West Central Reporter

Western Illinois University’s football team will travel to Nashville this Saturday to face Tennessee State at Nissan Stadium in an OVC–Big South conference matchup. The Leathernecks, who hold a 1-7 overall record and are winless in conference play, aim to recover from their recent loss and secure their first league victory of the season.

Last week, Western Illinois narrowly lost to Charleston Southern with a score of 29-24 at Hanson Field. Freshman quarterback Cason Carswell led the offense by completing 34 of 51 passes for 375 yards and two touchdowns. The team accumulated a total of 463 offensive yards and maintained possession for nearly 35 minutes. Christian Anaya contributed six receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown, while Alex Williams added another score among his four catches. Markell Holman led the rushing attack with 71 yards and also caught ten passes for 84 yards.

On special teams, Antonio Chadha made a 41-yard field goal and converted all three extra-point attempts. Defensively, Buju Aumua-Tuisavura and Justin Buckner each recorded six tackles, with Buckner and Aa'zoriyon Bonner combining for two sacks.

Freshman quarterback Cason Carswell has been noted as a key player for Western Illinois in recent weeks. Over his last three starts, he has thrown for more than 900 yards and seven touchdowns. His connection with wide receiver Demari Davis has become an important part of the team's offense. On defense, Kevin Washington Jr. and Christian Pierce have been consistent contributors near the top of the team's tackle statistics.

Tennessee State enters the game following a decisive win over Howard Bison, ending a five-game losing streak with a score of 24-7. Quarterback Byron McNair completed 18 of 22 passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns without any turnovers in that contest. The Tigers’ defense limited Howard to just 183 total yards; linebacker Micah Gay stood out with eleven tackles and two interceptions.

The upcoming game is seen as an opportunity for Western Illinois to regain momentum before heading into their bye week. "A victory over Tennessee State would not only halt the Leathernecks' recent skid but also provide valuable momentum heading into the bye week," according to team officials.

For further updates on Western Illinois football, fans can visit GoLeathernecks.com or follow the team on social media platforms X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.