MACOMB, ILL. – Charleston Southern collected their first conference win of 2025 on Saturday in Macomb, Illinois, taking down Western Illinois by a final score of 29-24. Zolten Osborne tossed for a career-high four touchdowns in the win finding Rashawn Cunningham and Jamil Bishop twice each to lead the Buccaneers to the win.
Western Illinois was the first to get on the board using a 41-yard field goal on their opening drive for the early lead. Osborne then led the Bucs on a six-play, 75-yard drive that was capped off with a 16-yard pass to Cunningham in the corner of the endzone to go up 7-3.
The Leathernecks scored touchdowns on each of their ensuing possessions to regain the lead, now up 17-7 at the beginning of the second quarter. Before the half, Osborne found Cunningham again in the middle of the endzone from 14 yards out. This cut the deficit to 17-14 which was carried into the halftime break.
Western Illinois scored on the opening drive of the second half to move their lead back to a 10-point advantage. After this, however, the Leathernecks were able to score again, with the Bucs going on to score the final 15 points of the game to pace the way for the win.
The Buccaneers got their first touchdown of this stretch on a 42-yard completion to Bishop halfway through the third and the other to Bishop as well but from 30 yards out at the start of the fourth quarter. Charleston Southern kept their foot on the gas, converting on a two-point conversion with Osborne finding Nebanye Moore to give them the lead at 29-24. Between the scores, Jayden Hancock came down with an interception in the endzone to end a potential scoring drive for the Leathernecks at the end of the third quarter.
Western Illinois had one last chance with the ball and were able to bring it into Buccaneer territory. On the fourth & one, Markell Holman tried to rush up the middle but was stuffed by CJ Landrum and Mylan Bowen to turn the ball over on downs, setting up victory formation for the Bucs and seal the win.
Osborne finished the day going 14-26 for 262 yards and four touchdowns. Hakeem Watters collected 16 carries for 52 yards while Ke’Marion Baldwin had 10 rushed for 38 yards. Cunningham led the squad in receiving yards with 95 off four catches and two touchdowns. Jamil Bishop had three receptions for 80 yards and two scores. Mekhi Campfield had a team-high five catches for 67 yards.
On the defensive end, Steve Zayachkowsky led the Buccaneers with 16 tackles, ten of which were solo stops. David Portu had the lone sack of the day for the squad while Champ Brantley, Malik McKinzie, Anthony Paulk and Josias Addison each had a TFL. Nick Bartalo had a pair of pass breakups and many key plays defensively down the stretch.
Charleston Southern will return to Buccaneer Field next weekend to take on Eastern Illinois as part of Homecoming weekend. The kickoff is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 25 with the game to be available live on ESPN+.