2009 Spring Football Notables
2008 RECAP
Back to Back Winning Seasons
After a 5-2 start the Leathernecks ended the year with a 6-5 record to
notch back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2002-03.
A 1-2 record in the first three games included a four-point loss at
Arkansas and a two-point loss at 13th-ranked South Dakota State. The
Leathernecks responded with their longest winning streak in six years,
a four-game span that included a win over No. 6 North Dakota State that
snapped a 15-game home winning streak for the Bison.
A Look at the Polls
The Leathernecks climbed as high as No. 12 in the polls (Oct. 20, 27),
their highest ranking since 2004, and appeared in every poll except the
final poll. They received votes in the final Sports Network poll,
falling in at No. 36.
Donaldson Becomes League's All-Time Leading Rusher
With back-to-back 200-yard performances in the last two games of the
season, Herb Donaldson became the Missouri Valley Football Conference's
all-time leading rusher. Donaldson ended his three-year starting career
with 4,746 rushing yards, also setting a conference record of 23
100-yard games and a school record of seven 200-yard contests. Western
Illinois' all-time leading rusher ranks 23rd in the FCS career record
book.
Donaldson is Nation's Rushing, Scoring Leader
Herb Donaldson maintained his position as the top scorer in FCS since
week four and ended the season as the Division I (FCS and FBS) leader
in both scoring (12.0 ppg) and rushing (162.2 ypg). He is just the
sixth player in FCS history, and only the second in the last 15 years,
to lead the nation in both categories.
A Look at the Trends
315.6 yards per game and 15 rushing TDs allowed were the fewest since 2000
116.8 rushing yards allowed per game were the fewest in Western's NCAA era.
187 first downs allowed were the fewest since 1995.
33 rushing touchdowns were the most ever tallied in an 11-game schedule.
6 interceptions thrown were the fewest since 2002 and the second-fewest in history.
Patterson Nears School Wins Record
Ending his 10th season with a 62-45 record, head coach Don Patterson is
three wins shy of becoming Western Illinois' all-time winningest coach.
Two more victories will match Randy Ball's record 64. Patterson's 10th
season was an abbreviated one, as wins and losses for the first seven
games of 2008 were attributed to acting head coach Mark Hendrickson.
All-America Facts
- Dre Gibbs earned all-America honors at fullback despite playing just half the season at the position.
- Donaldson became Western Illinois' first consensus all-American
since punter Mike Scifres in 2002, and the first offensive player to
accomplish the feat since RB Aaron Stecker in 1997.
- Williams became the first Leatherneck to repeat as an AFCA all-American.
Nine Players Intercept Passes
Nine different Leathernecks combined for 13 interceptions this season,
the highest total since 2004 (17). True freshman Tim Franken had a
team-high four, Robert Hodges grabbed two, including the game-saving
pick against Illinois State, and the other seven players had one.
| Additional Links
|
