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Leathernecks Take on Salukis in Saturday Showdown

| By: WIU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Football game highlights Hall of Fame Weekend

MACOMB – The Western Illinois football team returns home this week, taking on Southern Illinois in Macomb at 3 p.m. The game is part of the WIU Athletics Hall of Fame Weekend. Members of the Class of 2023 will be honored during the game on Saturday.

The Leathernecks come in at 0-7 overall, 0-4 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference while the No. 12 ranked Salukis are 5-2 overall, 2-2 in the MVFC. Western Illinois is coming off a loss at North Dakota State while Southern Illinois suffered a setback last week, falling to No. 1 South Dakota State 17-10 in Carbondale.

WHO | Southern Illinois (5-2 overall, 2-2 in MVFC) vs. Western Illinois (0-7 overall, 0-4, MVFC)

WHEN | Saturday, October 28, 3 p.m.

WHERE | Hanson Field, Macomb, Illinois.

SOCIAL MEDIA |  Instagram; Twitter; Facebook

FOLLOW ALONG | STREAM; RADIO; LIVE STATS

HISTORY | The Leathernecks are 37-26-4 all-time vs. the Salukis, but Southern Illinois has won three-straight games in the series. The last Western Illinois win came on Nov. 3, 2018 in Carbondale, a 34-31 triumph. The last home win in the series for WIU came the previous season, a 28-14 victory on Nov. 18, 2017.

PLAYERS TO WATCH | The game pits two of the top quarterbacks in the MVFC as the Leathernecks are led by quarterback Matt Morrissey, who ranks second in the MVFC in completions (146) and third in total passing yards (1542). The Salukis are led by quarterback Nic Baker, who is third in completions (141) and second in yards (1566).

For WIU, receivers Jaylin Jackson (36 catches, 378 yards) and Jay Parker (34 catches, 412) yards are the main weapons while SIU's Vinson Davis (32 catches, 45 yards) and Izaiah Hartrup (29 catches, 353 yards) are the men to watch.

Defensively, SIU is one of the top units in the MVFC, allowing 19.0 points per game, third-best in the conference.

Southern Illinois is the top rushing defense, allowing 80.1 yards per game while ranking sixth vs. the pass, surrendering 220.1 yards through the air. Western Illinois is the sixth-best passing offense in the MVFC, averaging 225.4 yards per game.

Not only are two of the top quarterbacks and receiving duos in the MVFC in Macomb on Saturday, but so are two of the top tackles.

SIU's PJ Jules leads the conference in total tackles (64) while WIU's Bradyn Smith is second, registering 62. Smith leads the league in tackles per game, averaging 10.3.

WHAT'S NEXT | Next week, Western Illinois returns to the road, playing at Northern Iowa. The Leathernecks are not home again until the season finale, taking on South Dakota on November 18.
 
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