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Western Illinois University Athletics

2018 All-League

Seven Land All-MVFC Accolades

Clint Ratkovich, Khalen Saunders and Pete Swenson headlined the first team.

ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Valley Football Conference announced its 2018 All-MVFC Teams Monday (Nov. 26) and Western Illinois landed seven on the postseason lists. First team recognition was awarded to Clint Ratkovich, Khalen Saunders and Pete Swenson while Isaiah LeSure, Quentin Moon, Justin Fitzpatrick and Steve McShane represented the Leathernecks as second-team selections. 

First Team All-MVFC

#25 Clint Ratkovich, FB, 6-1, 210, R-So., Crete, Ill., Crete-Monee

2017 MVFC All-Newcomer Team … team captain … started in nine games this season  … fourth on the team in rushing yards … second on the team in receiving yards (616) with three touchdowns … ranks 10th in the Valley in receiving yards per game … 52-yard touchdown reception at Missouri State, 52-yard reception versus Indiana State … season-high 134 all-purpose yards at South Dakota 
 
#99 Khalen Saunders, DL, 6-2, 310, Sr., St. Louis, Mo., Parkway Central 

2017 First Team All-MVFC … 2017 Phil Steele Third Team All-American …  2018 Buck Buchanan Award finalist … three-year starter …  third on the team in tackles with 72 … added 13.0 TFLs for 57 yards lost (ranks fifth in the Valley) … second on the team and sixth in the MVFC in sacks (6.5) … tied as the team leader in QB hurries (5) … career-high 11 tackles versus NDSU … touchdown on first career reception versus Youngstown State

#50 Pete Swenson, LB, 6-3, 230, Sr., Mason City, Iowa, Clear Lake 

2018 Buck Buchanan Award watch list … two-year starter … sacked the opposing quarterback in all but one game this season … ranks third in the FCS, leads the MVFC in sacks (14.5) … leads nation in TFLs (24.5 for a combined 109 yards loss) … team leader with seven QB hurries … ties for third in the MVFC in forced fumbles (3) … finished year with 60 tackles 

Second Team All-MVFC 

#2 Isaiah LeSure, WR, 6-3, 180, Sr., Mount Horeb, Wis., Mount Horeb

Two-year starter … Western's active leader in receiving yards (1,318) and touchdowns (12) … third on the team in receiving yards (615) … added four touchdowns .. ranks 10th in the MVFC in receptions per game (4.1)  … career-high 170 receiving yards vs. NDSU (second most in a single-game from a Leatherneck this season)

#39 Quentin Moon, LB, 6-2, 232, Sr., Indianapolis, Ind., Pike 

2016 & 2017 All-MVFC Honorable Mention … two-year team captain … three-year starter … seven games with 10-plus tackles this season … ranks 15th in the nation, third in the MVFC in tackles (109)  … ninth in the FCS in solo tackles … MVFC leader in forced fumbles (5) … added five QB hurries 

#30 Justin Fitzpatrick, DB, 6-1, 200, Sr., O'Fallon, Mo., Fort Zumwalt North

2017 Second Team All-MVFC … team captain … two-year starter … ties for eighth in the Valley in passes defended … ties for team lead with nine pass breakups and two interceptions  … 58 tackles … one forced fumble …  career-best 11 tackles versus UNI this season (9 solo/2 assist) 

#5 Steve McShane, RS, 5-8, 185, Sr., Freeport, Ill., Freeport 

2016 (RB) & 2017 (RB/RS) Second Team All-MVFC … three-year starter … team leader in rushing with 672 yards (ranks 10th in the MVFC)  … third on the team in receiving yards (403) … tied for third in the MVFC in touchdowns (seven rush, five pass, and one return) … second in the Valley in punt return average (9.0) … sixth in the MVFC, 34th in the nation in all-purpose yards … two games this season with 100-plus rushing yards (143 versus Missouri State, 134 versus Youngstown State) … returned a punt 58 yards for a touchdown vs. Montana … recorded a 75-yard rushing touchdown vs. Youngstown State and a 65-yard rushing touchdown vs. Indiana State 

McShane, who was named above as a return specialist, also joined Sean McGuire and Xavier Rowe on the honorable mention list as a running back. 

Honorable Mentions 

#18 Sean McGuire, QB, 6-3, 228, Sr., Franklin, Wis., Franklin

2016 & 2017 All-MVFC Honorable Mention … three-year team captain … three-year starter … Western's all-time leader in passing yards, touchdowns, completions and attempts … sits second all-time in the MVFC with 9,819 career passing yards … second in the MVFC this season in passing average per game (263.1) … third in the Valley in total offense (2,901) … third in the Valley, 20th in the nation in passing TDs (21) … four games with 300-plus passing yards (Montana, Youngstown State, Missouri State, Northern Iowa)

#6 Xavier Rowe, DB, 6-0, 190, Sr., Oak Park, Ill., Oak Park-River Forest

Four-year starter (Western's active leader with 43 career starts) …  ties for fifth in the MVFC in passes defended … ties as the team leader with nine pass breakups … all three interceptions occurred in conference play … recorded 41 tackles 

Western concluded its 2018 slate fifth in league standings with a record of 4-4, 5-6 overall. According to the Massey Ratings' strength of schedule index, the Leathernecks played the second toughest schedule in the FCS, highlighted by Top 25 wins over Montana and Northern Iowa. 

 
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