Recaps of Saturday’s MVFC games

Western Illinois 28, Northern Illinois 23

DEKALB, ILL.

Sean McGuire threw for 315 yards and a touchdown, the Western Illinois defense came up with two late stops, and the FCS Leathernecks upset Northern Illinois. Western Illinois (3-0) snapped a 15-game losing streak against FBS teams. The Leathernecks are 7-29 against FBS foes — with all their wins against the Mid-American Conference. Northern Illinois quarterback Anthony Maddie was stopped short on fourth-and-2 at the Leathernecks’ 19-yard line with 2:50 left. On the Huskies next drive, Maddie’s pass attempt on fourth-and-3 at the Leathernecks’ 9-yard line was deflected and fell incomplete to preserve the win. Steve McShane’s 11-yard touchdown run put the Leathernecks on top, and Jamie Gilmore’s 1-yard plunge made it 14-0 with a minute remaining in the first quarter. Maddie and Ryan Graham combined to pass for 251 yards and two scores for Northern Illinois (0-4), which has lost seven straight dating to last season. It was the first meeting between the two schools since 2009.

Indiana State 34, Illinois State 31

TERRE HAUTE, IND.

Isaac Harker passed for 237 yards and two touchdowns, Roland Genesy rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns, and Jonas Griffith’s sack and forced fumble in the game’s waning moments clinched a Indiana State win over Illinois State in the Missouri Valley opener for both teams. With a chance to tie or take its first lead, Illinois State had second-and-3 in Sycamores territory, but Griffith knocked the ball loose from Jake Kolbe, and Kenyota Rollins recovered to ensure an Indiana State (3-1, 1-0) victory. Kolbe passed for 258 yards and three TDs, including two in the fourth quarter, the latter capping a 70-yard Illinois State (2-2, 0-1) drive to narrow the score to 34-31 with 3:07 remaining.

Associated Press