West Central Reporter

Western Illinois University's football team is set to face the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs on November 23, 2024, at Hanson Field in Macomb. The game will begin at 1 p.m.

In their inaugural season as part of the Big South–OVC Football Association, the Leathernecks hold a 3-8 overall record with a conference standing of 2-5. Their most recent outing was a narrow defeat against Southeast Missouri, ranked #12, ending in a score of 54-45 on November 16. This season marks their best performance since 2018 when they finished with a 5-6 record.

Quarterback Nathan Lamb has been notable this season, completing 239 of his 369 pass attempts for a total of 2,980 yards. He has thrown for 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Lamb is currently ranked eighth in the FCS for total passing yards and holds the top spot for passing efficiency within the OVC.

Cameren Smith has contributed significantly to the team's ground game with 188 carries amounting to 822 yards and seven touchdowns. Receiver Matthew Henry leads the OVC in receiving yards with a total of 969 and ranks twelfth in the FCS for average receiving yards per game at 88.1.

Gardner-Webb enters the matchup with an overall record of 4-7 and a conference record of 3-4. They recently faced Tennessee State, resulting in a close loss at 23-20 on November 16. Quarterback Tyler Riddell leads Gardner-Webb's offense with a tally of 2,339 passing yards alongside thirteen touchdowns and ten interceptions this season. On defense, linebacker Trevor Moffitt stands out with sixty-four tackles, five sacks, and one interception.

As both teams aim to end their regular seasons on a high note, Western Illinois looks forward to securing a home victory under partly sunny skies with temperatures ranging from highs of forty-nine degrees Fahrenheit to lows of thirty-eight degrees Fahrenheit.

For further updates on Leatherneck Football, fans are encouraged to visit GoLeathernecks.com or follow them on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.