MACOMB, Ill. -- Host Western Illinois' defense bottled up the Morehead State football team all night long at Hanson Stadium Saturday, giving the Leathernecks a 59-2 win over the Eagles.

MSU finishes non-conference play at 1-3 and will have a bye week off before opening Pioneer League action at home Oct. 3 versus Valparaiso. Saturday's meeting was just the second-ever gridiron matchup between MSU and WIU - the previous 20 years ago in 2006.

Leatherneck quarterback Kennedy McGill was efficient in guiding his team on seven scoring drives, including throwing four touchdowns and rushing for another. He also had 81 yards on the ground and passed for 264 yards.

Morehead State, meanwhile, had a tough time generating any momentum. The Eagles had just 17 total yards on 17 plays in the first half. They finished with just 77 total yards, including only 38 passing yards and 39 rushing.

The Eagles fell behind 31-0 at the half as McGill's 28-yard run for the end zone started the scoring at 12:49. He added five, 35 and nine-yard scoring tosses, and Ihson Jackson-Anderson completed a three-yard score in addition to a 37-yard field goal from Ronin Culkin.

WIU was up 38-0 before the Eagles scored on a strange, 22-yard punt return loss that resulted in a safety when Luciano Corpora-Ellis tackled Joel Salien in his own end zone. Ashton Adams booted a 37-yard punt, but Salien kept retreating after fielding the ball at the 22-yard line.

The home team added three more passing touchdowns to close the scoring.

Defensively, linebacker Lane Sumerel and defensive back Isaiah Watts led the unit with eight tackles.

Adams came within one of tying the program record for most punts, with 10, and averaged 42.5 yards. WIU also had 31 first downs and 593 total yards.