W. Illinois 42, Hampton 9

Published Aug. 30, 2013 3:05 a.m. ET

foxsports

- Dallas Nichols and Kevin Kintzel returned interceptions for touchdowns and Ryan Demming returned a Hampton fumble for a touchdown to spark Western Illinois to a 42-9 season-opening win Thursday night, the first win of the Bob Nielson Era in Macomb.

Kintzel, a junior linebacker, scored eight points for the Leathernecks of the Missouri Valley Conference, powering in for a first-quarter two-point conversion to go with his 12-yard interception return in the third quarter. He also forced the fumble that Demming returned 6 yards for the Leathernecks' second touchdown.

Nichols' third-quarter interception return covered 97 yards, the eighth-longest in school history.

Jaylian Williamson's 21-yard pass to Antwon Chisholm as Hampton, a FCS school, cut the Western Illinois lead to 8-6. A pass attempt for the two-point conversion was incomplete.

Nielson was hired as the 27th coach in Western Illinois history in December.