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Donaldson eclipses 300 rushing yards as Leathernecks defeat Missouri State 31-10

October 17, 2007 on 9:56 pm | In Athletics |

MACOMB, Ill. - Herb Donaldson rushed for 314 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries, recording the second-highest rushing game in Gateway Conference history and pacing Western Illinois in its 31-10 victory over Missouri State.

The defense gave the Leathernecks (5-2, 2-0) a short field to work with on their first drive when Victor Visoky sacked Cody Kirby on third down and forced a fumble that was recovered by teammate Clinton Barley at the Bears’ 26-yard line. Donaldson then ran three times to put the Leathernecks up 7-0 less than three minutes into the game.

The Bears (4-3, 1-2) retaliated with a nine-play, 82-yard drive and tied the game with a 17-yard touchdown catch by Eric Davis at the 9:03 mark.

An interception by Jerome Bennett off a tipped pass gave the Leathernecks the ball two plays into the second quarter, and the offense capitalized after driving 89 yards on 10 plays as Donaldson reached the end zone again to give Western a 14-7 lead with 9:45 left in the half. Donaldson rushed for 45 yards and surpassed the 100-yard mark during the drive. Bennett’s interception was the second of the game for the Leathernecks and the third turnover of the half for the Bears, who were also intercepted by Robert Hodges late in the first quarter.

Taylor Rowan tacked on a 47-yard field goal on the Leathernecks’ next drive, extending their lead to 10, 17-7, but the Bears fought right back with a field goal of their own, a 52-yarder from Nathan Stokes, to come within seven again at the 1:22 mark.

After a scoreless third quarter, Western continued to rush into the end zone, scoring on a six-play, 80-yard drive - all rushing yards - on their first possession to extend its lead to 24-10. Donaldson carried the ball three times for 47 yards on the drive, and Alex Douglas ran the last two plays, the second of which went for 15 yards into the end zone.

Douglas, who ended with 13 carries for 100 yards, and Donaldson became the first pair of running backs to rush for 100 yards in a game since 1999. The duo helped the Leathernecks, who attempted just one pass after halftime, gain a total of 508 yards on the ground. Neither were tackled for a loss.

The defense forced the Bears into a three-and-out on the following drive, when Anthony D’Astice blocked his second punt of the game, picking this one up at the 5-yard line and running it in for a touchdown and a 31-10 lead for the Leathernecks.

The Leatherneck defense allowed just one touchdown and only 287 total yards to a team that entered the game averaging 40.7 points and 439.2 yards per game. Jason Williams led the charge with 13 total tackles, including two for loss. Bennett added 10 stops, a forced fumble, two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry to go along with his interception.

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