GAME TEN
Who | Western Illinois at North Dakota State
When | Saturday, November 9 at 2:30 p.m.
Where | Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome - Fargo, N.D.
TV | ESPN+
Radio | WRMS (Danny Frey, Dr. Tom Cody)
Social Media | Twitter + Facebook #TRADITIONofTOUGH, #DANGEROUSandRELENTLESS
The Series | Saturday will mark the 11th meeting between Western and North Dakota State, and the Bison lead the all-time series, 8-2. Both of the Leathernecks' victories occurred in Fargo with a 27-22 win in 2008 and a 28-16 success in 2010.
Streak Ended | 364 days had passed since Western's last win, and the team refused to let an entire year go by – its 10-game winless spell began and ended with South Dakota.
Western Illinois 38, South Dakota 34
- Western trailed 20-7 in the third quarter
- There were three touchdowns in the final five minutes; Clint Ratkovich recorded the game-winner on a nine-yard rush
- Eric Carrera intercepted the ball at the one-yard line on USD's final possession
MVFC Player of the Week | In a span of 24 hours, Connor Sampson earned his first win at QB and his first career MVFC weekly award. The junior was named Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for a career-high 368 passing yards with three touchdowns in Western's 38-34 win over South Dakota.
The yardage ranks 14th all-time in Western's single-game records, while also sitting third-most on the MVFC's 2019 passing list.
10-Plus | Five Leathernecks finished with 10 or more tackles in the Leathernecks' 38-34 win over South Dakota. Zach Glisan finished the afternoon with a career-high, season-high 16 tackles (eight assisted, eight solo), and was followed by Demetri Royer (13), Justin Nutof (13), Mike Viti (12) and Eric Carrera (11).
This season, Western has seen no more than two finish with 10-plus, as Andre Whitley and Glisan recorded 13 and 12, respectively, against Indiana State.
Glisan was also the last Leatherneck to record 15 or more tackles, and did so with 15 versus Montana last year.
Most Outstanding Rookie | The Hamilton Tiger-Cats clinched first place in the Canadian Football League's east division and have earned a guaranteed bye in the Eastern Final. Former letter winner Jaelon Acklin has started 16 games at wide receiver for the Tiger-Cats and was recently named Most Outstanding Rookie.
He currently leads all eligible CFL rookie wide receivers in targets (71), receptions (57) and receiving yards (701), and is fourth in receiving touchdowns (3).
The Leathernecks boast two former standouts in the CFL as their all-time leading passer Sean McGuire plays for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
National Rankings | Western Illinois maintains the following "Top 45" national rankings.
Punting (Adam Fellner)
No. 36 FCS; No. 5 MVFC | 41.5 YDS
Combined Kick Returns (Justin Hall)
No. 28 FCS; No. 1 MVFC | 511 YDS
Passes Defended (Marquis Smith)
No. 7 FCS; No. 1 MVFC | 1.4 PG
Completions Per Game (Connor Sampson)
No. 31 FCS; No. 3 MVFC | 19.44
Total Tackles (Zach Glisan)
No. 43 FCS; No. 4 | 8.7 TPG
