Western Illinois quarterback Kennedy McGill scored five total touchdowns Saturday as the Leathernecks roared past Morehead State, 59-2 in Macomb. (Photo by GoLeathernecks.com)
By Barry Bottino
Quarterback Kennedy McGill passed for four touchdowns, ran for another and produced more than half of Western Illinois’ 593 total yards Saturday night in the Leathernecks’ 59-2 victory against Morehead State.
WIU (2-2) leaned on McGill’s arm and legs to race to a 31-0 halftime lead against Morehead (1-3) a member of the FCS non-scholarship Pioneer League.
McGill ran for a 28-yard score and threw a 5-yard touchdown to fellow QB Tanner Zolnosky for a 14-0 after one quarter.
The second quarter belonged to McGill and running back Ihson Jackson-Anderson, who ran for a 3-yard touchdown and then scored on a 35-yard pass play.
The 59 points was the second-most points this season for WIU, which beat NAIA Northwestern (Iowa) College, 65-14, in their season opener Aug. 27.
Jackson-Anderson caught three passes for 52 yards and rushed for 78 yards on only four carries.
Four different Western quarterbacks finished a combined 32-for-40 passing for six touchdowns and no interceptions.
The WIU defense limited Morehead 77 total yards and only 10 first downs.
Western kicker Ronan Culkin kicked a 37-yard field goal to improve to 6-for-6 this season.
Game changers
5:48, 1st quarter: McGill threw a 5-yard TD pass to fellow QB Tanner Zolnosky for a 14-0 lead.
0:33, 2nd quarter: McGill delivers a 35-yard TD pass to Jackson-Anderson.
0:33, 3rd quarter: McGill’s 20-yard scoring pass to Lukas Gilland was the QB’s fourth of the game.
What it means
The Leathernecks evened their record at 2-2 with one non-conference game left on the schedule.
Nifty ‘Necks
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Western Illinois players in the game:
McGill, QB: The transfer from Central Washington was 25-for-31 passing for four TDs and rushed for another score.
Jackson-Anderson, RB: The Wofford transfer piled up 130 total yards (78 rushing, 52 receiving) and scored two TDs.
Buckner, LB: The sophomore had two sacks for the Leathernecks and five total tackles.
What’s next?
The Leathernecks complete non-conference play with a 3 p.m. game Sept. 26 at North Alabama.
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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