Leathernecks Off to Brookings For Game Two

Tuesday, March 02, 2021

Western Illinois continues its spring slate on the road at No. 8 South Dakota State.

Who | Western Illinois at No. 8 South Dakota State
When | Saturday, March 6 | 2 p.m.
Where | Brookings, S.D. - Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium
Radio | Mixlr - Dr. Tom Cody & RJ Larson
TV | ESPN+
Social Media | Twitter #TRADITIONofTOUGH

The Last Game | Spring football began in loss for the Western Illinois football team as penalties and turnovers led to a 30-24 decision to Missouri State Saturday (Feb. 27).

- Holding calls erased a pair of touchdowns and negated a fourth-quarter play that would have put Western at the Bear four-yard line; the Leathernecks final drive ended with a fumble
- Connor Sampson's 281 passing yards were the second-most by a QB in the Valley this season; he also completed 34 passes to tie his program record
- Dennis Houston caught a league-leading nine passes for 71 receiving yards
- Mason Laramie hit a 45-yard field goal in his Leatherneck debut; it the second-longest in the MVFC this season
- Tony Tate put up 87 kick return yards on three attempts; he opened the game with a 39-yard return which ties for the second-longest in the MVFC this season
- Greg Benton Jr. turned on the jets for a 75-yard fumble recovery; he scored his first career touchdown on the play, and the return was the third-longest in Western history

Recovery Mode | Greg Benton Jr. was electrifying in the Leathernecks' season-opener at Missouri State. The junior linebacker recorded seven tackles (six solo), two QB hurries, and a pass breakup in his first career start and had all of Hanson Field on its feet when he returned a fumble 75 yards for a touchdown.

The return was the third-longest in program history.

Longest Fumble Return
1. *90 yards, Cornell Middlebrook at UNI, 11/9/02
2. *88 yards, Patrick Stoudamire vs. Missouri State, 10/17/09
3. *75 yards, Greg Benton Jr. vs. Missouri State, 2/27/21

Hot Start | Connor Sampson tied his single-game record for completions in the very first game of the season. Western's second-year captain completed 34 passes for 281 yards to tie the mark set against Illinois State a season ago.

Youth Movement | Four true freshmen received starting nods and their first taste of college football in the opening game of the 2020-21 season against Missouri State.

Matt Muetterties (OL)
Ludovick Choquette (HB) | 2 rushing attempts, 4 yards
Juan DelaCruz (LB) | 1 solo tackle
Braylen Brooks (CB) | 7 tackles (six solo); 1 interception

Redshirt freshman Ty O'Janovac also lined up at center in his first career start in five appearances.

Versus the Ranked | Western Illinois is 45-86-1 all-time against ranked opponents, with a 30-66 mark in conference play. Its last ranked win occurred in a 37-17 decision over No. 17/23 Northern Iowa in 2018.

The Leathernecks claimed a 30-24, double-overtime thriller at home against No. 5 South Dakota State during the 2015 season, in what was their last win against the program. SDSU leads the all-time series, 10-5.

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Western Illinois continues its spring slate on the road at No. 8 South Dakota State.

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