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Football hosts Indiana State in home finale

| By: WIU Athletics

Leathernecks look for first win vs. Sycamores

WHO | Indiana State (1-8, 0-6) at Western Illinois (0-9, 0-6)
 
WHEN | 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 12
 
WHERE | Hanson Field, Macomb, Illinois
 
SOCIAL MEDIA |  Twitter + Facebook

The Western Illinois football team closes out the home portion of the schedule on Saturday, taking on Indiana State at 1 p.m. at Hanson Field in Macomb. It is also Senior Day for the Leathernecks.

Western Illinois and Indiana State both come in winless in the Missouri Valley Football Conference with matching 0-6 league records. The Sycamores have the lone win between the two teams, topping North Alabama 17-14 in overtime in their season opener.

Indiana State has won three consecutive games in the series but the Leathernecks hold the overall head-to-head, winning 26 while losing 19. Western Illinois' last victory over Indiana State came in 2017, a 45-0 triumph in Terre Haute. The last time WIU beat Indiana State in Macomb came in 2016, a 36-35 Western winner.

The Sycamores are led by Justin Dinka, who averages over 80 yards per game on the ground while rushing for four touchdowns. Quarterbacks Cade Chambers and Gavin Screws have each taken snaps under center. Chambers has appeared in eight games completing 54-116 passes for 821 yards with eight touchdowns, two interceptions. Screws is 64-121 with six interceptions, one touchdown and 683 yards.  Dante Hendrix is the favorite target no matter who is at quarterback, leading the Sycamores in receptions (41), receiving yards (627) and receiving touchdowns (three). The Indiana State offense averages 16.4 points per game.

Defensively, Rylan Cole leads the way with 74 tackles. Geoffrey Brown adds 71 tackles while Maddix Blackwell has 44. Kris Reid Jr. has 3.5 sacks while Gianini Belizaire adds 2.5. Cole also has three interceptions. The Sycamores allow an average of 37.33 points per game.

The Leathernecks average over 15 points a game while allowing 42 points. Quarterback Clay Bruno leads the WIU offense, completing 96-196 passes with seven touchdowns and 11 interceptions and 1141 yards. Bruno is also Western Illinois' leading rusher, averaging 27 yards per game.

Naseim Brantley leads the Leathernecks, averaging 90 yards receiving per game. Brantley has nine touchdowns and 48 receptions. Defensively, T.J. Limehouse leads the way with 71 tackles. Juan DelaCruz has 65 while Bryce Cross adds 49. Cole Watts leads the pass rush with 3.5 sacks while J.J. Ross has two interceptions and Ryan Crandall has a pair of fumble recoveries.

On special teams, Jack Beulke adds 35.9 yards per punt. Mason Laramie is 7-9 on fields with a long of 47 and is 14-15 on PATs. Jay Parker averages 22 yards per kickoff return while Jafar Armstrong adds 21 yards per return.

Western Illinois closes out the season next Saturday, taking on Illinois State at 11 a.m. in Normal, Illinois.
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