Western Illinois pushes past South Dakota 44-29

Published Nov. 8, 2014 8:45 p.m. ET

foxsports

VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) Trenton Norvell threw five touchdown passes and Western Illinois pulled away in the second half to beat South Dakota 44-29 on Saturday night.

Norvell threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Larry Harris and found Hi-C Scott for a 34-yard score to give the Leathernecks a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. The Coyotes responded, and the game was tied at 23 at halftime.

Two Western Illinois touchdowns - an 18-yard run by Devon Moore and Norvell's 12-yard pass to Joey Borsellino - put the Leathernecks up by 11 at the end of the third.

J.C. Baker ran for 118 on 21 carries to lead Western Illinois (4-6, 2-4 Missouri Valley Conference) on the ground.

Kevin Earl threw for 251 yards and two touchdown passes for the Coyotes (2-8, 0-6). His 21-yarder to Eric Shufford Jr. gave South Dakota a 4-point lead in the second quarter.