GAME NINE
Who | Western Illinois vs. South Dakota
When | Saturday, November 2 at 1 p.m.
Where | Hanson Field - Macomb, Ill.
TV | ESPN+
Radio | WRMS (Danny Frey, Dr. Tom Cody)
Social Media | Twitter + Facebook #TRADITIONofTOUGH, #DANGEROUSandRELENTLESS
The Series | Western leads the all-time series 5-4, with a 2-2 record inside Hanson Field.
Last year, Joe Turk and Daymon Murray ignited the Western Illinois contingent, but the late heroics weren't enough in a 17-12 decision. Five minutes remained when Turk blocked a punt in the end zone, and Murray recovered for his first Leatherneck touchdown.
The Return Game | Justin Hall ran for a season-high, career-high 107 yards on four kick returns at Youngstown State.
The Northern Illinois transfer currently manages 492 combined return yards to guide the MVFC and rank 20th in the FCS. Jared Drake also left Ohio with a career-high 83 KR yards on five attempts.
Longest Plays | The Leathernecks have 38 plays that have gone for 20 or more yards this season, and nearly half are credited to their returners.
Thanks in part to Justin Hall and Jared Drake, WIU ranks 47th in the FCS in kick returns.
Two In One | With nine career touchdowns, Clint Ratkovich ties Max Norris as Western Illinois' active leader. Ratkovich notched two receiving scores at Youngstown State (Oct. 26) – doubling down on TDs for the second time in his career – which also captured his first of the season.
He currently has the second-most receiving yards on the team with 297.
