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Sarah Ritter

Western Illinois hosts Youngstown State for Homecoming

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks look for first win vs. Penguins

Who | Youngstown State (3-3, 1-2) at Western Illinois (0-6, 0-3)
 
When | Saturday, October 22, 3 p.m.
 
Where | Hanson Field, Macom, Illinois.
 
Social media | Twitter + Facebook

After nearly a month since the last time they played at home, the Western Illinois football team returns to Hanson Field on Saturday, hosting Youngstown State on Saturday at 3 p.m. The Leathernecks (0-6 overall, 0-3 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference) have not played a home game since losing to Northern Iowa on September 24. The game serves as the annual Homecoming contest for Western Illinois.
 
The Leathernecks are coming off a 30-7 loss to nationally-ranked Southern Illinois in Carbondale last week while Youngstown is 3-3 overall, 1-2 in the MVFC and coming off a 48-42 win over Indiana State. The win snapped a three-game Pengiun losing streak.
 
In the last two weeks, Youngstown State has found its offense, scoring 30 in a loss to North Dakota before hanging 48 on the Sycamores. A new-found offensive balance has paved the way for Youngstown State. Running back Jaleel McLaughlin is the MVFC leader in rushing yards, averaging 142.7 yards per game and 8.1 yards per carry, but YSU is also finding success through the air.
 
Quarterback Mitch Davidson has been huge for the Penguins, throwing for 223 yards against Indiana State and 280 against North Dakota.
 
For the Youngstown State defense, it has been an up and down season. The Penguins allowed 15 points per game in their first two, both wins, but have surrendered 32.75 per game in their last four.
 
Western Illinois is looking to snap an eight-game skid, a streak that goes back to last season. And while the Leathernecks have had their struggles, the team has managed to have the number of the Penguins. Western defeated YSU 38-35 last year and 27-24 in the spring season in 2021.
 
Offensively, Western Illinois averages 13.2 points per game (10th in the MVFC), while defensively allows 39.5 (11th in the MVFC).
 
T.J. Limehouse leads the team with 49 tackles while Anthony Quinney and Juan De La Cruz each have 44.
 
The Leathernecks average 70.7 rushing yards per game while throwing for 202.7 yards per contest. Quarterbacks Henry Ogala, Nick Davenport and Clay Bruno are a combined 100-198 through the air for 1216 yards with 11 interceptions and nine touchdowns.
 
After this week's game, the Leathernecks return to the road to face Missouri State in Springfield, Missouri in a 2 p.m. kickoff next Saturday.
 
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