Western Illinois beats D-II member McKendree 49-32, snaps 27-game losing streak

MACOMB, Ill. (AP) Cameren Smith ran for 199 yards and two touchdowns, Nathan Lamb and Demari Davis each accounted for two TDs on Saturday night and Western Illinois beat Division-II member McKendree 49-32 to snap a 27-game losing streak.

Western Illinois won for the first time since a 38-31 victory over Illinois State on October 30, 2021 and ended what was tied with North Carolina A&T (2005-07) for the seventh-longest losing streak in FCS history.

Lamb ran for a 2-yard TD that made it 7-3 with 5:47 left in the first quarter and connected with a wide-open Davis on a 74-yard catch-and-run that gave Western Illinois (1-3) a 14-6 lead with 3:33 left in the second. McKendree went three-and-out on the ensuing possession and the Leathernecks answered with eight-play, 62-yard drive that culminated when Davis scored on a 17-yard end around less than 3 minutes later.

Kaleb Berry, who opened the scoring with a 25-yard field goal about 4 minutes into the game and added a 20-yarder early in the second quarter, made a 29-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to cut McKendree's deficit to 21-9.

Western Illinois to the opening kickoff in the second half and went 77 yards in seven plays and Avery Knight scored on a 20-yard run. Berry followed with 23-yard field goal but Chris Irvin - who came in briefly after Lamb limped off the the field - threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Eli Aragon that made it 35-12 going into the fourth quarter.

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