Russ Michna threw for 238 yards and Travis Glasford added 127 rushing to lead No. 2 Western Illinois to a 33-28 Gateway Conference victory over fifth-ranked WKU at Hanson Field.
It’s the third time in as many years that the Leathernecks (4-1, 1-0 GFC) have defeated the Toppers (3-2, 0-1 Gateway) in the league opener for both teams.
Glasford’s second 1-yard touchdown run with 11:28 remaining made the score 33-21 before a couple of James Norris fumbles gave the Toppers a chance to get back in the contest. WKU failed to pick up a first down after he dropped a punt return that Brandon Smith recovered at the WIU-31, then took over at the WIU-30 after Antonio Thomas stripped Norris and Karl Maslowski recovered the ball. Justin Haddix moved WKU into the red zone with a 11-yard carry for the first down, but the drive stalled there.
Given another chance after Antonio Veals stripped Glasford at the WKU-47, Haddix completed a pair of passes to Casey Rooney, the second which covered 26 yards to give WKU 1st-and-goal at the WIU-2. Chris Miller scored with 2:46 left to cut the deficit to 33-28.
WKU took over one last time following Smith’s second recovery of the quarter at the WIU-48. Haddix found Rooney down the left sideline on 4th-and-18 to keep the drive alive, but four straight incompletions marked the end of the comeback attempt.
Michna ended the day 20-of-29 for 238 yards, completing passes to six different receivers. Norris led all players with eight receptions for 109 yards, while Terrence Hall caught five passes for 44 yards.
Glasford carried 23 times, with his first 1-yard touchdown run at 4:10 of the second quarter that made the score 21-14 Hilltoppers, beginning a run of 26 unanswered WIU points. The Hilltoppers were driving after getting the ball back until Travis Washington picked up a Lerron Moore fumble and returned it 52 yards for a score with 2:15 remaining before halftime to knot the score, 21-21.
It was the Hilltoppers, though, that carried the play early. The Leathernecks held WKU to a 3-and-out on its opening possession, but an offsides penalty on 4th-and-3 gave the Toppers the ball back. Moore’s 48-yard run put the Hilltoppers in WIU territory, with Haddix later hitting Shannon Hayes for a 17-yard touchdown pass to cap a nine-play, 80-yard drive that gave WKU a 7-0 lead at 10:57.
The Toppers took advantage of another WIU miscue to double its lead with 8:23 to go in the opening quarter. Brian Claybourn’s pooch kick was recovered by Andrew Glover, giving the Hilltoppers a first down on the WIU-24. Haddix hit Earl Clayton for 6 yards on third down to move the chains, and two plays later scored from 13 yards out to make the score 14-0.
When the Leathernecks finally got the ball, they drove 81 yards in nine plays, making the score 14-7 when Michna connected with Hall from 18 yards out with 4:06 left in the first quarter.
WKU got the touchdown back on its ensuing drive, covering 65 yards in 13 plays and 6:02 as Haddix found Maurice Bradley for an 11-yard touchdown pass at 12:53 of the second quarter. Erik Dandy intercepted Michna to set up the Toppers inside the WIU-30, however Matt Lange’s 43-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left. Instead, Glasford ended a 14-play, 74-yard Leatherneck drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to begin WIU’s surge.
The Leathernecks took their first lead, 23-21, with 9:23 to go in the third quarter when Washington blocked Claybourn’s punt attempt out of the back of the end zone. Justin Langan atoned for a missed field goal earlier in the period when he hit a 42-yard attempt — his first field goal of the season — at 1:41 to extend WIU’s lead to 26-21.
Moore led the Hilltoppers with a career-high 136 yards on 28 carries, although 124 came in the first half. The Leathernecks entered the game as the top rushing defense in the country, allowing 52.8 yards per game.
Haddix completed 14-of-34 passes for 185 yards, recording his second multiple touchdown contest in the last four weeks — both the completions and passing yards were career highs as well. Hayes topped WKU with a career-best five catches for 67 yards, with Rooney chipping in with four receptions for a team-high 75 yards.
Thomas led all players with 10 total tackles in addition to the first forced fumble of his career. Smith ended up with eight stops and two fumble recoveries, while Maslowski chipped in with seven tackles, two stops behind the line of scrimmage, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Lee Russell paced the Leathernecks with nine tackles.
WKU returns to action Saturday with a 7 p.m. (CDT) kickoff against Southwest Missouri State at L.T. Smith Stadium/Jimmy Feix Field. It will be the Toppers’ only home game of October.
