MACOMB, Ill. — Tennessee State appeared to have control of its Ohio Valley Conference opener.
Then the fourth quarter happened.
The Tigers built a 21–10 lead over Western Illinois, but the Leathernecks erupted for 18 fourth-quarter points, rallying for a stunning 28–21 victory Saturday at Hanson Field.
For Tennessee State, the loss was especially painful because the Tigers led by 11 points with less than a quarter remaining.
Instead of leaving Macomb with a conference-opening victory, TSU watched Western Illinois score the game’s final 18 points.
Final Score
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
| Tennessee State | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Western Illinois | 3 | 7 | 0 | 18 | 28 |
Tennessee State Takes Control
Western Illinois struck first, with Ronan Culkin connecting on a 24-yard field goal with 6:47 remaining in the opening quarter.
Tennessee State answered quickly.
With 3:54 left in the first, Daylin Lee connected with Cam Bulluck for a 25-yard touchdown, giving the Tigers their first lead of the afternoon.
Western Illinois regained the advantage in the second quarter when Kennedy McGill found Ihson E. Jackson-Anderson for a 33-yard touchdown.
But TSU responded again.
With just 44 seconds remaining before halftime, Lee took it himself, scoring on a 4-yard rushing touchdown to put Tennessee State ahead 14–10.
The Tigers carried that momentum into the third quarter.
Bulluck Scores Again
Tennessee State extended its lead to 21–10 with 8:56 remaining in the third quarter.
Once again, it was Lee to Bulluck.
This time, the connection covered just two yards, but it gave Bulluck his second touchdown of the game and TSU an 11-point cushion.
At that point, Tennessee State looked like it was on its way to opening conference play with a victory.
Western Illinois had other plans.
Then Came the Fourth Quarter
The Leathernecks chipped away at the deficit when Culkin drilled a 30-yard field goal with 11:50 remaining.
TSU 21, WIU 13.
Then came the game’s biggest turning point.
Just 42 seconds later, Lee’s pass was intercepted by Jake Kruger, who returned the pick for a touchdown.
The failed comeback suddenly became very real.
Western Illinois was now within 21–19 and would tie the game at 21 when Kennedy McGill ran it in to successfully convert the ensuing two-point attempt.
And the Leathernecks weren’t finished.
With only 52 seconds remaining, McGill took a handoff and powered through for a 16-yard touchdown, completing the comeback and giving Western Illinois its first lead since the second quarter.
The final: Western Illinois 28, Tennessee State 21.
An 18-Point Fourth Quarter
The numbers tell the story.
Tennessee State scored 21 points through the first three quarters but was shut out in the fourth.
Western Illinois scored:
- 3 points in the first quarter
- 7 in the second
- 0 in the third
- 18 in the fourth
That’s the difference between a Tennessee State victory and a heartbreaking conference-opening loss.
⏱️ Scoring Timeline
1Q — 6:47: WIU — Ronan Culkin, 24-yard FG
1Q — 3:54: TSU — Daylin Lee to Cam Bulluck, 25-yard TD
2Q — 3:56: WIU — Kennedy McGill to Ihson E. Jackson-Anderson, 33-yard TD
2Q — 0:44: TSU — Daylin Lee, 4-yard rushing TD
3Q — 8:56: TSU — Daylin Lee to Cam Bulluck, 2-yard TD
4Q — 11:50: WIU — Ronan Culkin, 30-yard FG
4Q — 11:08: WIU — Jake Kruger interception return TD
4Q — 0:52: WIU — Kennedy McGill, 16-yard rushing TD
The Turning Point
The biggest play of the game was arguably Kruger’s interception return for a touchdown.
Tennessee State was still leading 21–13 with more than 11 minutes remaining.
Instead of continuing a drive that could have helped the Tigers put the game away, the interception gave Western Illinois seven points and brought the Leathernecks within two.
From there, momentum completely shifted.
The Bigger Picture
Tennessee State falls to 1–4 with the loss, while Western Illinois improves to 3–3.
For TSU, the frustration will come from knowing the Tigers had a two-score lead in the second half and were unable to close the game.
The Tigers now have to regroup quickly with another important matchup ahead.
Next up: UT Martin.
And this one will be played at Nissan Stadium.
THE SNEAKER SHOP TALK TAKE
21–10.
That’s the score Tennessee State had early in the third quarter.
The Tigers had momentum.
They had the lead.
They had the game.
Then Western Illinois scored 18 unanswered fourth-quarter points.
A pick-six made it 21–19.
A late 16-yard touchdown made it 28–21.
That’s a brutal way to open conference play.
Tennessee State has to find a way to finish these games.
Because getting ahead isn’t the problem.
Closing them is.
