'Necks falter in final contest of the year against Jackrabbits
Bill Welt
Issue date: 11/30/09 Section: Opinion
The Western Illinois football team (1-9, 0-7) could not pull out a conference victory this season as it lost to South Dakota State (8-3, 7-1) 27-7 Saturday, Nov. 21.
The 10th-straight loss marks the first time the Leathernecks could not gain a conference win as a Missouri Valley Football Conference member, formerly known as the Gateway Conference, which formed in 1985.
Senior free safety Ed Roberts kept Western close in the first quarter when he intercepted redshirt freshman quarterback Thomas O'Brien at the Jackrabbits' 45-yard line. He returned the ball to the 25-yard line as the 'Necks trailed 7-0.
Senior running back Dre Gibbs immediately capitalized on the turnover with a 25-yard rushing touchdown on the ensuing play to tie the game at seven with 8:54 remaining in the first quarter.
He finished the contest with 110 rushing yards on 20 attempts. Gibbs recorded the 10th best rushing season in school history with 1,117 rushing yards.
"It has been an honor to play with these guys," Gibbs said. "I'm proud of the season because nobody gave up on either side of the ball. We have a great man (head coach Mark Hendrickson) right here. A great man first and foremost and a great coach secondly. It was great to play for him my senior year."
South Dakota State jumped ahead 17-7 in the second quarter after junior running back Kyle Minnet scored his second touchdown of the contest at the goal line with 9:46 in the first half.
O'Brien expanded the lead 24-7 when he connected with senior receiver Glenn Fox for a 10-yard touchdown pass following a blocked punt by the Jackrabbits' special teams.
Freshman kicker Brian Egan had an opportunity to close in on the Jackrabbit lead in the third quarter to cap a 12-minute, 15-play drive by Western. But Egan's low kick was blocked and recovered by South Dakota State at its 16-yard line.
The Jackrabbits managed to drive downfield and convert a field goal at the closing seconds of the third quarter for the Jackrabbits' final points, making the score 27-7 to start the fourth quarter.
The 10th-straight loss marks the first time the Leathernecks could not gain a conference win as a Missouri Valley Football Conference member, formerly known as the Gateway Conference, which formed in 1985.
Senior free safety Ed Roberts kept Western close in the first quarter when he intercepted redshirt freshman quarterback Thomas O'Brien at the Jackrabbits' 45-yard line. He returned the ball to the 25-yard line as the 'Necks trailed 7-0.
Senior running back Dre Gibbs immediately capitalized on the turnover with a 25-yard rushing touchdown on the ensuing play to tie the game at seven with 8:54 remaining in the first quarter.
He finished the contest with 110 rushing yards on 20 attempts. Gibbs recorded the 10th best rushing season in school history with 1,117 rushing yards.
"It has been an honor to play with these guys," Gibbs said. "I'm proud of the season because nobody gave up on either side of the ball. We have a great man (head coach Mark Hendrickson) right here. A great man first and foremost and a great coach secondly. It was great to play for him my senior year."
South Dakota State jumped ahead 17-7 in the second quarter after junior running back Kyle Minnet scored his second touchdown of the contest at the goal line with 9:46 in the first half.
O'Brien expanded the lead 24-7 when he connected with senior receiver Glenn Fox for a 10-yard touchdown pass following a blocked punt by the Jackrabbits' special teams.
Freshman kicker Brian Egan had an opportunity to close in on the Jackrabbit lead in the third quarter to cap a 12-minute, 15-play drive by Western. But Egan's low kick was blocked and recovered by South Dakota State at its 16-yard line.
The Jackrabbits managed to drive downfield and convert a field goal at the closing seconds of the third quarter for the Jackrabbits' final points, making the score 27-7 to start the fourth quarter.
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