The 2024 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Big South–OVC Football Association during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by first-year head coach Joe Davis the Leathernecks compiled an overall record of 4–8 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, tying for sixth place in the Big South–OVC.
This was the team's first season as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference after leaving the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MFVC).
Schedule
Preseason Preseason poll The Big South-OVC Conference released their preseason poll on July 17, 2024. The Leathernecks were picked to finish last in the conference.
Game summaries at Northern Illinois
Statistics WIUNIU First downs 17 30 Total yards 298 706 Rushing yards 94 312 Passing yards 204 394 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 28:26 31:34 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Illinois Passing Nathan Lamb 17/29, 204 yards, TD Rushing Cameren Smith 14 rushes, 51 yards Receiving Tristin Duncan 5 receptions, 68 yardsNorthern Illinois Passing Ethan Hampton 18/20, 328 yards, 5 TD Rushing Antario Brown 8 rushes, 69 yards Receiving Trayvon Rudolph 4 receptions, 104 yards, TD
at Indiana (FBS)
Statistics WIUIU First downs 8 33 Total yards 121 701 Rushing yards 12 323 Passing yards 109 378 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–26–2 19–21–0 Time of possession 25:29 34:31 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Illinois Passing Nathan Lamb 13/25, 109 yards, 2 INT Rushing Torrance Farmer Jr. 5 carries, 20 yards Receiving Christian Anaya 5 receptions, 56 yardsIndiana Passing Kurtis Rourke 15/17, 268 yards, 2 TD Rushing Justice Ellison 9 carries, 117 yards, 2 TD Receiving Elijah Sarratt 6 receptions, 137 yards, TD
at No. 18 Illinois State
Statistics WIU ILST First downs 31 21 Total yards 503 390 Rushing yards 186 189 Passing yards 317 201 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 31–43–1 16–25–0 Time of possession 38:33 21:27 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Illinois Passing Nathan Lamb 24/34, 269 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Cameren Smith 20 carries, 77 yards Receiving Matthew Henry 7 receptions, 124 yardsIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 16/22, 201 yards, 2 TD Rushing Wenkers Wright 16 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD Receiving Xavier Loyd 4 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD
McKendree (DII)
Statistics MCK WIU First downs 27 24 Total yards 402 495 Rushing yards 203 273 Passing yards 199 222 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–40–0 16–21–0 Time of possession 34:00 26:00 Team Category Player StatisticsMcKendree Passing Ty Michael 18/37, 176 yards Rushing Eddie Clark 20 carries, 139 yards, 3 TD Receiving Kendall Abdur-Rahman 4 receptions, 65 yardsWestern Illinois Passing Nathan Lamb 14/19, 193 yards, 1 TD Rushing Cameren Smith 23 carries, 199 yards, 2 TD Receiving Demari Davis 2 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD
at Charleston Southern
Statistics WIU CHSO First downs 17 21 Total yards 329 431 Rushing yards 132 325 Passing yards 197 106 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–23–1 9–17–2 Time of possession 23:28 36:32 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Illinois Passing Nathan Lamb 17/23, 197 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Cameren Smith 25 carries, 101 yards, 1 TD Receiving Elijah Aragon 10 receptions, 129 yards, 1 TDCharleston Southern Passing Rob McCoy Jr 9/17, 106 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing Autavius Ison 29 carries, 229 yards, 2 TD Receiving Noah Jennings 4 receptions, 44 yards, 1 TD
UT Martin
Statistics UTM WIU First downs 27 18 Total yards 541 294 Rushing yards 306 40 Passing yards 235 254 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–28–1 27–49–0 Time of possession 32:09 27:51 Team Category Player StatisticsUT Martin Passing Kinkead Dent 16/21, 194 yards, 2 TD Rushing Patrick Smith 17 carries, 145 yards, TD Receiving Max Dowling 3 receptions, 88 yards, 2 TDWestern Illinois Passing Nathan Lamb 20/33, 158 yards Rushing Cameren Smith 13 carries, 27 yards, TD Receiving Tristin Duncan 4 receptions, 45 yards
Tennessee Tech
Statistics TNTC WIU First downs 17 26 Total yards 330 446 Rushing yards 68 186 Passing yards 262 260 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–34–2 15–24–0 Time of possession 22:13 37:47 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee Tech Passing Dylan Laible 23/33, 262 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing Jalen Mitchell 7 carries, 86 yards, 2 TD Receiving D.J. Linkins 7 receptions, 84 yardsWestern Illinois Passing Nathan Lamb 15/24, 260 yds, 2 TD Rushing Nathan Lamb 17 carries, 90 yards, 1 TD Receiving Matthew Henry 6 receptions, 181 yards, 1 TD
at Lindenwood
Statistics WIU LIN First downs 37 24 Total yards 713 572 Rushing yards 149 389 Passing yards 564 183 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 42–55–0 11–16–0 Time of possession 36:06 23:54 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Illinois Passing Nathan Lamb 42/55, 564 yards, 5 TD Rushing Cameren Smith 17 carries, 67 yards Receiving Matthew Henry 15 receptions, 226 yards, 1 TDLindenwood Passing Nate Glantz 11/16, 183 yards, 2 TD Rushing Steve Hall 13 carries, 259 yards, 4 TD Receiving Abe Haerr 1 reception, 57 yards
at Eastern Illinois
Statistics WIU EIU First downs 24 22 Total yards 395 534 Rushing yards 86 196 Passing yards 309 338 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 29–43–0 19–27–0 Time of possession 30:30 29:30 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Illinois Passing Nathan Lamb 29/43, 309 yards, 3 TD Rushing Cameren Smith 17 carries, 66 yards, 1 TD Receiving Elijah Aragon 9 receptions, 83 yards, 1 TDEastern Illinois Passing Pierce Holley 19/27, 338 yards, 5 TD Rushing MJ Flowers 27 carries, 194 yards, 1 TD Receiving Alex Ginnever 6 receptions, 100 yards, 2 TD
Tennessee State
Statistics TNST WIU First downs 23 27 Total yards 376 432 Rushing yards 188 148 Passing yards 188 284 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12–19–1 27–50–1 Time of possession 27:02 27:16 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee State Passing Draylen Ellis 12/19, 188 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Tevin Carter 8 carries, 51 yards, 2 TD Receiving Bryant Williams 3 receptions, 56 yards, 1 TDWestern Illinois Passing Nathan Lamb 24/45, 266 yds, 1 TD Rushing Nathan Lamb 13 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD Receiving Demari Davis 2 receptions, 62 yards
at No. 12 Southeast Missouri State
Statistics WIU SEMO First downs 25 33 Total yards 593 559 Rushing yards 93 192 Passing yards 500 367 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 27–42–3 24–39–1 Time of possession 26:09 33:51 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Illinois Passing Nathan Lamb 24/39, 449 yds, 3 TD, 3 INT Rushing Cameren Smith 17 carries, 84 yards, 1 TD Receiving Matthew Henry 7 receptions, 183 yards, 1 TDSoutheast Missouri State Passing Paxton DeLaurent 24/39, 367 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT Rushing Brandon Epton Jr. 22 carries, 126 yards, 1 TD Receiving Dorian Anderson 5 receptions, 116 yards, 1 TD
Gardner–Webb
Statistics GWEB WIU First downs 25 21 Total yards 348 511 Rushing yards 55 81 Passing yards 293 430 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 28–47–0 24–34–1 Time of possession 30:56 29:04 Team Category Player StatisticsGardner–Webb Passing Tyler Ridell 23/35, 234 yards, 3 TD Rushing Quasean Holmes 9 carries, 24 yards Receiving Anthony Lowe 5 receptions, 84 yardsWestern Illinois Passing Nathan Lamb 23/33, 352 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Torrance Farmer Jr. 16 carries, 58 yards, 2 TD Receiving Matthew Henry 6 receptions, 210 yards, 2 TD
References