MACOMB, Ill. (Interstat) — Western Illinois defeated Tennessee State 28-21 on Saturday at Hanson Field in an NCAA Football Championship Division game. The Leathernecks improved to 3-3, while the Tigers dropped to 1-4. Western Illinois, the home team, used a late rushing touchdown from Kennedy McGill and a fourth-quarter interception return for a touchdown from Jake Kruger to secure the win. Tennessee State, the visiting team, scored three touchdowns but could not hold off the Leathernecks. The game featured scoring in every quarter and a combined 49 points. Western Illinois finished with 28 points, and Tennessee State finished with 21. The Leathernecks scored on two Ronan Culkin field goals, a McGill touchdown pass, a Kruger interception return and a McGill rushing touchdown. Tennessee State answered with a Daylin Lee rushing touchdown and two Lee touchdown passes to Cam Bulluck.

Ronan Culkin opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 24-yard field goal with 6:47 remaining. In the second quarter, McGill connected with Ihson Jackson-Anderson on a 33-yard touchdown pass with 3:56 remaining, and Culkin added the extra point. Tennessee State responded before halftime when Lee rushed 4 yards for a touchdown with 44 seconds left and Davion Moore made the extra point. Culkin’s 50-yard field goal attempt with 3 seconds remaining in the second quarter was no good. Lee found Bulluck for two touchdown passes, including a 2-yard score with 8:56 remaining in the third quarter, and Moore converted the extra point after that touchdown. Culkin made a 30-yard field goal with 11:50 remaining in the fourth quarter. Later in the fourth, Kruger intercepted Lee at the Tennessee State 43-yard line and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown with 11:08 remaining; McGill then ran in a successful 2-point conversion. McGill capped the scoring with a 16-yard touchdown run with 52 seconds remaining, and Culkin kicked the extra point. The final margin came after Western Illinois’ late surge.

Daylin Lee led Tennessee State’s offense by completing 22 of 42 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns and adding a rushing touchdown, though he was intercepted once. Cam Bulluck caught five passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns. Brock Montgomery had six receptions for 75 yards and returned one kickoff 31 yards. Jayden Guy added four catches for 65 yards. Jaden Jones had one reception for 24 yards. Aaron Duncan II caught two passes for 16 yards, and Francisco Pratts III had two receptions for 9 yards. Brenton Paul rushed 12 times for 62 yards and caught two passes for 2 yards. Trevor Pearson carried eight times for 11 yards. Truette Tumey punted six times for 252 yards. On defense, Joshua Reese recorded 10 tackles. Sammy Taylor added eight tackles. Rymen Mosley had six tackles and one interception. Jalen LaBranche and Epoki Fakaosi each made five tackles. Kaiki Baker and Jaylon Price each finished with four tackles. Jakobe Freeman had two tackles, and DaShawn Carter recorded two quarterback hurries. Davion Moore handled kicking duties and converted extra points.

Western Illinois’ offense was powered by Kennedy McGill, who completed 23 of 43 passes for 241 yards and one touchdown and rushed 16 times for 188 yards and one touchdown. Ihson Jackson-Anderson had 11 carries for 30 yards, six receptions for 80 yards, three kickoff returns for 56 yards and one touchdown. Xavier Coleman caught four passes for 44 yards and added one tackle. David Hargro rushed twice for 17 yards and caught three passes for 29 yards. Avery Knight carried five times for 13 yards and caught two passes for 24 yards. Josh Robinson had two carries for 2 yards and one kickoff return for 23 yards. Christian Anaya caught three passes for 18 yards. Jacob Kania had three receptions for 20 yards. Israel Hiraldo caught one pass for 23 yards. Sasha Summers had one reception for 3 yards. Joel Salien returned one punt 4 yards, and Sheko Gjokaj returned one punt for no gain. Luke Droegemueller punted four times for 158 yards. Ronan Culkin made two field goals and extra points. On defense, LeBron Morgan led the Leathernecks with 12 tackles and one sack. Antonio Dobbins made eight tackles. Nick Reinicke added seven tackles. Christian Garrett had six tackles. Cidney Johnson recorded five tackles and one quarterback hurry. DonPaul Keith had three tackles, one quarterback hurry and one interception. Jake Kruger finished with two tackles, one interception and one touchdown. Jalen Nicolas had two tackles and four quarterback hurries. Justin Buckner made one tackle and six quarterback hurries. Joe Edwards had two quarterback hurries, and Jamesly Jean Louis added one quarterback hurry. Jouvenson Romulus and Brayden Hapner each recorded three tackles. Kye Weinzierl and Steven Oberst each made one tackle.

Tennessee State entered the game with a 1-3 record after a 29-26 win at Florida A&M, a 30-3 loss at Alabama A&M, a 63-3 loss at Georgia and a 26-24 home loss to Jackson State. Western Illinois entered at 2-3 after a 23-20 loss at North Alabama, a 59-2 home win over Morehead State, a 36-9 loss at Wisconsin, a 41-10 home loss to Illinois State and a 65-14 home win over Northwestern (IA). Tennessee State is set to play Tennessee-Martin at home, Morgan State at home, Charleston Southern at home, Lindenwood on the road, Southeast Missouri State at home, Eastern Illinois at home and Gardner-Webb on the road in its next games. Western Illinois is set to play at Southeast Missouri State, host Tennessee-Martin, play at Charleston Southern, play at Eastern Illinois, host Gardner-Webb and play at Lindenwood in its next games.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Western Illinois 46, Tennessee State 19. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Western Illinois with a 70.6 percent probability to win. Tennessee State had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +12.5. The total score of 49 went over the over/under line of 51.5.