Western Illinois running back Markell Holman rushed for a season-high 172 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. (Photo by GoLeathernecks.com)
By Dan Verdun
In a season of near misses, Western Illinois made a game-winning connection Saturday to rally past Lindenwood, 24-21, at Hanson Field in Macomb.
Freshman quarterback Carswell found senior tight end Alex Williams for a 8-yard touchdown with only 81 seconds remaining for the game-deciding score.
“I saw it was open and I did what I was supposed to do,” Williams said.
The touchdown was set up by a muffed punt by Lindenwood return man Christopher Bennett Jr. that WIU’s Don Paul Keith recovered at the Lions’ 37-yard line with 2 minutes, 39 seconds left.
Western put together a four-play drive, keyed by a 27-yard pass from Carswell to senior receiver Demari Davis.
On the game-winning play, Carswell faked a handoff to Holman and then found Williams wide open in the end zone. It was Williams’ seventh touchdown reception, tops among OVC-Big South tight ends.
WIU head coach Joe Davis added some context on the game-winner.
“That play was not in the game plan,” he said. “After the big punt return (turnover), we knew we were going to run Markell in there. We talked on the sidelines. That’s really a play between the quarterback and the two tight ends. … Alex and (tight end) Brandon Lanier executed it perfectly.”
The Leathernecks (3-7 overall, 2-4 OVC-Big South) rallied from a 14-point deficit to nip the Lions (4-6, 3-3). Western, coming off its bye week, won its second straight game.
“I’m really happy for our players. Regardless of the circumstances, the standards never change,” Davis said. “You felt the energy on the sideline. I don’t think anybody on our team ever felt that we were out of that game.”
Holman led all rushers with 172 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.
“Markell runs very, very violently,” Davis said. “To have him pop some huge runs today, especially in wet conditions, was massive for our team today.”
Holman, a transfer from St. Francis (Penn.), complimented his offensive line.
“Shoot, it was easier than moving a sled,” he said. “We were getting five yards every snap. I was running 3, 4, 5 yards without getting touched. It was wide open.”
Carswell passed for 175 yards and two touchdowns.
“Our motto this week was just stay together and be great teammates,” Carswell said. “We trusted the defense and the defense trusted us. We were a little slow to start the game, but the offense executed in the fourth quarter.”
Graduate students Justin Richardson and Nick Bucaro each grabbed interceptions on the last two Lindenwood offensive possessions.
Game changers
2:39, 4th quarter: Keith recovered a fumbled Lindenwood punt to set up the game-winning drive.
1:21, 4th quarter: Carswell threw to Williams for the game-winning touchdown. Holman then scored the two-point conversion.
0:28, 4th quarter: Bucaro’s interception sealed the WIU victory.
Nifty ‘Necks
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the the top three Western Illinois players in the game:
Carswell, QB: The true freshman passed for 175 yards and two TDs.
Holman, RB: The Philadelphia native rushed for a season-best 172 yards and a touchdown. Holman has run for more than 100 yards three times this season.
Justin Buckner, OLB: The freshman from St. Rita topped the Leathernecks with seven tackles and a sack.
What it means
Western won its second straight game and gained its first win in three games against Lindenwood.
What’s next
Western Illinois hosts Southeast Missouri at 1 p.m. Nov. 15 for the Leathernecks’ home finale.
Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.
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