MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois football heads back on the road Saturday, Oct. 31, traveling to Charleston Southern for an Ohio Valley Conference matchup at Buccaneer Field. The Leathernecks enter the contest at 4-4 overall and 2-1 in conference play after a 55-24 Homecoming win over UT Martin. Charleston Southern is also 4-4 on the season and picked up its first OVC victory last week with a 20-7 win over Tennessee State.
LAST TIME OUT
Western Illinois put together one of its strongest offensive performances of the season in a 55-24 victory over UT Martin on Homecoming. The Leathernecks built their lead throughout the afternoon, using a productive rushing attack and big plays to pull away from the Skyhawks.
Quarterback Kennedy McGill led the way with 349 yards of total offense and four touchdowns. He completed 12-of-22 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown while adding 210 yards and three scores on 25 carries.
McGill's performance earned him both OVC Offensive Player of the Week and Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week honors. The national recognition marked another milestone in a season that has seen the fifth-year quarterback become one of the most productive offensive players in the country.
Western Illinois also received contributions across the lineup, including a 71-yard kickoff return from Ihson Jackson-Anderson and an interception by Malik McKinzie. The Leathernecks will look to carry that momentum into their final road trip of October as conference play continues.
SCOUTING CHARLESTON SOUTHERN
Charleston Southern enters Saturday's matchup at 4-4 overall and 1-2 in OVC play after earning a 20-7 road victory over Tennessee State. The Buccaneers turned in a strong defensive performance, limiting the Tigers to seven points and 136 yards of total offense while forcing three turnovers.
The win marked Charleston Southern's first conference victory of the season. The Buccaneers have also shown an ability to create opportunities on defense, entering the matchup among the OVC leaders in takeaways.
Offensively, Charleston Southern has averaged 23.4 points per game this season. The Buccaneers have relied on their ground game to help generate scoring opportunities, recording 12 rushing touchdowns through their first eight contests.
Western Illinois will need to take care of the football and remain disciplined against a Charleston Southern defense that has made creating turnovers a strength. The Leathernecks will also look to continue producing on the ground while taking advantage of opportunities in the passing game.
KICKOFF INFORMATION
Western Illinois travels to Charleston Southern on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Buccaneer Field in Charleston, S.C. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT, with the game available to watch on ESPN+. Live stats will also be available online.
FOLLOW THE LEATHERNECKS
For all the latest information on Leatherneck Football, visit GoLeathernecks.com. Fans can also follow Western Illinois Football on X, Instagram and Facebook.
