Western Illinois quarterback Sean McGuire scored on a 7-yard run in the second overtime, lifting the Fighting Leathernecks to a 30-24 victory over fifth-ranked South Dakota State Saturday afternoon at Hanson Field.
WIU, which was receiving votes in the most recent Football Championship Subdivision polls, improved to 6-5 overall and moved into a tie with SDSU for third place in the Missouri Valley Football Conference with a 5-3 record. The Jackrabbits dropped to 8-3 overall
.Trailing by seven in the waning moments after blocking a field goal attempt, the Jackrabbits forced overtime with a 2-yard touchdown run by Kyle Paris with 1 minute, 35 seconds remaining in regulation. That capped a nine-play, 75-yard drive that included a 15-yard pass play on the previous snap from Zach Lujan to Jake Wieneke on fourth down.
SDSU got the ball back with 1:14 remaining in regulation on an interception by Je Ryan Butler at the SDSU 33 and moved the ball as far as the WIU 43. A hail mary pass on the final play of regulation was intercepted.
Each team scored a touchdown on its first overtime possession. Nikko Watson put WIU back out front with a 1-yard run, while SDSU countered with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Lujan to Wieneke. Wieneke tallied a game-high nine receptions for 118 yards.
The Jackrabbits had the first possession of the second overtime, but came up empty as Jay Carlson missed a 35-yard field goal into the wind.
Aided by a pass interference penalty, the Fighting Leathernecks moved deep into SDSU territory and scored the game-winner when McGuire rolled around right end. McGuire finished the game 19-of-40 passing for 282 yards.
Western Illinois scored first, putting together an eight-play, 46-yard drive on its second possession of the game. Nathan Knuffman’s career-long 42-yard field goal gave the Fighting Leathernecks an early 3-0 lead.
The Jackrabbits answered with a field goal of their own, a 24-yarder by Carlson, on their first drive of the second quarter, then took the lead moments later behind the play of Brady Mengarelli. The sophomore running back from Prescott, Arizona, accounted for 54 yards from scrimmage on the go-ahead drive, capping the eight-play, 80-yard march with an eight-yard touchdown run. Mengarelli posted a run of 17 yards and a catch of 28 yards to set up his sixth rushing touchdown of the season.
After forcing a Western Illinois fumble on the opening drive of the second half, the Jackrabbits were on the verge of taking a two-touchdown lead. However the Fighting Leathernecks returned the favor as Kyle Paris coughed up the football inside the 5-yard line and WIU recovered. It marked the first time SDSU lost a fumble all season and was the first of four second-half turnovers committed by the Jackrabbits.
The Fighting Leathernecks then drove the length of the field to knot the game at 10-all with 5:24 to play in the third quarter. Devon Moore finished off the 12-play, 89-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run.
WIU gained a 17-10 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter as McGuire connected with Isaiah Lesure on a 3-yard touchdown pass to cap a 10-play, 82-yard drive.
Western held a 427-492 advantage in total offense. Watson led the Fighting Leatherneck rushing attack with 178 yards on 28 carries. Joey Borsellino and Lance Lenoir each recorded five receptions for respective yardage totals of 91 and 85 yards.
The Fighting Leathernecks were more efficient on third down, converting 14-of-22 attempts, while the Jackrabbits made good on only 5-of-14 third-down tries.
For SDSU, Lujan ended the day 21-of-37 passing for 246 yards. Mengarelli finished with a career-high 187 rushing yards on 20 carries and added three receptions for 36 yards.
Defensively, the Jackrabbits were paced by senior linebacker and Illinois native T.J. Lally with 17 tackles. Fellow Illinois product Jesse Bobbit added 11 stops.
WIU was led on the defensive end by Brett Taylor with 11 tackles, including four for loss.
