MACOMB, Ill. (AP) — Trenton Norvell fired four touchdown passes and J.C. Baker ran for 137 yards and scored twice to lead Western Illinois to a 45-6 win over Valparaiso in the season opener for both schools Thursday night.
The kickoff was delayed briefly by lightning and the Leathernecks made up for lost time.
J.C. Baker scored from the 6 to cap the opening drive and Norvell added his first TD pass, a 9-yard strike to Larry Harris, with one second left in the first quarter.
Norvell threw a pair of scoring passes to Hi-C Scott, finding him from 17 yards out in the second quarter and on a 38-yard pass in the third. Norvell added a 40-yard scoring pass to Baker in the third quarter.
Brandon Hall scored from the 2 late in the game to prevent first-year Valparaiso coach Dave Cecchini being shutout in his debut as a college head coach.
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