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Western Illinois University Athletics

Leatherneck Football - Game 8

Football WIU Athletic Communications

Western Resumes Rivalry with Illinois State

#9 Illinois State (5-0, 2-0) at Western Illinois (3-4, 1-2)

GAME NOTES (Game 8)

LEATHERNECK FOOTBALL GAMEDAY CENTRAL

WIU DADS' WEEKEND

TICKET INFORMATION

INFORMATION - GAME #8
DATE/TIME: Saturday, October 18 / 3 p.m.
LOCATION: Macomb, Illinois
STADIUM: Hanson Field
SURFACE: MatrixTurf
LIVE STATS: www.GoLeathernecks.com
LIVE VIDEO: Fighting Leathernecks All-Access
LIVE AUDIO: www.WRMSFM.com
MOBILE DEVICE: TuneIn Radio app (WRMS)
ALL-TIME SERIES: WIU leads 50-42-3
LAST MEETING: @ILLST 35, WIU 21 (10/5/13)

RADIO (Leatherneck Sports Network)
ANNOUNCERS Scott Kornberg, Dr. Tom Cody
Beardstown: WRMS 94.3 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

VIDEO
Fans can watch the game as a pay-per-view event on GoLeathernecks.com/Watch as part of the Fighting Leathernecks All-Access.

MOBILE / TABLET DEVICES
Stats available on iPhone and Android phones by clicking on the stats link at GoLeathernecks.com.
The game can be heard by downloading the TuneIn Radio app on iTunes and Google Play, then searching for WRMS radio.

SOCIAL MEDIA
In-game tweets are available @WIUAthletics. Fans can use the ILLSTvsWIU or W1U hashtag.

THE GAME: Western Illinois begins a two-game homestand on Saturday, playing host to Illinois State... The game marks the fourth straight versus a nationally-ranked opponent, and fifth in a row adding to the mix a Big Ten Conference opponent... A victory would guarantee Western at least a .500 record at home this season.

SERIES: The longest-running series in Western's history resumes this weekend when the Fighting Leathernecks play host to Illinois State... The two programs will meet for the 96th time, as WIU leads 50-42-3.

THE COACHES: WIU head coach Bob Nielson enters his second year with the Leathernecks. He owns a 7-12 record at Western and 177-71-1 in his 22nd year as a head coach... Illinois State head coach Brock Spack is in his sixth year with the Redbirds, owning a 38-24 record.

SCOUTING THE REDBIRDS: Illinois State brings an undefeated record into Hanson Field... The Redbirds used a 20-yard field goal by Nick Aussieker with three seconds remaining to defeat #20 Indiana State 20-18... ISU survived two touchdowns in the final 5:41 by the Sycamores, but Indiana State missed on both two-point conversion attempts and eventually lost by two points... Marshaun Coprich rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown... Tre Roberson threw for 170 yards and rushed for another 32... Aussieker made a 34-yard field goal earlier in the second half... Pat Meehan recorded a game-high 11 tackles... It marked the first road game by Illinois State this year... ISU ranks fifth nationally in scoring offense (43.2 ppg) while standing second in scoring defense (9.8 ppg allowed)... The 18 points scored by Indiana State was a season-high allowed... The team also ranks 19th in total offense and ninth in total defense.

ONE OF THE TOUGHEST SCHEDULES AROUND: Western enters this weekend with the fifth-toughest schedule in the country, based on cumulative opposition winning percentage... The Fighting Leathernecks have played two Big Ten Conference teams and this game versus #9 Illinois State marks the fourth straight game against a ranked opponent... Four of the five future opponents are ranked in the nation's 'Top 25' poll: Illinois State (9th), Northern Iowa (20th), South Dakota State (16th) and Indiana State (22nd)... Against FCS competition, Western enters this week's game with a 3-2 record.

FOURTH STRAIGHT AGAINST A RANKED TEAM: When No. 9 ranked Illinois State travels to Hanson Field on Saturday, it marks the fourth straight game Western will face a team in the 'Top 25'... The last time Western faced four straight nationally-ranked teams was during the 2006 season, and all four Valley were among the 'Top 10' at the time... The MVFC, ranked as the top conference in the FCS, boasts seven teams nationally-ranked.

YOUNGSTOWN A GAME OF FIRSTS/MOSTS: When Western won at Youngstown State, it was a game of firsts/mosts during the Bob Nielson era...
- The first road win over a 'Top 10' team since the 2008 season (at #6 North Dakota State).
- It marked the first time in 11 games (during Bob Nielson era the last two years) Western won a game when the opponent scored first.
- It also marked the first time in 11 games when trailing at the half that Western came back and won (down 17-14).
- The first time in Coach Nielson era WIU had a 100-yard receiver and won the game (was 0-5 prior to YSU game).
- The most points scored on the road since the 2009 season-opener (35-28 win at Sam Houston State).
- The most points scored in the second half than the last five road games combined.
- First win over a FCS 'Top 25' program.

VALLEY FOOTBALL > FBS: According to the latest Sagarin rankings, the Missouri Valley Football Conference ranks ahead of THREE Division I Football Subdivision Conferences and half of a fourth... The MVFC (63.09) enters this week in front of the: Mountain West-West (61.79), Conference-USA East (61.73), Mid-America West (59.94), Conference-USA West (59.81), Sun Belt (54.43) and Mid-America East (53.55) Conferences... The MVFC is 2-10 versus the FBS, but of those 10 losses nine came against teams from the 'Power 5' Conferences. The only non-Power 5 loss was UNI flying across the Pacific Ocean to play at Hawai'i... Overall the MVFC owns a 28-11 record out-of-conference.

KINTZEL LEADS THE VALLEY: Kevin Kintzel recorded a team-leading seven tackles at Youngstown State. He leads the Missouri Valley Football Conference in tackles per game (9.2/36th nationally) and second in solo tackles per game (5.2/29th nationally)... His career-high 16 tackles against North Dakota State were the most by a Leatherneck since the 2010 postseason (Kyle Glazier-17 at Coastal Carolina).

BAKER AMONG RUSHING LEADERS: Senior J.C. Baker ranks 20th nationally averaging 104.1 rushing yards per game (12th with 729 yards)... His 122.43 all-purpose yards per game is 43rd nationally... In 19 career games as a Leatherneck, Baker has racked up 1,880 rushing yards - a 98.9 yards per game average... He needs 47 more to match 10th place on the all-time list.

IN THE CAREER TOP 10 AS A SOPHOMORE: Just 19 games into his Western Illinois career, Trenton Norvell broke into the WIU career 'Top 10' in three categories... He enters this week ranked sixth in career completions (322) and tied for seventh in attempts (600)... Thanks to his career-high tying four TD performance at Youngstown State, Norvell overook 10th place all-time in TD passes (27).

NORVELL EARNS THREE ACCOLADES: Following his performance at Youngstown State, Trenton Norvell was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference 'Offensive Player of the Week', the College Sporting News national All-Star, and Honorable Mention selection by the College Football Performance Awards... He completed 19-of-26 passing for 291 yards and four touchdowns with no turnovers... Norvell threw four TD passes for the third time in his career and second occasion this season... It marked his first weekly MVFC offensive award, first honor by the College Sporting News, and second by the CFPA (both this season).

LENOIR BREAKS INTO SCORING COLUMN: It took seven games for sophomore wide receiver Lance Lenoir, Jr. to score a touchdown, but he came up with two big scores in the first quarter at Youngstown State to help Western upset the 10th-ranked Penguins... Lenoir, who led WIU in touchdowns last season, now has nine career TD receptions... In the process, Lenoir recorded a career-high 132 receiving yards (on eight receptions).

LENOIR BREAKS INTO SEASON, CAREER TOP 10: Lance Lenoir, Jr. set a career-high in receiving yards with 132 at Youngstown State (on eight receptions) last weekend... He moved into a tie for ninth place all-time in 100-yard receiving games, and now in a four-way tie for eighth place on the season 'Top 10' list with his third 100-yard effort in 2014.

LENOIR MATCHING TD CAREER BEST: For the third time in his career, Lance Lenoir, Jr. caught two touchdown passes in the same game... His two catches at Youngstown State were the first of the 2014 season, and nine in his career... Lenoir moved within two scores of joining a current seven-way tie with 11 TD receptions all-time.

4th 100 & 3 FOR 1,000: Lance Lenoir, Jr. picked up his fourth career 100-yard receiving game (at Youngstown State), and in the process moved to within three yards of reaching the 1,000-yard mark in his career.
LENOIR, JR. 100-YARD GAMES
132 - at Youngstown State (8 rec, 2TD/2014)
115 - at Southern Illinois (7 rec/2014)
115 - at Northwestern (career-high 11 rec/2014)
105 - at Illinois State (7 rec, 2TD/2013)

KNUFFMAN IN CAREER LISTING: Nathan Knuffman moved into 10th place in two career 'Top 10' listings... With three extra points made at Youngstown State, he ranks 10th all-time with 48 and is five shy of former teammate Pat Smith (53) for ninth place... His 75 career points currently has Knuffman in 10th place all-time, two away from Dave Emond for ninth place.
 
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Players Mentioned

Kevin Kintzel

#17 Kevin Kintzel

LB
6' 2"
Senior
Lincoln-Way West
Lance Lenoir

#7 Lance Lenoir

WR
6' 0"
Sophomore
Crete Monee
Nathan Knuffman

#33 Nathan Knuffman

K/P
6' 1"
Sophomore
Camp Point Central
Trenton Norvell

#14 Trenton Norvell

QB
6' 5"
Sophomore
Seabreeze
J.C. Baker

#2 J.C. Baker

RB
5' 8"
Senior
Yuma / Arizona Western CC

Players Mentioned

Kevin Kintzel

#17 Kevin Kintzel

6' 2"
Senior
Lincoln-Way West
LB
Lance Lenoir

#7 Lance Lenoir

6' 0"
Sophomore
Crete Monee
WR
Nathan Knuffman

#33 Nathan Knuffman

6' 1"
Sophomore
Camp Point Central
K/P
Trenton Norvell

#14 Trenton Norvell

6' 5"
Sophomore
Seabreeze
QB
J.C. Baker

#2 J.C. Baker

5' 8"
Senior
Yuma / Arizona Western CC
RB