Western Illinois quarterback Matt Morrissey celebrates his 2-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown run Saturday at Hanson Field. (Photo by Barry Bottino, PrairieStatePigskin.com)
By Barry Bottino
MACOMB – Myers Hendrickson ran through a list of positives his team enjoyed Saturday in its Missouri Valley Football Conference opener against Illinois State at Hanson Field.
* Three turnovers gained, including one on special teams.
* 9-for-19 on third downs offensively.
* A two-score lead late in the second quarter.
* Forcing ISU into four first-half punts.
The big thing Western (0-2) didn’t do, however, win Saturday, dropping a 34-18 decision to the Redbirds (2-0). The two teams were playing for the 106th time, but it was the last as MVFC opponents before Western departs for the Ohio Valley Conference.
“There’s a lot of good things that we did, which makes it hurt more right now,” said Hendrickson, Western’s second-year head coach. “A play here or there is what it was. The margin of error in the games that we play is going to be small. We’ve got to find a way to win these games.”
That margin of error grew wider as the Leathernecks scored on an 8-yard pass from quarterback Matt Morrissey to wide receiver Tajh Sanders early in the second quarter. A 20-yard Owen Valek field goal gave WIU a 9-0 lead.
ISU scored the next 20 points before Morrissey rushed for a 2-yard score and Valek booted a 37-yard field goal in just over a 2-minute span early in the fourth quarter. That trimmed ISU’s lead to 20-18.
But Illinois State running back Mason Blakemore, who rushed for 170 yards, scored two of his three touchdowns in the final 7:06 of the game.
Western, which lost its 15th game in a row, got 199 passing yards from Morrissey, but he was sacked seven times by the Redbirds.
“Playing in the (MVFC), you’ve always got to expect these defenses to heat you up when they can,” Morrissey said. “You’ve got to be able to play through it. We showed glimpses of what we can be and the potential we have. We’ve just got to limit the mistakes and build off what we have shown.”
Game changers
4:18, 1st quarter: Senior safety Bradyn Smith forced a fumble by ISU running back Cole Mueller. The play was the first of three WIU turnovers gained.
11:14, 2nd quarter: Tajh Sanders caught an 8-yard scoring pass from QB Matt Morrissey for a 6-0 lead.
13:40, 4th quarter: Freshman Owen Valek kicked a 37-yard field goal to close the Illinois State lead to 20-18.
What it means
The Leathernecks lost the final MVFC game between the two schools, who announced before the game that they will play in September 2024 and hope to continue a non-conference series for several years in the future.
Nifty ‘Necks
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Western Illinois players in the game:
Smith, S: For the second week in a row, the senior matched his career high in tackles with 14. He also forced a fumble.
Donald McKinney, WR: The senior from California tied for the game lead with six receptions, which he turned into 58 yards.
J.J. Ross, CB: Along with 10 tackles, the senior had two of WIU’s four tackles for loss and a pass breakup.
What’s next?
Western hosts future Ohio Valley Conference opponent Lindenwood in a 6 p.m. non-conference game Sept. 16.
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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