Who | Western Illinois (1-5, 0-2) vs. UT Martin (1-5, 1-1)
When | Saturday, October 11, 2:00 P.M.
Where | Hardy M. Graham Stadium, Martin, TN
 

Western Illinois Travels to UT Martin
Western Illinois continues its road trip this week for an OVC–Big South showdown at UT Martin. The Leathernecks look to build on the offensive progress from freshman quarterback Cason Carswell's first start as they face a UT Martin team coming off a 30–14 loss to Lindenwood.

Last Week – Tennessee Tech Recap
Western Illinois came up short on the road Saturday, falling 66-20 at Tennessee Tech in OVC–Big South play. The Leathernecks showed flashes offensively and had several strong individual performances, but were unable to slow down the unbeaten Golden Eagles team.

This marked the first career start for freshman quarterback Cason Carswell, who delivered a promising debut. Carswell completed 34-of-48 passes for 343 yards and two touchdowns, spreading the ball around to multiple playmakers and giving the Leatherneck offense one of its top passing outputs of the season. Wide receiver Christian Anaya had a career day with 13 receptions for 132 yards, while Demari Davis added 99 yards and a touchdown on five catches. Tight end Alex Williams also found the end zone, hauling in three passes for 28 yards and a score.

On special teams, Antonio Chadha once again provided consistency. The junior kicker stayed perfect in the afternoon, hitting field goals from 48 and 33 yards and connecting on both extra point attempts. Chadha has now converted seven straight field goals over the last three weeks.

Defensively, linebacker Kevin Washington Jr. anchored the unit with 10 tackles, his third double-digit performance of the season. Freshman Aa'zoriyon Bonner recorded a sack, while Justin Richardson chipped in 6 tackles.

Freshman Player of the Week
Carswell's standout performance earned him OVC–Big South Freshman of the Week honors after throwing for 343 yards and two touchdowns in his first collegiate start at Tennessee Tech. Carswell won the honor against a competitive field that included Charleston Southern's Anthony Paulk, Eastern Illinois quarterback Connor Wolf, and Lindenwood's Rico Bond. 

Scouting UT Martin
UT Martin enters the matchup with a 1-5 record, earning its lone victory in a 34-10 win over Southeast Missouri. Led by longtime head coach Jason Simpson, who is the longest tenured coach in the conference, the Skyhawks continue to build under his steady leadership. UT Martin was projected to finish near the top of the OVC–Big South preseason poll, earning second place, and remains a well-rounded team with talent on both sides of the ball. This season, the Skyhawks are averaging 15.3 points per game while allowing 31.3.

Keys to the Game

• Stopping the QB inside the pocket as Jase Bauer leads the team in rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns. 

• Protecting the football against a UT Martin defense that averages 1.4 takeaways per game.

• UT Martin has averaged 32:01 with the ball this season, while opponents have held it for just 27:59. Limiting the Skyhawks' ability to dictate tempo will be crucial for Western Illinois to establish rhythm on both sides of the ball.

What's at Stake
Western Illinois enters the matchup looking to secure its first OVC–Big South victory of the season and take down one of the league's preseason favorites. A win over UT Martin, the conference's preseason No. 2 pick, would mark a major statement for the Leathernecks.