Football Opens Season Thursday Night at Hanson Field

Valparaiso (0-0) at Western Illinois (0-0)

GAME NOTES (Game 1)

LEATHERNECK FOOTBALL GAMEDAY CENTRAL

TICKET INFORMATION

INFORMATION - GAME #1
DATE/TIME   Thursday, August 28 / 6 p.m.
LOCATION   Macomb
STADIUM   Hanson Field
SURFACE   Matrix Turf
LIVE STATS   www.GoLeathernecks.com
LIVE VIDEO   Leatherneck Sports Network
LIVE AUDIO   www.WRMSFM.com
MOBILE DEVICE   TuneIn Radio app (WRMS)
ALL-TIME SERIES   WIU leads 1-0
LAST MEETING   @WIU 45, VU 0 (9/2/10)

RADIO (Leatherneck Sports Network)
ANNOUNCERS   Scott Kornberg, 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

TELEVISION
NETWORK   WIU-TV3 (tape delay)
ANNOUNCERS   Drew Hoffman, Tyler Eddy

VIDEO
The game can be seen on Fighting Leatherneck All-Access as a pay-per-view event.

MOBILE / TABLET DEVICES
   Stats available on iPhone and Android phones by clicking on the live stats link at GoLeathernecks.com (desktop version).
   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 #VUvsWIU hashtag.

THE GAME: Western Illinois opens a 12-game regular season schedule at Hanson Field against Valparaiso... A victory will make it three straight wins in a season-opener and five of the last six.

SERIES: Western and Valparaiso meet for the second time in history, and both times have been in a season-opener... The Leathernecks handed the Crusaders a 45-0 loss in the 2010 opener.

THE COACHES: WIU head coach Bob Nielson enters his second year with the Leathernecks. He owns a 4-8 record at Western and 174-67-1 in his 22nd year as a head coach... Valparaiso's Dave Cecchini enters his first year in charge of the Crusaders' program and first overall as a head coach.

HANSON FIELD TOUGH ON NON-CONFERENCE TEAMS: Playing at Hanson Field has been a tough thing for non-conference teams in recent years... The Leathernecks are 29-4 against non-MVFC teams since 1999, including a current seven-game win streak following a 2-0 mark in 2013.

NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE: The Leathernecks will face four teams from two conferences during the non-conference slate - Valparaiso/Drake from the Pioneer League, and Wisconsin/Northwestern from the Big Ten... Western owns a 6-0 record versus the Pioneer, with half of those wins coming since 2010... The Leathernecks are 0-6 all-time versus the Big Ten, including a loss in 1991 versus the Badgers.

SEASON-OPENING SUCCESS AGAINST FCS: The Leathernecks have had great success in season-opening games against Football Championship Subdivision opponents... Western's 42-9 win over Hampton marked the ninth win in the last 10 opportunities (only loss 20-6 at Sam Houston State in 2011).
2013: 42-9 vs. Hampton
2012: 23-15 vs. Butler
2010: 45-0 vs. Valparaiso
2009: 35-28 at Sam Houston State
2007: 29-26 (4OT) win vs. #20 South Dakota State
2006: 31-6 vs. Morehead State
2002: 64-7 vs. Drake
2001: 17-13 vs. #3 Western Kentucky
1997: 41-0 vs. #6 Eastern Illinois
Since 2000 the Leathernecks have defeated Division II Wayne State (35-3 in 2003) and lost to Football Bowl Subdivision teams Missouri (50-20 in 2000), Nebraska (56-17 in 2004), Toledo (62-14 in 2005) and Arkansas (28-24 in 2008).

DAVIS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN: Senior defensive back Martinez Davis picked up a preseason honor, being named The Sports Network Third Team All-American. It's the first time since 2010 that a Leatherneck received a preseason national accolade... Davis leads all Leathernecks with eight interceptions and holds the career record with three returns for a touchdown. He's also tied for the WIU season record with two returns for a score (2012 season).

SEVENTEEN STARTERS, 37 LETTERWINNERS RETURN: Second year head coach Bob Nielson returns 37 letterwinners and 17 starters for the 2014 campaign... Eight starters are back on both sides of the ball in addition to punter/placekicker Nathan Knuffman... Save for quarterback, every position group returns at least two starters.

TWO NAMED PRESEASON ALL-MVFC, WIU PICKED NINTH: In a vote by the Missouri Valley Football Conference coaches, media and sports information directors, two Leathernecks earned Preseason All-MVFC honors. Martinez Davis (Sr/DB) was voted to the preseason squad while Kevin Kintzel (Sr/LB) was chosen Honorable Mention... Davis earned Second Team All-MVFC honors last year while Kintzel was Honorable Mention... Kintzel has the active lead with 16.0 tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries... Davis leads all Leathernecks with 14 pass break-ups and eight interceptions... Western was picked to finish ninth in the preseason poll.

SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS: Under first-year head coach Dave Cecchini, Valparaiso is coming off a 1-10 season... The Crusaders victory came in overtime at home versus Campbell... The defense gave up at least 23 points per game and six times allowed 40 or more points... Offensively the squad totaled 353 yards but defensively allowed more than 500 yards per game... VU was out-scored 493-229... The quarterback battle is on following the graduation of all-time passing leader Eric Hoffman... Four experienced receivers return, including Tanner Kuramata - a USA College Football FCS Preseason All-American... Three returners could see action at running back... Four of the five starters along the offensive line return - including Stuart Barkley, another Preseason All-American... Alex Green returns at linebacker. He led the Pioneer League most of the season in tackles... Two starters are back at defensive line... The secondary returns three key players from last season... Valpo's starting place kicker and punter are both back for the 2014 season.

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Players Mentioned

#17 Kevin Kintzel: LB; 6' 2"; Senior; Lincoln-Way West

#5 Martinez Davis: DB; 5' 10"; Senior; North Hopkins / Air Force Prep

#33 Nathan Knuffman: K/P; 6' 1"; Sophomore; Camp Point Central

Players Mentioned

#17 Kevin Kintzel
: 6' 2"; Senior; Lincoln-Way West
: LB

#5 Martinez Davis
: 5' 10"; Senior; North Hopkins / Air Force Prep
: DB

#33 Nathan Knuffman
: 6' 1"; Sophomore; Camp Point Central
: K/P

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

Football Opens Season Thursday Night at Hanson Field

Players Mentioned

#17 Kevin Kintzel

#5 Martinez Davis

#33 Nathan Knuffman

Players Mentioned

#17 Kevin Kintzel

#5 Martinez Davis

#33 Nathan Knuffman