WIU falters in second half vs. SDSU

MACOMB — This week, it was not the slow first half start that doomed the Western Illinois football team, but the adding of mistakes in the second half that cost the Leathernecks on Saturday afternoon.

WIU was able to hang around with the 7/8 ranked Jacks, leading 10-7 in the second quarter, but a pair of South Dakota State field goals before half paved the way for a big third quarter and second half in the SDSU 41-17 win.

“The whole game I was really proud of how our guys played, we had a bunch of guys flying around the field spilling their guts like we needed but still in the first half we had some critical mistakes, things that we have to have in our favor to be able to beat a team like that,” WIU coach Jared Elliott said. “Where it spiraled though was early in the third quarter, we were going into the wind and special teams, we had a blocked punt then it was the field position battle from there."

WIU trailed 7-0 in he first quarter  but a 12-yard touchdown run by Dennis Houston would tie the game.

Mason Laramie would connect on a 43-yard field goal early in the second to put WIU ahead but the Jackrabbits would flip the field and take control of the rest of the half.

A short punt allowed SDSU to go 18 yards on six plays, tying the game on a 47-yard field.

Another short kick gave the Jacks a short field and allowed SDSU to kick a 29-yard field goal to take a 13-10 lead the break.

“We had to execute no matter what the field position is, it’s the same old same old, have a good half, have a bad half,” WIU’ safety Darius joiner said.

Despite trailing, WIU was in a good spot, down 13-10 at the break and scheduled to receive the second half kick.

But Western would go three and out and on the ensuing punt the Jackrabbits would block the kick and return it nine yards for a score to go up 10.

“It really built up on us, the hidden yardage in the third quarter came back to bite us in the third," Elliott said. "I’m disappointed with how we came out of the locker room from an execution standpoint but our guys played hard the whole game.”

The Leathernecks would get back into the game, answering on their next drive with a Myles Wanza 15-yard run.

But SDSU would score three touchdowns on their next three drives to pull away.

“It was the negative plays in general, that was the story for us on offense,” Elliott said. “Most of the day we were not able to find a rhythm, we were too hot and cold with a negative play here or a negative play there.”

WIU would continually find itself moving backward, coming eight penalties for 56 yards, get sacked three times for 19 yards and allowing 26 yards via tackle for loss.

“The penalties, the sacks, the tackles for loss, we have to be better and stay on schedule,” Elliott said. “We can not be second, third and long, whether it is execution or penalty, that is an area we have to be better and an area we need to improve.”

Western’s offense was led by Connor Sampson, who completed 29-51 passes for 207 yards.

Dennis Houston had 14 catches for 71 yards while Tony Tate added seven receptions for 75 yards.

Wanza had 27 yards on six carries.

Defensively, Joiner had nine tackles while Lawson added eight and a fumble recovery.