In a thrilling conclusion to the regular season, Western Illinois edged out Gardner-Webb with a score of 29-24 on Saturday afternoon in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. The game featured a standout performance from freshman quarterback Carson Carswell, who threw for two touchdowns and added a rushing score to secure the victory.
Carswell”s impressive play was evident early in the game as he connected with Brandon Lainer on a 49-yard pass and later found Alex Williams for a 17-yard touchdown catch, both occurring in the first quarter. His 1-yard touchdown run increased the Leathernecks” lead to 21-10.
Adding to the scoring, running back Markell Holman contributed with a 1-yard touchdown run, helping Western Illinois extend their lead to 29 points. Holman finished the game with 137 rushing yards on 33 carries.
On the other side, Cole Pennington of Gardner-Webb threw for a total of 356 yards, completing 29 passes but also recording one interception. Pennington”s first touchdown pass was a 26-yard connection with Caleb Borders. Following a successful two-point conversion, Gardner-Webb closed the gap to 11 points heading into the final quarter.
Pennington later found Chris Lofton for another touchdown, bringing the score to 29-24, but Gardner-Webb was unable to convert on their second two-point attempt. Lofton led all receivers in the game with 11 catches for 169 yards, showcasing his significant impact on the field.
This victory improved Western Illinois” record to 4-8 overall and 3-5 in the OVC/Big South, while Gardner-Webb concluded their season at 7-5 and 5-3 in conference play.
