By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
MACOMB, Ill. – Early turnovers, costly penalties and short field positions gave Western Illinois the advantage on Saturday and every time the Tennessee Tech football team tried to climb back from the deficit, the Leathernecks extended their advantage right back.
By the final buzzer, Western Illinois came away with a 37-21 victory Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Eagles (2-5, 2-2 Big South-Ohio Valley Conference) return home next week for the first of two home contests as Tech hosts Charleston Southern (1-6, 0-4 BS-OVC) and Lindenwood (3-5, 2-2 BS-OVC) in back-to-back weeks.
The return of Dylan Laible to the lineup was promising as he ended the game with 262 yards on 23-of-33 passing and a touchdown, but an interception by K.J. Coleman led to a 10-play, 33-yard scoring drive with Antonio Chadha's 29-yard field goal to make it 10-0 Leathernecks.
That was after Tech's first drive ended as Jalen Mitchell saw the ball jostled loose by Brian Bruce. The miscue set up a 27-yard touchdown pass from Nathan Lamb to Matthew Henry less than a minute into the game.
Western Illinois (3-4, 2-1 BS-OVC) scored on five of its six first-half possessions.
Tech cut it back to a 10-7 contest as Laible threw a 13-yard touchdown strike to Hunter Barnhart, then Dom LeBlanc split the uprights on the PAT just before the first stanza came to a close.
Just seconds into the second quarter, Lamb moved the ball up the field once more, marching 70 yards on seven plays as he connected with Cameron Smith for a seven-yard touchdown pickup. Chadha's PAT made it a 17-7 advantage.
Following a solid 25-yard kickoff return from Tremel Jones, Jalen Mitchell only needed one play for a score as he went 68 yards for a rushing touchdown. With LeBlanc's extra point, it was suddenly a four-point affair still early in the second.
Tech was able to force a WIU fumble, but the Golden Eagle drive faltered at the Leatherneck 41. After the punt, WIU went on a nine-play, 93-yard series, finding pay dirt as Lamb called his own number for a two-yard rushing score, extending the Leathernecks' lead back up by 10.
The Golden Eagles' next drive saw LeBlanc set up for a 53-yard field goal, but the freshman kicker lost his footing and WIU's Braylen Brooks returned the ball – coupled with a Tech personal foul call – to the Tech 39. WIU ate up clock and yardage as Smith rushed for a score with 47 seconds left before intermission, leading 31-14.
The Leathernecks added two field goals in the second half as Chadha hit from 30 and 41 yards out. Tech's final scoring plays came in the fourth quarter as Mitchell rushed for a three-yard touchdown to open the period, followed by LeBlanc's PAT.
Mitchell ended the game with 86 rushing yards and two scores as the Golden Eagles ended the game with 68 net rushing yards – skewed by five sacks on Laible. The Tech QB spread the ball to 11 different receivers with Linkins leading the way with seven catches for 84 yards. The Golden Eagles ended the game with 330 yards of offense.
Cayman Spaulding led Tech with nine tackles, while Jalin Shephard had eight and Aaron Swafford and Tim Coutras seven each. Idris King and Caldra Williford each had a sack.
For Western Illinois, Lamb ended the game with 260 passing yards on a 15-for-24 day, throwing two touchdowns, while he was also the team's leading rusher with 90 yards and a score on the ground. Smith also ended the game with 85 yards on 24 carries with a score.
Through the air, Henry caught six passes for 181 yards – an average of 30.2 yards per catch – with a score.
In addition to his interception, Coleman also had seven stops to lead the Leathernecks.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
