MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois football kept its momentum rolling on Saturday afternoon at Hanson Field, earning its second straight win with a thrilling 24–21 comeback victory over Lindenwood.

The Leathernecks (3–7, 2–4 OVC-Big South) showed grit and composure, rallying from a 14-point deficit to secure back-to-back victories for the first time this season. Freshman quarterback Cason Carswell led the way through the air, throwing for 175 yards and two touchdowns, while Markell Holman powered the ground attack with a dominant 172-yard performance on 25 carries, including a key fourth-quarter touchdown.

Lindenwood (4–6, 3–3 OVC-Big South) came out firing early, taking a 14–0 lead after two first-quarter touchdowns from quarterback Nate Glantz. The Leathernecks responded in the second quarter when Carswell connected with tight end Brandon Lanier on a 17-yard touchdown pass to make it 14–7 at halftime.

After Lindenwood stretched the lead to 21–7 in the third, Western Illinois began its comeback. Antonio Chadha drilled a 41-yard field goal late in the third quarter to bring the Leathernecks within striking distance making the game 10-21. In the 4th, Holman broke free for a 27-yard touchdown run to trim the deficit to 21–16.

With just over a minute remaining, Western Illinois completed the rally when Carswell found Alex Williams for an eight-yard touchdown pass. Holman ran in the two-point conversion to give WIU its first and final lead of the game, 24–21.

Defensively, Western Illinois came up clutch in the closing minutes with interceptions from Nick Bucaro and Justin Richardson, shutting down Lindenwood's final two drives. Justin Buckner led the Leatherneck defense with seven tackles, including a sack, while Christian Pierce added seven stops of his own.

The win marks back-to-back victories for the Leathernecks, who continue to display steady growth and resilience as the season winds down. Western Illinois will look to carry its momentum into next week's home matchup against SEMO, aiming to extend its winning streak to three.