Senior running back Cameren Smith has a team-leading 718 yards and 10 total touchdowns for Western Illinois this season. (Photo by GoLeathernecks.com)
By Barry Bottino
Cameren Smith already has the most rushing yards in a season by a Western Illinois running back since 2016.
But with two games remaining on the schedule, that’s just one piece of the impact that Smith – a transfer from Division II Missouri S&T – has had on the Leatherneck offense this fall.
“Cam does so much for us,” WIU head coach Joe Davis said. “He has come so far when it comes to pass protection. He catches the ball extremely well. He really is an every-down workhorse back. He’s one of the most improved football players in our program.”
Smith will try to add to his team-leading 718 rushing yards Saturday, Nov. 16 when the Leathernecks (3-7 overall, 2-4 Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association) travel to Cape Girardeau, Mo., to play Southeast Missouri (8-2, 5-1), the No. 12 team in week’s Stats Perform FCS media poll. (1 p.m., ESPN-Plus)
The last time a WIU running back gained more than 700 yards in a season was Steve McShane’s 917 in 2016. The last 1,000-yard rusher at Western Nikko Watson (1,196 in 2015).
Smith’s 921 all-purpose yards is just 79 shy of reaching the 1,000-yard barrier.
“To help this team in any way I can has been a blessing,” said Smith, a Delaware native who has one year of eligibility remaining after this season. “I know I have a lot more left in the tank to give. I just want to finish this year strong and get to next year.”
In three seasons on the D-II level, Smith caught six passes. Among Western’s strong stable of receivers for quarterback Nate Lamb to throw to, Smith has 29 receptions for 203 yards and four touchdowns. He trails only wide receivers Matthew Henry and Eli Aragon, who have 50 receptions each.
“The coaching staff and the quarterback trust in me a lot more in the passing game (than at S&T),” Smith said. “It helps with my versatility. It’s played a huge role.”
As for his blocking skills, Smith credited offensive coordinator Brad Wilson and running backs coach Karl Mofor for “a great job of instilling pass protection in us. I’ve taken a step in my game as far as how to attack a block, where a linebacker or a safety or cornerback may be blitzing from. It’s definitely important.”
This week’s opponent
SEMO is coming off a stunning 24-12 Big South-OVC loss to Lindenwood, which held the Redhawks to 234 total yards, eight first downs and 2-for-13 on third down. All-conference quarterback Paxton DeLaurent was 16-for-37 passing for SEMO, managing only 174 yards through the air. The loss was SEMO’s first this season against an FCS team. … SEMO’s top three wide receivers — 5-11 sophomore Cam Pedro (61 receptions, 4 TDs), 6-7 senior Dorian Anderson (54 catches, 8 TDs) and 6-5 junior Tristan Smith (53 catches, 4 TDs) — average more than 220 receiving yards per game. … Despite Saturday’s loss, SEMO senior linebacker Bryce Norman piled up 19 tackles, winning the league’s defensive player of the week honor. Norman ranks fifth nationally with 10.7 tackles per game. …The Redhawks did have some defensive highlights at Lindenwood. The unit’s five sacks Saturday now make them 10th nationally with 26 on the season. SEMO ranks 36th nationally with 63 tackles for loss. Norman leads the team with 12.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks. …. SEMO, which was No. 6 in last week’s national polls, fell to No. 12 this week in the Stats Perform media poll and No. 13 in the coaches’ poll.
Kickoff: 1 p.m.; TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: Q981fm.com
Key matchup to watch
WIU secondary vs. SEMO wide receivers: The Leathernecks have allowed 24 touchdowns through the air, which is the second-highest total in the conference. The SEMO trio of Pedro, Anderson and Smith have combined for 168 receptions and 15 touchdowns while averaging more than 200 yards a game. The WIU defense also allows opposing QBs to complete nearly 68% of their passes.
What’s at stake?
Western is seeking to snap a three game-losing streak after a 3-4 start to the season and disrupt SEMO’s playoff hopes.
Quick hits
SEMO head coach Tom Matukewicz said this week that Davis deserves consideration for a new award. “I’d like to nominate Coach for the Quarterback Coach of the Century,” Matukewicz said. “Last year, he was at EIU and (Pierce) Holley tore it up. Now he’s at WIU and it’s the same thing. He’s a quarterback whisperer.” Lamb, WIU’s starter, has passed for 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions. His 2,531 passing yards ranks third in the conference and ninth in the nation. “Nate is a big strength of our football team,” Davis said. “It’s a little disappointing that we sit here 3-7 with a quarterback that’s playing as well as Nate’s played.” … Eight different receivers caught passes for Western last week against Tennessee State, the second-most in a game this season. Against Illinois State and UT Martin, 10 different players caught a pass for WIU. … Junior linebacker Ryan Crandall had a career-high 16 tackles last week. That was the fourth time this season that Crandall had a double-digit tackle total. … While Western is gaining the most yardage of any offense in the conference (402.6), the WIU defense is giving up the most yards per game (499.8). “That’s not a recipe for consistent, winning football,” Davis said. “We’re still searching for quite a few answers on the defensive side of the ball.”
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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