2007 STORYLINES
... Ten of Western Illinois' 12 all-conference honorees are underclassmen.
... Four different Leathernecks, all underclassmen, earned all-America awards.
... Coach Patterson will enter the 2008 season four wins shy of becoming Western Illinois' all-time winningest coach.
... Herb Donaldson became just the second running back in school history to rush for 1,400 yards in back-to-back seasons.
2007 HIGHLIGHTS
In the Polls
After not appearing in the preseason polls, the Leathernecks were ranked in all but the final regular season poll this year. They climbed as high as No. 17, but fell out of the polls after a loss to Youngstown State in the season finale, and ended just outside of the top 25 at No. 28 in the final poll.
Donaldson is Nation's Fifth-Leading Rusher, Finishes 13th in Payton Award Voting
Junior running back Herb Donaldson finished the season as the nation's fifth-leading rusher, averaging 149.10 yards per game, and placed 13th in the Walter Payton Award voting. Donaldson missed the final game of the season due to a sprained ankle.
Four Leathernecks have now finished the season as a Payton Award finalist. RB Aaron Stecker was the runner-up in 1997, Charles Tharp, another running back, finished eighth in 2000, and QB Russ Michna placed sixth in 2003.
More Donaldson Notes...
? Reached 1,000 yards in his seventh game this season, matching the school record
? Rushed for 314 yards against Missouri State, the second-highest single-game FCS total this year
? Owns eight 100-yard rushing halves and five 100-yard quarters in his career
? Owns two of the nation's top 20 rushing games this year
? Became the second player in school history to record back-to-back 1,400-yard seasons
Jason Williams is League's Runner-Up for Defense Player of the Year
Junior linebacker Jason Williams finished second in the voting for Gateway Defensive Player of the Year after leading the league in three of the six defensive categories and ranking fourth in another through the regular season. He led the league in sacks, tackles for loss and forced fumbles, and ranked fourth in total tackles.
Donaldson on the WIU Charts
Single-Season Yards: 1,491 (4th)
Single-Season YPG: 149.10 (2nd)
Single-Season TDs: 10 (10th)
Career Yards: 2,962 (3rd) needs 838 for 2nd needs 1,228 for 1st
Career TDs: 29 (3rd) needs 12 for second needs 19 for 1st
Four All-Americans Return in 2008
The Leathernecks will return four under-classmen who earned all-America honors this season - one on offense (RB Herb Donaldson), two on defense (DB Patrick Stoudamire, LB Jason Williams) and one on special teams (PK Taylor Rowan).
Leathernecks Finish Higher Than Predicted Again
After being predicted to finish fifth according to the Gateway Preseason Poll, the Leathernecks ended the season with an even 3-3 league record, tied for third place with Youngstown State. It marked their highest finish since a 5-2 record in 2003. Western Illinois has finished higher than predicted in 14 of the 22 preseason polls.
Donaldson On Pace to Become Leathernecks' All-Time Leading Rusher
Herb Donaldson is on pace to become Western Illinois' all-time leading rusher, having accumulated 2,962 yards after two seasons as a starter. Currently in third place on the career rushing list, Donaldson needs 1,228 yards to surpass current leader Travis Glasford (4,189 yards). Glasford was a four-year starter (2002-05) who broke Aaron Stecker's record of 3,799 yards which was compiled in two seasons (1997-98). Donaldson carried the ball just 12 times for 54 yards as a redshirt-freshman in 2005 before taking over the starting duties in 2006 (1,417 yards) and 2007 (1,491 yards).
Taking Care of the Ball
Western Illinois lost just 11 turnovers this season, while gaining 25, to rank seventh in the country in turnover margin (+1.27). The four fumbles lost led the entire nation while the 11 turnovers ranked third. Donaldson has not lost a fumble in 295 touches (284 carries, 11 receptions). Western has had four games this year without a turnover and five other games with just one turnover.
Last Three Opponents Held Below 100 Rushing Yards
The last three opponents of the season were each held below 100 yards rushing by a Leatherneck defense that ranked 39th in the country in rush defense. Illinois State accumulated 64 yards on the ground, the least by a Western Illinois opponent this year. Through the air, however, the last three opponents recorded the three highest passing games of the season. Still, the Leathernecks led the league and ranked 22nd nationally in pass defense.
20 Starters, 45 Letterwinners Expected to Return in 2008
The Leathernecks expect to return nine defensive starters, nine offensive starters and both the punter and place-kicker next season. The only starters lost due to graduation are left guard Drew Sweeney, right guard Zack Howell, free safety Kevin Almlie and linebacker Jerome Bennett. Additionally, of the 56 players who earned a letter in 2007, just 11 are graduating.
Rushing Game Sees More Work for First Time Under Patterson
For the first time under ninth-year head coach Don Patterson, the ground game received more attention than the air attack. Herb Donaldson helped the Leathernecks establish the nation's 11th-best rushing offense, which averaged 255.6 yards per game and outgained the passing game by 132.1 yards per game. The ground game accounted for 67 percent of the total offense.
Team Rushing Average is Highest Since 1958
This season's rushing average of 255.6 yards per game ranks fifth in school history, but is the highest since 1958. All four higher averages occurred between 1949 and 1958, making this year the most successful rushing season in Western's Division I era.
Leathernecks Have Produced More Rushing Champions Than Any Other League Team
The Leathernecks led the Gateway in rushing for the first time since 1997 and just the third time in league history. Individually, however, no team has produced more individual champions - six - than Western Illinois. Herb Donaldson became the fifth different Leatherneck running back to lead the league in rushing and could become the first since Charles Tharp (1999-2000) to do so in back-to-back seasons.
Fifth Consecutive 1,000-Yard Rushing Seasons
Western Illinois has produced a 1,000-yard rusher in each of the last five seasons and in seven of Coach Patterson's nine years. Additionally, since 1994 there have been 11 seasons with a 1,000-yard rusher.
Rowan Connects From 50... Again
Taylor Rowan kicked a nation-leading six field goals of at least 50 yards this season, including one of 56 yards that matched the longest in school history. Six-of-eight on the year from at least 50 yards, he fell one shy of tying the FCS record of seven 50-yarders in a season. No other Division I kicker in the country - FCS or FBS - had more long-distance field goals this year.
Rowan Sets School Record for Field Goals Per Game
Taylor Rowan's 1.73 field goals per game (19 in 11 games) broke Justin Langan's school record of 1.54 set in 2002. Langan kicked a school-record 20 field goals in 11 regular-season games that year, but had a pair of playoff games without a field goal.
More Rowan Notes
- Only one other FCS kicker had more field goals during the regular season
- Kicked the second- and third-longest field goals in FCS this year
- Had four of the five longest FCS field goals
- Ranked 16th nationally in kick scoring
- The first Leatherneck to lead the Gateway in field goals (1.73/game) since 1999
Rowan Keeps PAT Streak Alive
Taylor Rowan remained perfect on extra points through his third season, ending his junior campaign 117-of-117. He owns the longest active FCS streak and ranked third among all active Division I kickers at the end of the season. With the two FCS kickers ahead of him graduating, Rowan will enter the 2008 season with the longest active streak in all of Division I. He is nine PATs shy of tying the FCS record of 126 held by Montana's Chris Snyder (2000-03). The Division I record of 229 was set this year by Texas Tech's Alex Trlica.
Barr Records Five Wins as Freshman Starter
Redshirt-freshman Matt Barr, the first Leatherneck freshman to start at quarterback since 1990, earned a 5-5 record as a starter, matching the school record for most wins as a freshman in the process. Barr entered the season opener on the second drive and started every game since. He tied Paul Singer who went 5-4 in 1985.
More Barr Notes
- Ranks second among WIU freshman QBs in passing yards (1,305) and pass efficiency (109.09).
- Tied for first among WIU freshman QBs in completions (115)
- 276 passing yards vs. Youngstown State (Nov. 10) is the second-highest single-game total by a freshman.
- 114 rushing yards vs. South Dakota State (Aug. 30) set a school record for most rushing yards by a QB
- Owns three of the top seven rushing games by a QB in school history
- 385 rushing yards this season set a single-season record for yards by a QB
Defense Ranks Among Nation's Top 25 in Six Categories
The Leatherneck defense ended the season ranked among the nation's top 25 teams in six different categories, including scoring defense (18th) and total defense (21st). They allowed just 21 points to Illinois, the Illini's second-lowest output of the season, and held Southern Illinois to just 10 points, 28 below their season average.
A Defensive Comparison... national rankings then and now
2005 2007
Total defense 95th (397.7) 21st (320.0)
Rushing defense 39th (141.2) 39th (144.5)
Pass defense 110th (256.5) 175.6 (22nd)
Scoring defense 103rd (33.7 18th (19.6)
Pass efficiency defense 107th (148.9) 25th (112.7)
