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Leatherneck Football - Game 2
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WIU Travels to #18 Wisconsin

Western Illinois (1-0) at #18/#19 Wisconsin (0-1)

GAME NOTES (Game 2)

LEATHERNECK FOOTBALL GAMEDAY CENTRAL

WIU Alumni Association Social Information

INFORMATION - GAME #2                  
DATE/TIME     Saturday, September 6 / 11 a.m.
LOCATION    Madison, Wisconsin
STADIUM    Camp Randall Stadium
SURFACE    FieldTurf
LIVE STATS    www.UWBadgers.com
LIVE VIDEO    Television only
LIVE AUDIO    www.WRMSFM.com
MOBILE DEVICE    TuneIn Radio app (WRMS)
ALL-TIME SERIES    UW leads 2-0
LAST MEETING    @UW 34, WIU 10 (9/9/2006)

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    Big Ten Network
ANNOUNCERS    Scott Graham (PBP),
    Brooks Bollinger and Brandon Williams (color)

VIDEO                                                   
Fans can watch the games on BTN2GO app, via the website, smartphones and tablets. Click on www.btn2go.com for more information.

MOBILE / TABLET DEVICES                                                
    Stats available on iPhone and Android phones by clicking on the stats link at UWBadgers.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 #WIUvsUW hashtag.

THE GAME: Western Illinois travels to Wisconsin for the third meeting all-time against the Badgers... This is the first of two games in 2014 versus Big Ten Conference teams over the next three weeks (at Northwestern).

SERIES: Western and Wisconsin meet for the third time (1991, 2006). The last meeting was a 34-10 decision in Madison back during the 2006 season.

THE COACHES: WIU head coach Bob Nielson enters his second year with the Leathernecks. He owns a 5-8 record at Western and 175-67-1 in his 22nd year as a head coach... Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen is 9-5 in his second year with the Badgers and 39-36 overall in seven years as a head coach.

SCOUTING THE BADGERS: Wisconsin could not hold onto a 24-7 lead midway through the third quarter and dropped a 28-24 decision against No. 13 LSU... The announced crowd of 71,599 in Houston was the largest attendance for a college football game in NRG Stadium history... Wisconsin rushed for 268 net yards, led by Melvin Gordon's 140 on 16 attempts... The Badgers scored three rushing TDs... Tanner McEvoy completed just 8-of-24 passes for 50 yards with two interceptions... Rafael Gaglianone kicked a 51-yard field goal... Michael Caputo led everyone with 15 tackles. He recovered a fumble and broke-up a pass... Marcus Trotter made 12 stops, including 2.5 for a loss... Joe Schobert made eight tackles, including a sack... LSU went ahead for good on a 28-yard TD run with 9:48 remaining... This marks the third meeting all-time between WIU and Wisconsin.

RANKINGS: Western received 6 votes in The Sports Network 'Top 25' poll and 3 votes in the FCS Coaches poll... This is the first time versus a ranked FBS opponent since playing #11 LSU in 2003 when WIU was the number one ranked team in the country. LSU eventually won the nation title that season.

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 improved to 7-0 versus the Pioneer, with half of those wins coming since 2010... The Leathernecks are 0-6 all-time versus the Big Ten, including two losses versus the Badgers (1991, 2006).

SEASON-OPENING SUCCESS AGAINST FCS: The Leathernecks have had great success in season-opening games against Football Championship Subdivision opponents... Western's 45-6 victory over Valparaiso marked the 10th win in the last 11 opportunities (only loss 20-6 at Sam Houston State in 2011).
2014: 45-6 vs. Valparaiso
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).

WIU PLAY 26 FIRST-TIMERS: Twenty-six Leathernecks in the Valpo game took the field for the first time in a WIU uniform. Of those 26, 13 were freshmen (including four true-freshmen)... The true-freshmen were defensive backs Aaron Diggs (4 tackles), and David Griffith (5 tackles), kicker Luke Otto (63 yd avg on 5 kickoffs) and long snapper Gabe Burkhardt.

100 CAREER TACKLES: Six current Leathernecks have eclipsed 100 career tackles and are on the verge of 200-plus... Junior J.J. Raffelson took over the career active lead with 171 tackles... Senior Jonathon Rollins is next with 167 stops in 34 games... Seniors David McDaniel (150), Kevin Kintzel (125) and Martinez Davis (104) are next... Senior Luke Venegoni joined the group after the Valparaiso game, now with 106 all-time.

TURNOVERS THE KEY: Western picked up where it left off last year in the turnover margin category... The Leathernecks recorded an interception while not committing a miscue in the opener... Last year Western ranked 16th nationally in turnover margin and was 12th in turnovers gained... Since the start of 2013, when the team commits fewer turnovers than the opponent Western is 5-2. However, when the turnovers were equal (0-2) or WIU made more miscues (0-4) the squad went winless... On four occasions Western has not committed a turnover, and the team owns a 3-1 in those games.

BAKER MAKES IMMEDIATE IMPACT: Senior J.C. Baker made an immediate impact for the Leathernecks last season after transferring from Arizona Western CC... He tied for sixth among the Western season 'Top 10' leaders for most 100-yard rushing games... Baker recorded yet another 100-yard game, 137 versus Valparaiso in the opener... He moved into a tie for fifth place all-time with eight in 13 career games.
BAKER 100-YARD RUSHING GAMES
163 - Southern Illinois (25 carries/2013)
148 - at Youngstown State (28 carries/2013)
144 - Quincy (14 carries/2013)
137 - Valparaiso (17 carries/2014)
112 - South Dakota State (27 carries/2013)
109 - at Indiana State (23 carries/2013)
108 - at UNLV (15 carries/2013)
104 - South Dakota (13 carries/2013)


 
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Players Mentioned

Luke Venegoni

#46 Luke Venegoni

LB
6' 3"
Senior
Carmel
Jonathon Rollins

#4 Jonathon Rollins

DB
5' 11"
Senior
Everglades
Kevin Kintzel

#17 Kevin Kintzel

LB
6' 2"
Senior
Lincoln-Way West
J.J. Raffelson

#43 J.J. Raffelson

LB
6' 3"
Junior
Lake Zurich
Martinez Davis

#5 Martinez Davis

DB
5' 10"
Senior
North Hopkins / Air Force Prep
David McDaniel

#22 David McDaniel

DB
5' 11"
Senior
O'Fallon
J.C. Baker

#2 J.C. Baker

RB
5' 8"
Senior
Yuma / Arizona Western CC
Aaron Diggs

#29 Aaron Diggs

DB
6' 1"
Freshman
Millennium
David Griffith

#38 David Griffith

DB
5' 11"
Freshman
Avon
Luke Otto

#31 Luke Otto

P/K
5' 11"
Freshman
University
Gabe Burkhardt

#57 Gabe Burkhardt

LS
6' 4"
Freshman
Plainfield

Players Mentioned

Luke Venegoni

#46 Luke Venegoni

6' 3"
Senior
Carmel
LB
Jonathon Rollins

#4 Jonathon Rollins

5' 11"
Senior
Everglades
DB
Kevin Kintzel

#17 Kevin Kintzel

6' 2"
Senior
Lincoln-Way West
LB
J.J. Raffelson

#43 J.J. Raffelson

6' 3"
Junior
Lake Zurich
LB
Martinez Davis

#5 Martinez Davis

5' 10"
Senior
North Hopkins / Air Force Prep
DB
David McDaniel

#22 David McDaniel

5' 11"
Senior
O'Fallon
DB
J.C. Baker

#2 J.C. Baker

5' 8"
Senior
Yuma / Arizona Western CC
RB
Aaron Diggs

#29 Aaron Diggs

6' 1"
Freshman
Millennium
DB
David Griffith

#38 David Griffith

5' 11"
Freshman
Avon
DB
Luke Otto

#31 Luke Otto

5' 11"
Freshman
University
P/K
Gabe Burkhardt

#57 Gabe Burkhardt

6' 4"
Freshman
Plainfield
LS