West Central Reporter

Western Illinois University's football team saw their two-game winning streak end with a 45-17 defeat against UT Martin during their Homecoming game in Macomb. Head coach Joe Davis expressed disappointment, saying, "We did not come out with the energy necessary for a conference game at home." The Leathernecks struggled defensively, falling behind 14-3 after the first quarter and 28-3 by halftime.

Davis noted that UT Martin's physical play was challenging for Western Illinois. "UT Martin did a nice job being physical at the point of attack," he said. Running back Cameren Smith faced difficulties as well, gaining only 27 yards on 13 carries.

The Skyhawks took an early lead with a touchdown on their opening drive and extended it with three more touchdowns before halftime. They continued to dominate in the third quarter, reaching a 42-3 advantage. In the fourth quarter, they added a field goal to conclude their scoring.

Western Illinois managed to score twice in the final quarter. Cameren Smith scored on a two-yard run, while quarterback Chris Irvin connected with Demari Davis for a 20-yard touchdown pass. Defensively, Jeremiah Piper recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass, while Peyton Bradford forced another fumble.

Coach Davis acknowledged some positive takeaways from the game: "We have to try to build on the way we finished, getting a couple scores and a couple turnovers late." He hopes these elements can be built upon in preparation for next week's matchup against Tennessee Tech.

On defense, KJ Coleman and Noah Epley led WIU with nine tackles each. Jonathon Williams and Jordan Anderson recorded seven tackles apiece. Punter Jared Campbell averaged 43.6 yards over eight punts.

For further updates on Western Illinois Football, fans are encouraged to visit GoLeathernecks.com or follow them on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.