West Central Reporter

The Western Illinois University football team marked their entry into the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference with a victory over Charleston Southern, winning 31-20 on Saturday in North Charleston, South Carolina. This marks their second consecutive win.

Western Illinois coach Joe Davis expressed satisfaction with the team's performance: "I'm happy for the players, happy for the coaches, happy for the alums and fans who came down to South Carolina to support us." He credited all phases of the game—offense, defense, and special teams—for contributing to the win.

Quarterback Nathan Lamb completed 17 of 23 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown. Running back Cameren Smith contributed 101 yards on 25 carries while receiver Eli Aragon recorded 129 yards on ten catches, including a touchdown.

Defensively, Western Illinois forced two turnovers early in the game. Aidan Harrison intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown, giving WIU an early lead. Coach Davis acknowledged the importance of these turnovers: "Our defense was monumental, getting those two turnovers early."

Charleston Southern narrowed WIU's lead to one point before halftime. However, Lamb led a successful drive resulting in a scoring pass to Matthew Henry, putting WIU ahead at halftime.

In the second half, Western Illinois focused on their running game. Smith played a significant role as they increased their lead with additional scores from Aragon and Antonio Chadha's field goal.

Jalen Riven and DJ Taylor made key defensive plays throughout the game. Juan De La Cruz led defensively with ten tackles.

This road victory is Western Illinois' first since September 2021. The team will play its next two games at home against UT Martin and Tennessee Tech.