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Leatherneck Football - Game 6

Football WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks Face Bison in Homecoming 2014

#1 North Dakota State (4-0, 0-0) at Western Illinois (2-3, 0-1)

GAME NOTES (Game 6)

LEATHERNECK FOOTBALL GAMEDAY CENTRAL

WIU HOMECOMING 2014          HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2014
   
TICKET INFORMATION

INFORMATION - GAME #6                  
DATE/TIME: Saturday, October 4 / 3 p.m.
LOCATION: Macomb, Illinois
STADIUM: Hanson Field
SURFACE: MatrixTurf
LIVE STATS: www.GoLeathernecks.com
LIVE VIDEO: Valley-Football.org/ESPN3 (Free)
LIVE AUDIO: www.WRMSFM.com
MOBILE DEVICE: TuneIn Radio app (WRMS)
ALL-TIME SERIES: NDSU leads 3-2
LAST MEETING: NDSU 37, @WIU 21 (11/19/11)

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

TELEVISION                                         
NETWORK    Mediacom & ESPN3
ANNOUNCERS    Scott Warmann (PBP),
    Danan Hughes (Color), Sara Dayley (Sideline)

VIDEO                                                   
Fans can watch the game through ESPN3.com and live at www.Valley-Football.org (ESPN3 link).

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 #NDSUvsWIU hashtag.

THE GAME: Western Illinois celebrates Homecoming 2014 on Saturday in the Missouri Valley Football Conference home opener... Western begins a streak of playing three of the next four at home after playing three of the previous four on the road.

SERIES: Western and North Dakota State resumes their rivalry for the first time in three seasons... WIU is looking to break a streak in which the home team has never won in the series as NDSU leads 3-2 all-time.

THE COACHES: WIU head coach Bob Nielson enters his second year with the Leathernecks. He owns a 6-11 record at Western and 176-70-1 in his 22nd year as a head coach... North Dakota State head coach Chris Klieman is 4-0 in his first year in charge of the Bison and 7-7 overall in his second year as a head coach.

DEFENSE HELD GORDON IN CHECK: Western held First Team Preseason All-American running back, and Walter Camp Award watch list member, Melvin Gordon to one of his lowest rushing games in his Wisconsin career… Gordon was  limited to 38 yards on 17 carries, a 2.2 yard-per-carry average… It's the second-lowest average in his career (minimum two attempts in a game)...
Opponent    Yds (Att)    YPC    TDs
vs. LSU        140 (16)        8.75    1
vs. Western    38 (17)        2.23    0
vs. BGSU    253 (13)        19.46    5
vs. USF        181 (32)        5.66    2

HOMECOMING SINCE 1997: Western plays host to North Dakota State to highlight the Homecoming 2014 celebration. Since 1997, the Fighting Leathernecks are 10-7 on Homecoming, but have lost two straight and three of the last five...
1997    *Northern Iowa    W     29-22 (2OT)
1998    *Youngstown State    W    14-0
1999    *Southern Illinois    W    68-27
2000    *Indiana State    W    49-7
2001    *Northern Iowa    L    14-17
2002    Sam Houston State    W    41-13
2003    *Western Kentucky    W    33-28
2004    *Indiana State    W    29-27
2005    *Northern Iowa    L    24-41
2006    *Youngstown State    L    28-35
2007    North Dakota State    L    28-41
2008    *Indiana State    W    56-0
2009    *Missouri State    L    16-17
2010    *Indiana State    W    40-7
2011    *Southern Illinois    W    27-21
2012    *Illinois State    L    3-23
2013    *South Dakota State    L    14-38

FACING #1 AGAIN: For the seventh time in program history, Western will face the nation's top-ranked FCS team... The 2014 game against North Dakota State marks the first time since October 2007 playing the top-ranked team... The Leathernecks are looking to win for the second time ever and in the process snap a four-game losing streak in those games.
Games against the nation's No. 1 team:
9-28-85    at #1 Richmond    L    38-20
10-3-98    #1 Youngstown State    W    14-0
12-12-98    at #1 Georgia Southern    L    42-14
10-30-04    at #1 Southern Illinois    L    66-13
10-22-05    #1 Western Kentucky    L    42-7
10-20-07     #1 Northern Iowa    L    42-3

LEATHERNECKS IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS: Western ranks among the 'Top 30' nationally in several categories... The offense is 9th in tackles for a loss allowed (3.80), and 27th in first down offense (103)... The defense is 26th in redzone defense (.696)... On special teams, Western stands 14th blocking a MVFC-leading two kicks... Trenton Norvell stands 26th nationally in completions per game (19.6), and 22nd in passing yards per game (239.2)... Brad Blumenshine is second nationally with a punt return for a touchdown... Hi-C Scott ranks 26th in punt returns (10.4)... Nathan Knuffman is 25th with an .800 field goal percentage... Lance Lenoir jumped up to 25th with 365 receiving yards and 23rd averaging 6.0 receptions per game... Jonathon Rollins is 27th averaging 5.8 solo tackles per game.

IN THE CAREER TOP 10 AS A SOPHOMORE: During his performance at Northwestern, Trenton Norvell broke into the WIU career 'Top 10' for most pass completions... He enters this week ranked eighth in both career completions (293) and attempts (553)... Norvell needs three more touchdowns to match the 10th place total of 26.

NORVELL REPRESENTING WIU IN THE LEADERS: Trenton Norvell ranks 31st nationally in touchdown passes (7)... He's 53rd in passing efficiency (125.2), 22nd in passing yards per game (239.2), and 46th in passing yards per completion (12.2)... Norvell enters this week 43rd in total offense (236.4).

LENOIR MATCHES CAREER-HIGH, BREAKS INTO TOP 10: Lance Lenoir, Jr. set a career-high in receiving yards with 115 at Northwestern (with a career-high 11 receptions). Lenoir matched that personal-best with 115 yards at Southern Illinois... He moved into a tie for 10th place all-time recording his third career 100-yard game.



 
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Players Mentioned

Jonathon Rollins

#4 Jonathon Rollins

DB
5' 11"
Senior
Everglades
Lance Lenoir

#7 Lance Lenoir

WR
6' 0"
Sophomore
Crete Monee
Nathan Knuffman

#33 Nathan Knuffman

K/P
6' 1"
Sophomore
Camp Point Central
Hi-C Scott

#19 Hi-C Scott

WR
5' 9"
Senior
Central / Scottsdale CC
Trenton Norvell

#14 Trenton Norvell

QB
6' 5"
Sophomore
Seabreeze
Brad Blumenshine

#27 Brad Blumenshine

LB
6' 2"
Junior
Normal

Players Mentioned

Jonathon Rollins

#4 Jonathon Rollins

5' 11"
Senior
Everglades
DB
Lance Lenoir

#7 Lance Lenoir

6' 0"
Sophomore
Crete Monee
WR
Nathan Knuffman

#33 Nathan Knuffman

6' 1"
Sophomore
Camp Point Central
K/P
Hi-C Scott

#19 Hi-C Scott

5' 9"
Senior
Central / Scottsdale CC
WR
Trenton Norvell

#14 Trenton Norvell

6' 5"
Sophomore
Seabreeze
QB
Brad Blumenshine

#27 Brad Blumenshine

6' 2"
Junior
Normal
LB