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Football Senior Day 700.4803
Rachael Keating

Western Illinois closes out season at Illinois State

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks visit Redbirds in finale

MACOMB -- The Western Illinois football team closes out the regular season this Saturday, hitting the road one final time to take on in-state rival Illinois State at 11 a.m. in Normal at Hancock Stadium. The Leathernecks are in search of their first victory of the season while the Redbirds try to finish above .500. The game will be streamed on ESN+, televised on Marquee Sports Network and available via audio on 98.1 FM and http://q981fm.com/.
 
WHO | Western Illinois (0-10, 0-7) at Illinois State (5-5, 3-4)
 
WHEN | Saturday, November 19, 11 a.m.
 
WHERE | Hancock Stadium, Normal, Illinois
 
SOCIAL MEDIA |  Twitter + Facebook
 
Illinois State comes in at 5-5 overall, 3-4 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. After winning five of their first seven games, Illinois State has lost three-straight games. The Redbirds have been good in close games, with four of their five wins coming by seven points or fewer. ISU is 4-2 in games decided by seven points or less.
 
The Redbirds are fueled by their defense, which ranks third in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in scoring defense (21.1 points per game), yards allowed per game (323.6) and passing yards per game (183.8). Illinois State ranks fifth in rushing yards allowed per contest (139.8).
 
Zeke Vandenburgh paces the ISU defense, ranking fourth in the MVFC in total tackles (83), first in sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (17.0). His 9.2 tackles per game rank third in the conference.
 
Offensively, Illinois State is eighth in scoring in the MVFC, averaging 17 points per game. ISU is ninth in total offense, averaging 294.8 yards per game. Illinois State runs for 109.2 yards (ninth in the MVFC) per game and passes for 185.6 yards per game (eighth in the MVFC).
 
Wenkers Wright leads the Redbird ground game, rushing for 55.1 yards per game. Quarterback Zack Annexstad is 162-258 for 1691 yards throwing this year with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Daniel Sobkowicz is Illinois State's leading receiver with 31 receptions for 377 yards and three touchdowns. Tanner Taula adds 26 catches for 284 yards and one touchdown.
 
The Leathernecks are 0-10 overall, 0-7 in the MVFC. Western Illinois averages 13.7 points per game while allowing 40.6 per contest. Western averages 274.6 yards per game offensively while giving up 487.4 yards a game.
 
Juan DelaCruz leads the Leatherneck defense with 75 tackles while TJ Limehouse, who missed last week's game against Indiana State, has 71. Chase Graham adds 59.
 
Offensively, Clay Bruno has completed 112 of 224 passes for 1334 yards with seven touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
 
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