Western Illinois freshman quarterback Cason Carswell threw for 343 yards and two touchdowns Saturday in his first career start. (Photo by Barry Bottino, PrairieStatePigskin.com)
By Barry Bottino
The nerves Cason Carswell felt in his first career college start didn’t last long. One completion on the first Western Illinois series last week at Tennessee Tech did the trick.
“That got me in a little groove,” said Carswell, a true freshman. “Once you get out there, get in a couple plays, take a hit, complete a pass, that calms a lot of the nerves.”
Carswell’s groove led him to 34-for-48 passing for 343 yards, two touchdowns and a Freshman of the Week honor from the Ohio Valley Conference-Big South Football Association.
When the Leathernecks (1-5 overall, 0-2 OVC-Big South) travel to UT Martin (1-5, 1-1) on Saturday, Carswell will get his second start. (2 p.m., ESPN-Plus)
“He’s earned it,” WIU head coach Joe Davis, who credited Carswell for “the ability to get completions. We’ve left a lot of layups out on the field. We’ve missed throws that keep the chains moving. Cason was able to do some of that.”
Sixteen of WIU’s 27 first downs during last week’s loss to Tech came via the pass and the Leathernecks averaged 18.1 yards per completion. Eight different receivers caught at least one pass and four players had at least one reception of 20 or more yards.
“Getting the ball down the field accurately is a big positive for any offense,” Davis said.
Carswell’s athleticism, which he showed right away at Western, also has been a plus.
“Cason was probably the first kid picked in gym class since he was in elementary school,” Davis said. “He’s a scratch golfer. He’s a great basketball player. He was a great quarterback in high school. He’s got a lot of moxie to him.”
After throwing a pick-six and losing a fumble against ninth-ranked Tech, Carswell’s aim this week is clear.
“My main focus is trying to limit turnovers, and that’s what I need to do better,” he said.
Carswell has had a helpful sounding board on the sidelines in Chris Irvin, a team captain who began the season as the starting QB.
“Chris has been amazing,” Carswell said. “Every time I come off the field, we’re watching the iPad. He’s my biggest help. He sees things that I’m not seeing on the field.”
This week’s opponent
With just 230 yards, UT Martin quarterback Jase Bauer is the team’s leading rusher and ranks 14th in the conference at 38.3 yards per game. He also leads the team with three rushing touchdowns. Martin ranks 84th nationally in rushing offense. … Bryce Bailey ranks second in the OVC-Big South with 30 receptions but is 16th in yards per game (41.5). He has two touchdown catches on the season. … Cornerback JaMichael McGoy Jr. ranks second in school history with 39 passes defended and 34 pass breakups. …. Center Josiah Tingley has started 30 games in a row for Martin, which is the longest active starting streak for any player in the OVC-Big South. … Martin head coach Jason Simpson is the dean of OVC-Big South coaches, having compiled a 125-97 record in 20 seasons leading the Skyhawks.
Kickoff: 2 p.m.; TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: Q981fm.com
Key matchup to watch
WIU passing game vs. UT Martin defense: While the Leathernecks found a spark through the air last week with Carswell, Martin’s pass defense has struggled. The Skyhawks have given up the third-most passing TDs in the conference (12) and allow nearly nine yards per completion.
What’s at stake?
Western is seeking its first conference victory of the season and seeks to break a three-game losing streak.
Quick hits
Through six games, wide receiver Christian Anaya has surpassed his career high in receptions (33) and touchdowns (three). Over the past three games, the junior from Arizona has 27 catches for 216 yards and two touchdowns. “In the last three, four weeks, he’s had a shift in the way he’s practiced,” Davis said. “I often say, ‘the ball finds energy,’ regardless of what position you play. I’m really encouraged to see him step his game up when it comes to effort and physicality and urgency.” … One trend from last weekend’s 66-20 loss to Tennessee Tech that Davis would like to change is field position. Tech’s average starting position was its own 35-yard line, while WIU’s was its 22. “It’s one of our weekly gameday goals, to win the battle of high ground,” he said. “We didn’t come close.” … The Leathernecks had 21 players listed as out for last weekend’s game with injuries. Davis said that led to 16 freshman seeing action. “(The freshmen) are still kind of taking their lumps, but showing a lot of bright spots,” he said. … Senior tight end Alex Williams caught six passes for 63 yards during the entire 2024 season. This fall, he’s close to doubling those totals. Williams has 11 receptions for 93 yards, with four of his catches going for touchdowns. Williams has multiple catches in four of WIU’s six games this season.
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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