THE SERIES: Western Illinois trails the all-time series versus Missouri State 17-15-1. This is the first meeting since 2013 (rotating MVFC schedule). The Leathernecks are looking to snap a five-game losing streak to the Bears.
THE COACHES: Western Illinois head coach Charlie Fisher is in his first year at WIU. He is 4-1 with the Leathernecks and 40-18 overall in six years as a head coach... Dave Steckel owns a 4-12 record in his second year at Missouri State and overall as a head coach.
THE RANKINGS: Western Illinois ranks 12th in the STATS FCS 'Top 25' poll, 13th in HERO Sports and 13th in FCS Coaches... Missouri State received 73 votes (32nd) in the STATS FCS 'Top 25' poll.
WHAT ANOTHER ROAD WIN MEANS: Currently at 2-1 on the road, the next Western Illinois road win this year would match the highest total since the 2003 season (5).
NATIONAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS: Western ranks among the 'Top 10' in the latest NCAA FCS rankings:
4th Down Conversion Defense (7th/.200)
Fumbles Lost (4th/1)
Redzone Defense (6th/.615)
Turnovers Lost (9th/5)
Winning Percentage (10th/.800)
Western also stands among the 'Top 20' in three other categories: 11th nationally in Time of Possession (34:09), 19th in sacks allowed (1.0), 19th in punt return defense (4.20 ypr)... Brett Taylor is second in solo tackles (MVFC-leading 6.8 p/g) and 22nd nationally in total tackles (10.0 p/g)... Lance Lenoir, Jr. enters this week fourth nationally in receiving yards per game (MVFC-leading 123.4) and ninth in receptions per game (MVFC-leading 7.6)... Steve McShane stands 12th in rushing yards per game (MVFC-leading 117.4) and 20th in rushing TDs (6)... Sean McGuire is 25th in passing TDs (9) and 24th in passing yards per game (247.2)
LENOIR CHASING MVFC RECORDS: Senior Lance Lenoir already has re-written the WIU receiving record book. Now he's chasing the Missouri Valley Football Conference records... Lenoir currently stands fourth all-time in MVFC history with 235 receptions, 15 shy of Tyrone Walker of Illinois State (2009-12)... Lenoir is in a chase with South Dakota State junior wideout Jake Wieneke (3,471) for the yardage record. Lenoir, one of six in MVFC history with 3,000 receiving yards at 3,320, enters this weekend seventh in yardage. UNI's Dedric Ward (1993-96) holds the record at 3,876... Lenoir's 25 touchdown receptions ties him for 10th all-time, 16 shy of Ward's record.
ENOIR EARNS NATIONAL HONOR: Following his 204 yards against Indiana State, Lance Lenoir was named Honorable Mention National Offensive Player of the Week by STATS FCS... His 11 receptions are one shy of his personal-best.
LENOIR AMONG ACTIVE NCAA LEADERS: Lance Lenoir so far this year is ranked among the NCAA FCS career active leaders, including: 3rd in Total Receptions (235); 3rd in Total Yards (3,320); 3rd in Receiving Touchdowns (25).
SOLO ACT: In 30 career games, the majority coming in his 21 starts, Brett Taylor is near the career 'Top 10' in solo tackles... With 139 in his career, he needs 23 to equal former All-American Todd Auer for 10th.
NO KICKOFF RETURNS HERE: Junior Luke Otto leads the MVFC with 15 touchbacks on his kickoffs, with five coming last game against Indiana State... In fact, in seven kickoffs, Otto and Western did not allow a single kickoff return yard (1 fair catch, 1 out of bounds).
LEATHERNECK NOTES:
• Steve McShane's 70-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter at Eastern Illinois was the longest by a Leatherneck dating back to 2000. In that game, Frisman Jackson set a WIU quarterback record for longest rush with his 77-yard run at Southern Illinois... Three games later Stacey Smith broke off a 71-yard run to set the current season-high.
• Currently the MVFC rushing leader and 12th nationally, Steve McShane is trying to become the first Leatherneck to lead the Missouri Valley Football Conference in rushing since Herb Donaldson in 2008.
• Brett Taylor currently ranks second in the MVFC in tackles per game at 10.0 (22nd nationally). The last Leatherneck to lead the conference was All-American Kyle Glazier in 2010 (12.85), who finished second in the Buck Buchanan Award voting that year.
• Brett Taylor needs just 23 solo tackles to tie for 10th place on the WIU career 'Top 10'.
• Khalen Saunders on two occasions in his career recorded 2.0 tackles for a loss. Both times came against South Dakota State.
• Sophomore Pete Swenson recorded his 11th career tackle for a loss. His 6.0 career sacks are the most among active Leathernecks.
• In just 15 career games, Sean McGuire is tied for sixth all-time for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (5)... He is just one away from a tie for fourth place... Every other quarterback on the list has a minimum 20 games played.
• Sean McGuire needs 105 passing yards to reach 2,500 in his career.
• Lance Lenoir, Jr. recorded his 150th career point.
• The Leathernecks have forced at least one turnover in 36 of the last 41 contests... Seven times in the last 13 games Western recorded two or more takeaways.
• The Leathernecks have a four-game losing streak when opening MVFC play on the road (2016 at South Dakota State; 2014 at Southern Illinois; 2012 at UNI; 2008 at South Dakota State)... When playing its first home MVFC game of the season, Western has won seven times in the last 10 seasons following the Indiana State victory.
30-PLUS STARTS: Senior Nathan Knuffman extended his streak to 42 consecutive games with a start, every game of his career... Lance Lenoir made his 41st career start... Joey Borsellino joined the 30-start club in the season-opener, now 34 all-time... Trenton Norvell (33) also surpassed 30 career starts... Offensive lineman Matt Zobrist joined the club after earning the start against Indiana State... Offensive lineman James Torgerson  (24), linebacker Brett Taylor (21) and defensive back David Griffith (20), all juniors, are next closest to joining the group.
SCOUTING THE BEARS: Missouri State is making an early case this year for best season turnaround... Last year finishing 1-10, the Bears are off to a 3-2 start overall and 1-1 in MVFC while receiving 'Top 25' votes... Second year head coach Dave Steckel has his defense ranked 20th nationally in total yards allowed (324.8)... The 13 turnovers gained leads the MVFC and stands ninth in the country... MSU also ranks among the 'Top 20' in 3rd down defense (15th/.300) and 4th down defense (18th/.333)... Dylan Cole is tied with WIU's Brett Taylor for tackles per game at 10.0, 22nd nationally... Taylor and Cole (5.6) rank 1-2, respectively, in solo tackles per game among the conference leaders... Deion Holliman averages 25.9 kickoff return yards per game, 24th nationally... Colby Isbell's 1.8 tackles for a loss (16th) and 1.0 sacks (8th) per game rank him in the 'Top 20'.
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