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Western Illinois hosts Missouri State for Homecoming

| By: WIU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Leathernecks take on the Bears this Saturday

MACOMB – After a road game, a bye and another game on the road, the Western Illinois football team finally returns home to Hanson Field, hosting Missouri State on Saturday at 3 p.m. The game serves as part of the annual Homecoming contest for the Leathernecks.

Western Illinois comes into the game at 0-5 overall, 0-2 in Missouri Valley Football Conference play while the Bears are 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the league.

WHO | Missouri State (1-4, 0-2) at Western Illinois (0-5, 0-2)

WHEN | 3 p.m., Saturday, October 14

WHERE | Hanson Field, Macomb, llinois

FOLLOW ALONG | LIVE STATS; RADIO; STREAM

SOCIAL MEDIA | Instagram; Twitter; Facebook
 
LAST TIME OUT | Western Illinois came out of the bye week and fell to North Dakota 49-10. In that game, Jay Parker had a touchdown reception from quarterback Matt Morrissey for Western Illinois' lone score of the game. Kicker Owen Valek added a 30-yard field goal for the Leatherneck cause. Safety Bradyn Smith had a team-high eight tackles while Kamal Mukarram added a career-high six tackles.

The Bears dropped a home contest last week, falling to North Dakota State 38-10. The Bison led 28-7 at halftime, scoring a pair of touchdowns in each of the first two quarters. Quarterback Jordan Pachot led MSU, completing 25 of 44 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown. Pachot also threw an interception. Running back Jacardia Wright added 65 yards on the ground on 15 attempts. Receiver Raylen Sharpe had a big day, hauling in 13 passes for 153 yards. Defensively Todric McGee had 13 tackles with Kanye Young adding 10.

PLAYERS TO WATCH | Western Illinois: Morrissey remains one of the top passers in the MVFC, leading the league in completions (115), ranking second in yards (1258) and third in touchdown passes (eight) and yards per game (251.6). Receiver Jaylen Jackson is tied for fifth in receptions (28) and tied for sixth in touchdowns (three). Defensively, Smith leads the league in solo tackles with 34. His 49 tackles and 9.8 tackles per game rank him in a tie for second. Jay Parker ranks second in the conference in kickoff return average, averaging 22.1 yards per attempt.

Missouri State: Wright is the workhorse for the Bears, ranking third in the league in total carries (67). At quarterback, Missouri State has used a pair of passers with Jacob Clark (66-105-2) throwing for 1018 yards and 10 TDs and Jordan Pachot (48-76-4) throwing for a pair of touchdowns and 563 yards. With that QB duo, the Bears leads the MVFC in passing yards per game (316.2), passing touchdowns (12) and passing yards (1581). Clark did not play last week vs. NDSU and is not on this week's Missouri State tw-deep. Raylen Sharpe leads the MVFC in receptions (35) and yards (463) while Terique Owens leads the league in yards per catch (20.6). Defensively, Todric McGeee leads the MVFC in total tackles (53) and tackles per game (10.6). His 30 solo tackles rank second.

HISTORY | The Bears lead the all-time series, 20-18-1. Missouri State has won three straight games in the series and eight of the last 11. Western Illinois is 51-30-5 all-time on Homecoming but 0-3 on Homecoming vs. Missouri State. The Leathernecks have lost three-straight Homecoming games.

WHAT'S NEXT | Western Illinois hits the road again, traveling to Fargo, North Dakota to take on the Bison next Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
 
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