Western Illinois boosts playoff bid with 28-14 win over SIU

MACOMB, Ill. (AP) - Wideout Jaelon Acklin caught a touchdown pass in setting a school record and ran for another, and Western Illinois beat Southern Illinois 28-14 on Saturday.

The Leathernecks (8-3, 5-3 Missouri Valley Football Conference), ranked in the FCS top 10, are hopeful for a playoff bid when the field is announced Sunday. The victory also cut into the Salukis' recent dominance in the series with Southern Illinois (4-7, 2-6) having won 13 of the last 15 meetings coming into Saturday.

Acklin caught six passes for 93 yards, including a 52-yard score from Sean McGuire, as Acklin surpassed Lance Lenoir for the single-season school record, with 1,253 yards receiving.

Acklin also scored on an 8-yard run for a 28-0 lead in the fourth quarter.

McGuire was 16 of 27 for 158 yards passing and two scores, the other TD a 14-yarder to Steve McShane. Max Norris added a 17-yard scoring run.

SIU's Matt DeSomer completed 6 of 10 passes, two for touchdowns to Darrell James and Raphael Leonard in the fourth quarter, and was intercepted twice.