WIU wide receiver Demari Davis hauls in a 29-yard touchdown in the second quarter of the Leathernecks’ 54-45 loss to Southeast Missouri. (Photo by GoLeathernecks.com)
By Barry Bottino
Seven different times on Saturday, Western Illinois answered a Southeast Missouri score with one of its own.
But No. 12 SEMO had a couple of extra answers Saturday in their 54-45 Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association victory against the Leathernecks (3-8 overall, 2-5 conference).
In a game that featured 1,160 total yards, including 449 through the air by Western quarterback Nate Lamb, WIU committed three fourth-quarter turnovers that halted drives, including two in SEMO territory.
“We knew that we were going to have to play a very clean game to beat a Top 15 opponent,” Western coach Joe Davis said. “We couldn’t do that consistently for four quarters. But we proved that we can go toe to toe with anybody.”
SEMO junior running back Brandon Epton Jr. rushed for a season-high 126 yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Paxton DeLaurent threw for 367 yards and four scores to help SEMO (9-2, 6-1) clinch a share of the conference title.
Lamb threw for the second-most yards in a game this season, connecting on a 16-yard TD to tight end Brandon Lanier and an 81-yard score to running back Cameren Smith out of the backfield in the first quarter.
Lamb added an 81-yard scoring play in the third quarter to wide receiver Matt Henry, who led all players with seven catches for 183 yards.
“I’m really proud of Nate and proud of our players,” Davis said.
The Redhawks rolled up 32 first downs and scored on all six visits to the red zone.
Game changers
7:00, 2nd quarter: Kicker Antonio Chadha connected on a 46-yard field goal to give Western a 24-17 lead.
11:15, 4th quarter: SEMO linebacker Bryce Norman forced a Smith fumble at the SEMO 27 with Western trailing, 44-39. It was one of three WIU fourth-quarter turnovers.
5:35, 4th quarter: Epton Jr. scored on a 5-yard run 12 plays after the fumble to put SEMO ahead, 51-39.
What it means
The Leathernecks lost their fourth game in a row after starting the season 3-4.
Nifty ‘Necks
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Western Illinois players in the game:
Lamb, QB: The Western gunslinger passed for 449 yards and three TDs. It was his second-highest total in a game this season.
Henry, WR: The junior transfer continues to pile up big numbers and now sits only 31 yards from reaching 1,000 for the season.
Smith, RB: His 84 rushing yards and 96 receiving yards put the senior over 1,100 all-purpose yards for the season.
What’s next?
Western finishes the 2024 season at home Nov. 23 against Big South-OVC member Gardner-Webb. The game will kick off at 1 p.m.
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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