#20 WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS (4-1, 2-0)
at SOUTH DAKOTA STATE JACKRABBITS (0-4, 0-2)
Saturday, October 9  •  6 p.m.  •  Brookings, S.D.
Coughlin-Alumni Stadium (Grass/15,000 capacity)
All-Time Series: WIU leads 4-3
Last Meeting: SDSU 27, @WIU 7 (11/21/09)

THE GAME: Western Illinois returns to the Dakotas for the second consecutive week, facing South Dakota State... A win at SDSU would mark Western's first 3-0 start in league play since 2000 (5-1). The program also accomplished that feat four other times over the past 20 seasons (1998, '97, '93, '91)... The Leathernecks enter the game sixth nationally in scoring offense, fifth in total offense, third in rushing offense, fourth in scoring defense and fourth in turnover margin. Western leads the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 13 statistical categories covering all three facets... Western has lost two straight in the series after winning three straight... SDSU came away with a 24-22 win in 2008 in Brookings.

THE RANKINGS: Western jumped up to 20th in this week's The Sports Network/Fathead.com and FCS Coaches 'Top 25' polls... South Dakota State is not ranked in either poll.

THE SCHEMES: Western Illinois will line up in a multiple formation on offense and 3-4 alignment on defense... South Dakota State runs a multiple formation on offense and 4-3 defensive alignment.

THE COACHES: Mark Hendrickson is in his 12th year with the Leatherneck Football program, first as the head coach. He owns a 4-1 record this season, 9-11 record in three years (parts of two years as acting head coach)... John Stigelmeier has an 83-64 record in his 14th year at South Dakota State and overall as a head coach.

ALL-TIME SERIES: This is the eighth meeting between the two programs, but only the third as Missouri Valley Football Conference members... South Dakota State has won the past two games, ending Western Illinois' three-game win streak in the series.

SCOUTING THE JACKRABBITS: South Dakota State can arguably stake claim as one of the best 0-4 teams in the country... After a bye week to start the season, SDSU traveled to Delaware (now #2), then lost to a nationally-ranked Illinois State team at home... The Jackrabbits held No. 8 Nebraska to 17 points, then most recently lost at nationally-ranked Northern Iowa... SDSU's losing streak of five straight dates back to the opening round playoff loss last year at Montana. The Jackrabbits' last win came in the regular season finale at Hanson Field, a 27-7 win over the Leathernecks... Preseason All-American running back Kyle Minett ranks fifth in the league and 19th nationally averaging 100 yards per game. A member of the Payton Award preseason Watch List, Minett ranks 48th in the country with 122 all-purpose yards per game... Derek Domino leads the Valley and ranks fifth averaging 12.3 tackles per game... Dean Priddy stands 10th nationally with his 42.3 yards per punt average.

LEATHERNECKS IN THE POLLS: During Mark Hendrickson's tenure as acting head coach, and now this year his first as the program's head coach, the Leathernecks have been ranked in 11 polls since the start of the 2008 season... With this week's 20th ranking in both national polls, Western returned to the Top 25 poll for the first time since November 17, 2008 (23rd). That season the Leathernecks peaked at No. 12 twice (both occurances under Coach Hendrickson), their highest ranking since 2003... The No. ranking indicates Western's higher ranking that week between The Sports Network/Fathead.com and FCS Coaches 'Top 25' polls.

PROTECT THE BALL: Western Illinois turned in another turnover-free game in the win at North Dakota State... The Leathernecks have committed just two offensive turnovers on the year (Indiana State)... The Leathernecks had a fumble recovery on the Bison's first drive, and turned it into seven points... Western ranks first in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and fourth nationally in turnover margin (+8/1.6 pg). Last year Western finished at minus-12 in turnovers.

NATIONALLY-RANKED OFFENSE: Western's offense has been nothing short of impressive during the first half of the season. Head coach Mark Hendrickson, offensive coordinator Doug Ruse and the offense ranks among the national leaders (and leads the MVFC) in several categories...

• 3rd in rushing offense (274.2 ypg)
• 5th in total offense (463.6 ypg)
• 6th in scoring offense (38.0 ppg)

Bryce Flowers is third in the Valley and ranks 15th nationally averaging 106.8 yards on the ground while Caulton Ray is ninth in the MVFC and 34th nationally in rushing (89.8)... Matt Barr is 27th in total offense (236.4) and 25th in passing efficiency (136.13)

TOUCHDOWN WESTERN ILLINOIS: That phrase has been said often during the first five games of the 2010 season. Western has scored 27 touchdowns this season - 18 rushing and 9 passing... The 38.0 ppg (190 points) leads the conference and ranks sixth nationally. This year's team already outscored last year's squad after just four games, (154 points and 21 TDs in 11 games).

DEFENSE MATCHING THE OFFENSE: The Leatherneck defense is keeping pace with the offense's national rankings... Western stands among the national rankings...

• 5th in passing efficiency defense (93.81)
• 4th in scoring defense (13.6 ppg)
• 4th in turnover margin (+1.6)
• 10th in pass defense (139.4 ypg)

Senior linebacker Kyle Glazier enters the weekend tied for 43rd nationally in tackles (9.0 p/g) and 80th in tackles per game (1.1 p/g)... Senior defensive end Mike Stieren is tied for 44th nationally with 0.4 sacks per game.