernecks recent offensive surge.

Wide receiver Demari Davis also grabbed national attention with a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch in the first half — a highlight that landed at No. 2 on SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays. The connection between Carswell and Davis continues to shine as one of the conference's most dynamic offensive duos.

Scouting Charleston Southern
Charleston Southern enters its matchup with a 1–6 overall record and 0–3 in OVC‑Big South play. They're coming off a 27–13 home loss to Tennessee Tech, where they managed just 63 rushing yards on 31 attempts and totaled about 209 yards of offense.

Offensively, the Buccaneers have struggled to find consistency. Quarterback Zolten Osborne is getting most of the snaps; he's completed around 55% of his passes through several starts, but the offense has had trouble sustaining drives. Ke'Marion Baldwin has shown promise running the ball, with a few solid performances, including a key 122‑yard, two‑touchdown game in their win over SC State.

On defense, the Buccaneers are allowing opponents plenty of room, particularly in the running game. Tennessee Tech, for example, was able to consistently move the ball on the ground. Charleston Southern's special teams, however, remain a bright spot: punter Gilbert Brown has been nationally prominent, with impressive averages and big‑distance punts that change field position

Keys to the Game

• Establish the Run Game: Control the clock and wear down Charleston Southern's defense by leaning on a balanced rushing attack.

• Protect the Football: Limit turnovers and take advantage of any mistakes by Charleston Southern, especially in the red zone.

• Force Passing Situations: Shut down Charleston Southern's run game to put them in passing situations where we can pressure the quarterback and force mistakes.

What's at Stake
Western Illinois looks to secure a critical win in OVC–Big South play as they return home for Homecoming. A victory would help the Leathernecks build momentum and maintain confidence on both sides of the ball, while also energizing the home crowd during one of the season's premier events. A win at home against Charleston Southern, followed by a winnable road matchup next week before the bye, could give Western Illinois momentum and get the team hot at just the right time in the season.