Western Illinois wide receiver Jay Parker caught three passes, including the only WIU touchdown Saturday, in a 49-10 loss to North Dakota. (Photo by GoLeathernecks.com)
By Barry Bottino
Western Illinois made its third plane flight for a road game in the season’s first five weeks to face North Dakota on Saturday.
But it was the Leathernecks who were grounded.
Western (0-5 overall, 0-2 Missouri Valley Football Conference) gained only 206 yards of total offense and gave up a pick-six by North Dakota linebacker Ted Mullin on the third quarter’s first play in a 49-10 loss, its 18th in a row dating back to the 2021 season.
North Dakota (3-2, 1-1) rushed for 224 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 8 yards per carry.
Western’s offense managed just 3.7 yards per play and was 4-for-13 on third downs.
Kicker Owen Valek connected on a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter after UND raced to a 14-0 lead. The Fighting Hawks then reeled off 28 consecutive points to forge a 42-3 fourth-quarter lead.
WIU wide receiver Jay Parker caught his second TD in three weeks with 7:29 remaining in the game Saturday – a 3-yarder from quarterback Matt Morrissey – for Western’s only touchdown.
Defensively, North Dakota sacked Morrissey five times, including two by sophomore linebacker Malachi McNeal, a native of north suburban Waukegan. Western safety Bradyn Smith led all players with eight tackles.
Game changers
12:56, 2nd quarter: More than 17 minutes into the game, the Leathernecks earned their initial first down when Morrissey scrambled for four yards to WIU’s 37-yard line. Three more first downs followed, including two on fourth-down plays, before Valek kicked a 30-yard field goal.
14:45, 3rd quarter: On the first play of the third quarter, UND linebacker Ted Mullin picked off a Morrissey pass and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown.
7:29, 4th quarter: Morrissey connected on a 3-yard scoring pass to Jay Parker for WIU’s only touchdown.
What it means
Western lost its 18th consecutive game, dating back to the 2021 season. Next week’s MVFC opponent, Missouri State, is the only team WIU will face with a losing record for the next month.
Nifty ‘Necks
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Western Illinois players in the game:
Morrissey, QB: Despite throwing a pick-six, the WIU quarterback was 19-for-27 passing for 145 yards.
Jaylin Jackson, WR: The senior from Florida collected a game-high seven receptions for 38 yards.
Bradyn Smith, S: WIU’s leading tackler led the Leathernecks again with eight stops.
What’s next?
Missouri State visits Macomb Oct. 14 for a 3 p.m. kickoff as WIU celebrates its Homecoming.
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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