Started out ok; cold; teens when I started my walk, and I did my old “1 Cornstalk, 1 lower loop” 5.3 mile walk at 14:34.
Later, Mat picked me up at 10 am and we made the 11 am kickoff, due to almost no one being there. I was as cold as I’d ever been at game (hands, mostly.
Few people were there, and they missed a rock-em, sock-em Missouri Valley battle. The Redbirds scored right away, thanks to an interception off of a trick play. But then it was even..even Western dominating the scrimmage line. Western missed a field goal into the wind, but scored in the second quarter off of a long drive; mostly running.
And that is how the first half ended. Second half: 3’rd quarter, a long drive lead to a touchdown, with two key penalties: late hit out of bounds and then perhaps the most blatant pass interference I’ve ever seen (defender fell down and pulled down the receiver. But the Redbirds missed the extra point.
Later, the Leathernecks got a tough 42 yard field goal to cut it to 3.
Then in the 4’th: final drive..or second to final drive, the Leathernecks hit a big field goal to tie it at 13 with 45 seconds to go. A last ditch drive by the Redbirds lead to a 50’sh yard field goal attempt which was wide right.
In the first overtime, the Redbirds got a first down and scored a TD, then held the Leathernecks on downs to win.
Overall, Western Illinois did NOT resemble a winless team; they played hard.
On the way home, I heard the heartbreaking Illinois vs Michigan score (9 seconds!), the upbeat Navy score (upset no. 20 UCF!)
I made it with about 8 minutes left in the Bradley vs Southeast Missouri State game, and Bradley was down by 5. BU rallied to win 73-60; nice win vs. a not-that-bad team. I missed the Women winning their game, vs. an opponent who lost 100-38 to Illinois.
There was a decent crowd.
