Despite staying in striking distance for most of the game, the Sam Houston State Bearkats were unable to capitalize on several Western Illinois turnovers as the team fell to the Leathernecks 41-13 in Macomb, Ill.The loss marks the third road loss of the season for the Kats who are now 2-3.The game was the Leatherneck’s homecoming and true freshman running back Travis Glasford gave the fans something to cheer about. Glasford set a school single game rushing record for a true freshman by gaining 166 yards on 34 carries and a touchdown.The Bearkats jumped out to a 7-0 lead when senior quarterback Vance Smith hit junior Corey Zeno on a 34-yard touchdown strike on the Bearkats’ first possession of the game. The Leathernecks responded by scoring 21 unanswered points to round out the first quarter scoring. The Bearkats opened the second quarter with a much-needed eight- play, 80-yard drive that was capped off by a 31-yard touchdown pass from Smith to junior Vincent Cartwright. Smith was 15 of 29 for 168 yards and two touchdowns before being replaced by sophomore Travis Tobaden in the second half.Smith gave his best performance as a Bearkat, completing 15 of 29 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns. An injury to his throwing arm forced Tobaben into action in the second half,Bearkat sophomore Jason Mathenia was the game’s leading receiver with seven receptions for 138 yards.The Leathernecks were able to add a 43-yard field goal to go into halftime with a 24-13 lead.”We missed some tackles that we need to make,” said Ron Randleman, SHSU head coach. “They didn’t get the big plays that they are used to getting and we got four takeaways, so that’s good.”Western Illinois entered the game with a plus-10 turnover ratio but lost the ball on two of its first five plays from scrimmage.The Bearkats were able to recover three of the five fumbles that the Leathernecks coughed up and the team also added an interception to give the Bearkats the edge in the turnover battle.T.J. Dibble led the Kats defense with 16 tackles (11 solo) while forcing two fumblesThe Bearkats were unable to get anything going in the second half as Western Illinois started to pull away. The Bearkats held the Leathernecks to only a field goal in the third quarter, but two late fourth quarter scores eventually put the game out of reach.Tobaden failed to get anything going for the Bearkats as he only completed 8 of 17 passes for 128 yards.The Bearkat’s running attack was almost non-existent, compiling just 33 yards on 24 carries. Freshman Stevie Smith was the leading running back, with 20 yards on six carries. SHSU was hurt by the loss of Maurice Harris, who went down with a knee injury in the first quarter.”We did some good things,” Randleman said. “We played well early, but not as well late. I think we are making progress.”The Kats will be off this week before they take on the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in Jacksonville Ala. The Gamecocks have struggled so far this season to a two and two record.The game will be the conference opener for SHSU and the second for JSU, who lost to Nicholls State 14-6 in week three.