MACOMB, Ill. - In two weeks, the Western Illinois football team will begin fall camp with more than 90 Leathernecks ready to get the 2012 season started. The following is a Leatherneck football update heading into the players reporting.

The Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason awards will be announced on August 2nd. Western will hold its annual football Media Day on Monday, August 6th.

IOWA STATE GAMETIME ANNOUNCED: Iowa State announced the game time for the September 15th game in Ames. Western will kickoff at Jack Trice Stadium against the Cyclones at 7 p.m. This will be the first meeting between the two programs.

FOUR NAMED TO COLLEGE SPORTS MADNESS PRESEASON ALL-MVFC: Four Western Illinois players were named to the College Sports Madness preseason All-Missouri Valley Football Conference teams.

Junior offensive lineman Jimmy Holtschlag (Quincy/Notre Dame) and senior defensive back Kieron James (Bradenton, FL/Southeast) were First Team selections. Senior defensive lineman Dwight Harris (Aurora/Waubonsie Valley) and senior linebacker Theon Dixon (Cleveland, Ohio/Glenville) were Third Team selections.

Holtschlag, James and Harris finished the 2011 season as Honorable Mention All-MVFC picks and Dixon was named to the MVFC All-Newcomer team.

LEATHERNECKS MAKING NOISE IN THE AFL: As the 2012 Arena Football League comes to an end, five Leathernecks are wrapping up play with their respective teams.

Quarterback Russ Michna currently leads the AFL in passing efficiency at 128.60, but the Chicago Rush's starting quarterback has been put on the injured list and will miss the finale. Michna completed 351-of-503 passes for 4,470 yards and 89 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions. His main target this season is fellow Leatherneck Reggie Gray.

Gray stands fourth in the AFL averaging 109.1 receiving yards per game and fifth in scoring (46 TDs. Heading into the finale, Gray has caught 136 passes for 1,854 yards and 46 TDs. Gray's stats put him in contention for the AFL Ironman of the Year award. Earlier in the season, he set the franchises' record for all-purpose touchdowns, and recently broke his own AFL season record for most receptions (136 and counting). He is a two-time winner of the J. Lewis Small Ironman of the Week award.

JJ Payne is eighth in the AFL in rushing, totaling 169 yards on 53 carries and five touchdowns.

Chicago just missed on a playoffs berth, currently 10-7 in the Western Conference (top four from each conference advance).

Marco Thomas continues to be one of the top offensive threats for the Iowa Barnstormers (6-11). He ranks second on the team with 131 receptions totaling 1,418 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns. Thomas rushed for three TDs, registering 54 rushing yards on 13 carries.

Defensively, Patrick Stoudamire is among the 'Top 50' in AFL tackles, with 43 solo stops and 13 assisted in 11 games with the Spokane Shock (9-8).


STILL TIME TO SIGN UP FOR LADIES' LEATHERNECK ACADEMY: There is still time to sign up for the Ladies' Leatherneck Football Academy, held this Wednesday (July 25) at Hanson Field. All proceeds will go to supporting diabetes research.

Head coach Mark Hendrickson, his coaching staff and Football student-athletes, will give the Ladies' Leatherneck Football Academy attendees a fun insight into the game of football.

The program starts with registration at 5:15 p.m. at the Football Locker Room. The two-hour itinerary includes chalk talk, a film session, offensive and defensive philosophies, position techniques, offense vs. defense, a kicking contest, a question and answer session with coaches and players, and concludes with tailgating at 7:30 p.m.

Included in the $30 registration fee is a T-shirt for all participants. For additional information and T-shirt orders, contact Homewood. She can be reached by e-mail at K-Homewood@wiu.edu or by phone at (309) 298-1190.

TICKETS CURRENTLY ON SALE: Single game tickets are now on sale for the 2012 Western Illinois Football season. The Fighting Leathernecks play six regular season games at Hanson Field during the 2012 season.

Reserved tickets for: Butler (season-opener Aug. 30, 6 p.m.), Indiana State (Oct. 20, 6 p.m.), Northern Iowa (Nov. 3, 1 p.m.) and Youngstown State (Nov. 10, 1 p.m.) are $15 each. Reserved tickets for the Family Weekend game on September 8th against Indianapolis and Homecoming on September 22nd versus Illinois State are $20 each. Those two September home games are scheduled for a 3 p.m. kickoff.

General admission tickets for the block of four home games are $10 each, and for Indianapolis and Illinois State are $15 each. Season ticket packages are still available, starting as low as $50 each. To order tickets or for more information contact the ticket office at (309) 298-1190 or online at www.GoLeathernecks.com.

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