Western Courier

Issue date: 10/12/09 Section: Sports

Senior running back Dre Gibbs rushed for 158 yards and one touchdown on 27 carries against Youngstown State.

The Leatherneck football team (1-4, 0-2) suffered another setback Saturday night at Youngstown State (4-2, 2-1), losing 31-21.

Western Illinois made a second-half rally after trailing 31-0 at halftime.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Wil Lunt, who started in place of junior Matt Barr due to a sprained left thumb, had an opportunity to bring the 'Necks within striking distance. Lunt hit junior receiver Lito Senatus for the 'Necks' third score with 7:54 left in the game.

He led the offense near midfield on the following possession but threw an interception to sophomore linebacker David Rach. Lunt released the ball as he was hit by defensive back Rick Richardson.

"Wil Lunt played excellent for everything I saw," said head coach Mark Hendrickson. "(He) can play even better. He got hit very hard a few times and one late hit and got up and kept playing every snap. He was throwing the ball very well right up to the gun."

The 'Necks' defense did not give up a single point in the second half but was mauled by the Penguins' offense in the first.

Senior quarterback Brandon Summers led the Penguins to a 28-0 lead near the end of the second quarter on a seven-yard play-action pass to junior receiver Dominique Barnes.

Western's defense could not contain receivers Dominique Barnes and junior Donald Jones, as each caught a touchdown reception in the first half.

The Penguins' rushing game also achieved success in the first half, as senior tailback Kevin Smith and senior fullback Dana Brown combined for 92 yards and two touchdowns.

"There's no doubt our staff will analyze as well as we can and visit with the team because all of us want to have a great start," Hendrickson said. "All of us want a great start to a ballgame. The preparation this week was all geared to have a great start. The emphasis of the game time was all about let's have a great, fast start to this game, so it was a big blow when you go out, and it doesn't happen which you planned on and worked on so hard and doesn't happen."

The 'Necks' offense proved incapable of moving the ball without the presence of a passing game, gainingonly 57 yards total by the end of the second quarter

Lunt only completed two passes for 13 yards on seven attempts heading into the third quarter. He finished the night going 9-for-19 for 109 yards and two touchdowns.

Lunt did not get any help from the offensive front, getting sacked three times in the first half.

"We didn't help Wil Lunt as much as we needed to," Hendrickson said. "When you have a freshman quarterback taking the first start of his career, you just really need to help him. That means outstanding protection and running the ball well too, so it's not all on his arm."

The 'Necks never entered into Penguin territory by halftime, as Western went into the locker room trailing 31-0.

"Let's give our guys great credit because they got back up," Henrickson said. "They were knocked totally down you could say during that first half. But at halftime, they got up and took it to the opponent and so we're very proud of that."

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