Game 4
DATE: Saturday, September 22
TIME: 3 p.m.
ALL-TIME SERIES: WIU leads 50-40-3
LAST MEETING: @IllSt 31, WIU 7 (11/5/11)
LIVE STATS: GoLeathernecks.com
RADIO (Leatherneck Sports Network)
ANNOUNCERS Beau Spencer/Mark Bloom
Macomb: WIUS 88.3 FM (Flagship)
Macomb: WJEQ 102.7 FM
Galesburg: WAIK 1590 AM
Quincy: WPWQ 106.7 FM
Clinton, Iowa: KCLN 1390 AM
Monroe City, Missouri: KWBZ 107.5 FM
TELEVISION
NETWORK: Comcast SportsNet Chicago
VIDEO
Available pay-per-view on Rocky Vision through GoLeathernecks.com (Aaron Viner/Josh Gleason).
MOBILE
Audio/Stats available on iPhone and Android phones with mobile app download. Search WIU Leathernecks app on iTunes and Google Play.
THE GAME: Western Illinois concludes its season-opening stretch of playing three of the first four games at Hanson Field, playing host to Illinois State... The Leathernecks also open Missouri Valley Football Conference play versus the Redbirds... This marks the 94th meeting all-time between Western Illinois and Illinois State... It is the most-played active series for the Leathernecks, and the most played series all-time... Saturday's game marks the 39th consecutive meeting, which is also the longest continual series for Western.
HOMECOMING 2012: The game also marks the 77th Homecoming game in Leatherneck Football history... Western owns a 4-1 record against Illinois State in Homecoming games, and is 49-22-5 all-time... The last time Western played the Redbirds for Homecoming was a 16-14 win in 1971.
THE RANKINGS: Western Illinois received one vote in the Sports Network 'Top 25' poll... Illinois State is ranked 15th in the Sports Network/Fathead.com and FCS Coaches polls.
THE COACHES: Mark Hendrickson is in third year as full-time head coach with a 12-15 record, and his 14th year with the Leatherneck Football program (17-25 overall record including parts of 2008/2009 season as acting head coach)... Brock Spack is 22-14 in his fourth year at Illinois State, and overall as a head coach.
SCOUTING THE REDBIRDS: The Redbirds had to rally but eventually came up with a 54-51 double-overtime win over Eastern Illinois last weekend at home... Illinois State opens the season 3-0 for the first time since 1991... Matt Brown threw for a program record 473 yards on 42 completions - another record. He tied his career-high with five touchdowns thrown while running for two more... However, the Redbirds were flagged 22 times totaling 178 yards... Illinois State ranks fifth nationally in scoring (47 ppg), ninth in total offense (471.3) and sixth in sacks (3.7)... The Redbirds are right behind Western among the conference leaders in turnover margin (1.7)... Brown ranks 10th in passing efficiency (152.73) among the national leaders and is 19th in total offense (278.7)... Darrelynn Dunn stands 22nd in rushing (102.7) and tied for 33rd in all-purpose yards (128.7)... Colton Underwood and Mike Zimmer lead in tackles (23 each).
QUICK HITTERS:
DATE: Saturday, September 22
TIME: 3 p.m.
ALL-TIME SERIES: WIU leads 50-40-3
LAST MEETING: @IllSt 31, WIU 7 (11/5/11)
LIVE STATS: GoLeathernecks.com
RADIO (Leatherneck Sports Network)
ANNOUNCERS Beau Spencer/Mark Bloom
Macomb: WIUS 88.3 FM (Flagship)
Macomb: WJEQ 102.7 FM
Galesburg: WAIK 1590 AM
Quincy: WPWQ 106.7 FM
Clinton, Iowa: KCLN 1390 AM
Monroe City, Missouri: KWBZ 107.5 FM
TELEVISION
NETWORK: Comcast SportsNet Chicago
VIDEO
Available pay-per-view on Rocky Vision through GoLeathernecks.com (Aaron Viner/Josh Gleason).
MOBILE
Audio/Stats available on iPhone and Android phones with mobile app download. Search WIU Leathernecks app on iTunes and Google Play.
THE GAME: Western Illinois concludes its season-opening stretch of playing three of the first four games at Hanson Field, playing host to Illinois State... The Leathernecks also open Missouri Valley Football Conference play versus the Redbirds... This marks the 94th meeting all-time between Western Illinois and Illinois State... It is the most-played active series for the Leathernecks, and the most played series all-time... Saturday's game marks the 39th consecutive meeting, which is also the longest continual series for Western.
HOMECOMING 2012: The game also marks the 77th Homecoming game in Leatherneck Football history... Western owns a 4-1 record against Illinois State in Homecoming games, and is 49-22-5 all-time... The last time Western played the Redbirds for Homecoming was a 16-14 win in 1971.
THE RANKINGS: Western Illinois received one vote in the Sports Network 'Top 25' poll... Illinois State is ranked 15th in the Sports Network/Fathead.com and FCS Coaches polls.
THE COACHES: Mark Hendrickson is in third year as full-time head coach with a 12-15 record, and his 14th year with the Leatherneck Football program (17-25 overall record including parts of 2008/2009 season as acting head coach)... Brock Spack is 22-14 in his fourth year at Illinois State, and overall as a head coach.
SCOUTING THE REDBIRDS: The Redbirds had to rally but eventually came up with a 54-51 double-overtime win over Eastern Illinois last weekend at home... Illinois State opens the season 3-0 for the first time since 1991... Matt Brown threw for a program record 473 yards on 42 completions - another record. He tied his career-high with five touchdowns thrown while running for two more... However, the Redbirds were flagged 22 times totaling 178 yards... Illinois State ranks fifth nationally in scoring (47 ppg), ninth in total offense (471.3) and sixth in sacks (3.7)... The Redbirds are right behind Western among the conference leaders in turnover margin (1.7)... Brown ranks 10th in passing efficiency (152.73) among the national leaders and is 19th in total offense (278.7)... Darrelynn Dunn stands 22nd in rushing (102.7) and tied for 33rd in all-purpose yards (128.7)... Colton Underwood and Mike Zimmer lead in tackles (23 each).
QUICK HITTERS:
- For the fifth time in the last seven years Western currently owns a winning record against non-conference competition.
- The Leathernecks are tied for the 17th toughest schedule in the country, based on cumulative opposition winning percentage. Western is one of six Missouri Valley Football Conference teams among the 'Top 20'.
- Western is tied for second nationally with seven interceptions (134 interception yards), which leads the MVFC. The Leathernecks had eight all of last year for only 55 yards.
- Only one other MVFC team has committed fewer turnovers than Western (Youngstown State-1). Two other conference members are tied with Western at 2 miscues (UNI, North Dakota State).
- Pat Smith is tied for third nationally in field goals made with 6. His 6-for-6 percentage ties him for second in the country right behind Sean Baner of Delaware (7-of-7). He now surpassed his previous high of five made in 2010. The junior kicker is up to 89 career points.
- The Leathernecks surpassed a 2011 total in the Indianapolis game, scoring on their first drive. Western accomplished the feat five times in 2010, but only once last year. The team scored on the opening drive during the first two games of 2012.
- Smith's career-long 46-yard field goal versus Indianapolis was the longest made in four years by a Leatherneck kicker... It was his second-longest attempt at Western. He missed from 48 yards last year against Jacksonville.
- Martinez Davis slipped to a tie for 17th nationally in interceptions but is only one off the overall national lead. The sophomore remains tied for the MVFC lead.
- Redshirt-freshman J.J. Raffelson increased his team tackle lead to 29, seventh in the conference and tied for 38th nationally. Still very early in the 2012 season, he has 12 more than Jonathon Rollins and Kevin Kintzel. No Leatherneck freshman in the NCAA Division I era has ever led the team in tackles for a season, and only twice since 1981 has a sophomore accomplished that feat.
