ALL-TIME SERIES: WIU trails 4-2
THE SERIES: Western Illinois trails the series with North Dakota State 4-2... The Leathernecks are looking to snap a two-game losing streak to the Bison, and in the process remain undefeated in the Fargodome.
THE COACHES: Western Illinois head coach Bob Nielson is in his third year with the Leathernecks. He owns a 13-19 record at Western and 183-78-1 in his 23rd year as a head coach... North Dakota State head coach Chris Klieman is 21-3 in his second year in charge of the Bison and 24-10 in his third year overall as a head coach.
THE RANKINGS: Western is receiving votes (153 points/30th place) in the STATS FCS poll and FCS Coaches poll (6 points/34th)... North Dakota State is tied for 5th in the FCS Coaches poll and is 6th in the STATS FCS poll.
LEATHERNECKS CONTINUE WITH NATION'S TOUGHEST SCHEDULE: Once again based off the NCAA rankings, Western Illinois has the nation's toughest schedule according to the NCAA Division I FCS... The Fighting Leathernecks are one of seven MVFC teams among the 'Top 14' ranked... Despite two non-conference opponents losing last weekend, Western still ranked first with a .708 cumulative opposition winning percentage, ahead of Elon (.656) and Villanova (.625)... Of the teams nationally-ranked in the FCS Coaches poll, nine of the Top 25 have a Strength of Schedule of 50 or more... Only two teams in the 'Top 25' have a strength of schedule in the top nine - and both are MVFC teams (UNI, 7th; South Dakota State, 8th).
MORE RANKED OPPONENTS: Last year Western played a program-record eight ranked teams in the 12-game schedule... The 2015 season picked up where last year left off, playing #25 Eastern Illinois, at #1 Coastal Carolina, at #12 UNI, at #3 Illinois State and against #24 Youngstown State... The future opponents rankings this week include (highest ranking): North Dakota State (5th), Indiana State (23rd) and South Dakota State (11th).
SCOUTING THE BISON: North Dakota State moved up to fifth in this week's poll following a 35-29 win at Southern Illinois... NDSU out-gained SIU 535-398 in yards, led by King Frazier's 177 on the ground... Freshman quarterback Easton Stick rushed for 130 yards and threw for 138 and two TDs on 12-of-17 passing... RJ Urzendowski caught five passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns... Nick DeLuca recorded 20 tackles and Robbie Grimsley added 10... The Bison added nine pass break-ups and six tackles for a loss... NDSU ranks fourth nationally averaging 51.6 percent on third down convesions while on the flip side standing third in third down conversion defense (26.8 percent)... The Bison are 12th on fourth downs (70%)... The 39 yard net punting average leads the MVFC and is ninth in the country. The big reason is national-leader Ben LeCompte's 46.5 yard per average on punts.
LEATHERNECK NOTES:
• Brett Taylor is the only sophomore in the country ranked among the 'Top 13' in both total tackles and solo tackles per game.
• Despite last Saturday's loss, Western still finished with a winning record in October for the first time since 2010 (3-2). However, the two-game losing streak to close out the month was the seventh time in the last 10 seasons WIU lost two consecutive games during October.
• Over the past nine games, Western has registered 23 takeaways (14 interceptions/9 fumble recoveries) and owns a +10 advantage in turnover margin. The defense scored three touchdowns this year alone, including the 95-yard interception return by Aaron Diggs.
• In the 32 games Western has played with Bob Nielson as head coach, the Leathernecks have forced at least one turnover in 29 of those 32 contests, including a streak of the previously mentioned last nine games.
• Western ranks 13th nationally in fumble recoveries (9), led by current second place ranked Brett Taylor (3)... The 19 turnovers gained this year leads the MVFC and stand 9th nationally.
• Brett Taylor ended one shy of tying a Missouri Valley Football Conference record with his two fumble recoveries at Illinois. He picked up another loose ball and scored a touchdown versus Southern Illinois. Taylor ranks second in the nation with three fumble recoveries.
• Nikko Watson's nine rushing touchdowns (in six games played) lead the team and place him 16th nationally. In those six games he already matched his previous three year total of nine.
• Speaking of Nikko Watson, now that he met the national minimum of percentage of team games played, he stands 10th nationally in rushing yards per game (114.3)... His total rushing yards place him 29th - with two less games played than others nationally... Watson is roughly 30 yards shy of the MVFC per game lead in second place.
• Nikko Watson's 35 rushing attempts at UNI were the most by a Leatherneck since Dre' Gibbs rushed 39 times against Missouri State on October 17, 2009... six years to the exact date.
• When Eddy Holtschlag enters the game Saturday, he will play for the 40th time in his career. He joins two other seniors in playing 40+ games - Gavin Ricketts (43-of-43) and Larry Harris (42-of-43).
WINS IN OCTOBER: The 2015 Leathernecks started to turn around a trend in recent years of which October has not been kind... Western logged just four October wins from 2011-14, but this year finished October with a winning record at 3-2... During the Division I era, there have now been 15 years in which Western won at least three games during October.
• 5-0 in 1998 and 1988
• 4-0 in 2000, 1997 and 1991
• 4 wins in 1992
• 3-0 in 2008
• 3 wins in 2015, 2010, 2007, 2002, 1996, 1994, 1993 and 1987
LED BY UNDERCLASSMEN: The Leathernecks lost their top seven tacklers from last year and had a few holes to fill on defense along the back seven. Midway through the season, Western's six of the top seven tacklers are all freshmen and sophomores, led by middle linebacker Brett Taylor. The sophomore recorded a game- and career-high 17 tackles versus Southern Illinois (11 solos), deflected a pass that led to an interception and returned a fumble for a touchdown in which he earned National Player of the Week honors. Taylor earned his second MVFC Player of the Week award with 12 tackles at UNI... He leads the way with 89 and enters this week 11th nationally averaging 11.3 tackles per game and 12th with 5.8 tackles per game... Senior Dallas Nichols moved to second on the team with 52 stops... Sophomore linebacker Adam Brott recorded a career-high 14 tackles (11 solos) against Youngstown State. He moved up to third place with 51 stops... Sophomore David Griffith recorded his second 10-plus tackle game this year, making a career-high 14 stops against Southern Illinois. He has 48 total tackles this year... Fellow sophomore safety Aaron Diggs recorded a career-high 10 tackles at Coastal Carolina, and is fifth with 44 tackles this year. He also recorded his second career interception in as many weeks (at Illinois State)... Redshirt-freshman Xavier Rowe (41) is sixth in total tackles, followed by fellow redshirt Michael Bishoff (33).
DIGGING IN: Sophomore Aaron Diggs stands second on the team with 36 solo tackles and fifth with 44 total stops... Diggs forced a fumble that was returned for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Southern Illinois victory... He leads the team with two forced fumbles, tying him for third in the MVFC and ranking him 43rd nationally... Diggs' first career interception made a big impact in the UNI game, picking off a pass and racing 95 yards for a touchdown. It tied for the second-longest interception return in program history, and currently third-longest this year in NCAA FCS. He added another interception at Illinois State, a diving catch at the 1-yard line.
GRIFFITH WITH ANOTHER DOUBLE-DIGIT GAME: Sophomore David Griffith recorded his second game of 10 or more tackles - both this season - when he logged a career-high 14 stops versus Southern Illinois... He added 10 tackles at Illinois... Griffith enters this week fourth on the team with 48 total tackles, tied for the lead with two interceptions, and added 3.0 tackles for a loss plus a 6-yard sack.
BROTT SETS CAREER-HIGH AGAIN: For the third time this season, sophomore linebacker Adam Brott set a personal-high for tackles in a game. He had eight at Illinois then reached double-digits for the first time in his career with 10 against South Dakota... Brott set a new standard with his 14 stops (11 solos) versus Youngstown State... Brott moved to third on the team with 51 total tackles.
THREE SURPASS 30 CONSECUTIVE: Three Leathernecks reached their 32nd consecutive start - every game of their Leatherneck career - to open the Youngstown State game... Quarterback Trenton Norvell, wide receiver Lance Lenoir and kicker Nathan Knuffman have been a mainstay in the starting lineup the past 32 games... Fellow junior wide receiver Joey Borsellino has played in all 32 games with 24 starts.
LENOIR'S TWO RECORDS: Lance Lenoir set his second career WIU record this season when he surpassed 100-receiving yards against Southern Illinois. He added to his record 10th 100-yard game at Illinois State... Having already broken the career receptions record, Lenoir is on the verge of breaking touchdowns and yardage as well.
LENOIR 100-YARD RECEIVING GAMES
195 - Illinois State (career-high 12 rec, 2TD/2014)
132 - at Youngstown State (8 rec, 2TD/2014)
131 - at Illinois State (11 rec, TD/2015)
124 - Eastern Illinois (10 rec, TD/2015)
120 - Southern Illinois (4 rec/2015)
116 - at Coastal Carolina (10 rec/2015)
115 - at Southern Illinois (7 rec/2014)
115 - at Northwestern (11 rec/2014)
105 - Northern Iowa (5 rec/2014)
105 - at Illinois State (7 rec, 2TD/2013)
All-Time Receiving Yardage Leaders
1. Reggie Gray (2002-05)Â Â Â Â Â Â 2,426
2. Lito Senatus (2008-10)Â Â Â Â Â Â 2,269
3. Lance Lenoir (2013-Pr)Â Â Â Â Â Â 2,265
All-Time Receiving Touchdowns
1. Lito Senatus (2008-10)Â Â Â Â Â Â 21
2. Steve Williams (1986-89)Â Â Â 19
3. Lance Lenoir (2013-Pr)Â Â Â Â Â Â 18
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