NORMAL, Ill. – The Western Illinois University football team wraps its three-game road trip to start the 2024 season this Saturday in Normal at Illinois State.
The Leathernecks are coming off two losses to open the year while the Redbirds are 1-1, losing their opener at Iowa and winning last week at North Alabama.
The game kicks at noon and is available on Marquee Sports Chicago as well as ESPN+. The contest will also be carried on Q98.1 FM.
WHO | Western Illinois (0-2) at Illinois State (1-1)
WHEN | Saturday, September 14, Noon
WHERE | Hancock Stadium, Normal, Illinois
FOLLOW ALONG | TV: Marquee Sports Network; STREAM: ESPN+; RADIO: Q98.1 FM; LIVE STATS
SOCIAL MEDIA | X; Facebook; Instagram
LAST WEEK | Western Illinois played at Big 10 foe Indiana, falling 77-3. The Redbirds won at North Alabama, 24-17.
ABOUT THE LEATHERNECKS | Western Illinois averages 9.0 points per game … The squad is averaging 53 yards on the ground and 156.5 through the air … Cameren Smith is the leading rusher with 34.5 yards per game … QB Nathan Lamb is 30-54-2 for 313 yards with a touchdown pass … Christian Anaya leads the team with eight receptions … Demari Davis has a team-high 87 receiving yards … Ryan Crandall leads the team with 17 tackles while Christian Pierce has 15 … Willie Jones adds 14 tackles … Kicker Antonio Chadha is 3-4 on field goals and 1-1 on extra points … Punter Jared Campbell has 15 punts with an average of 39.73 yards. He has two punters inside the 20, seven fair catches, and a long of 47.
ABOUT THE REDBIRDS | Illinois State is averaging 12 points per game while allowing 28.5 … ISU is averaging 190.5 rushing yards per game and 143 passing yards per game … ISU has been outscored 48-10 in the second half of games … Wenkers Wright leads the team in rushing, averaging 94.5 yards per game … Quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse is 23-41-2 for 261 yards and one touchdown … Dylan Lord leads the Redbirds with nine catches and 81 yards … Keondre Jackson has a team-high 20 tackles.
HISTORY | Illinois State is Western Illinois' longest-standing rivalry. The Leathernecks lead the all-time series 52-51-3. The first meeting between the two programs took place in 1904. Illinois State has won five of the last six meetings between the two. Western Illinois' last victory in the series and overall came on October 30, 2021. The last year the two teams have not played at least once in a season was 1973.
EXTRA NOTES | Kicker Antonio Chadha is tied for 11th in FCS in made field goals ... Ryan Crandall ranks seventh in the Big South-OVC in total tackles with 17 ... Gage Freeman is tied for seventh in the league with two tackles for loss ... Christian Anaya is ninth in the conference with eight receptions ... Willie Jones is 12th in the conference with 14 tackles.
COMING UP | The Leathernecks next take their bye week before hosting McKendree in the home opener on September 28. WIU then begins its inaugural season in the Big South-OVC Football Association the following weekend at Charleston Southern.
AROUND THE BIG SOUTH-OHIO VALLEY | Conference play started last weekend for a pair of schools at SEMO topped UT Martin 45-42 in double overtime. The rest of the league continued its nonconference season, with the league going 2-5. Eastern Illinois (over Indiana State) and Charleston Southern (over Furman) each picked up wins. This week, Charleston Southern is at Richmond, Gardner-Webb is at Charlotte, Lindenwood is at Missouri State, Tennessee State is at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Eastern Illinois visits Northwestern and UT Martin hosts North Alabama. SEMO and Tennessee Tech are on bye.
PRESEASON NOTES | For the Leathernecks, Nathan Lamb (quarterback), Torrance Farmer Jr. (running back), Demari Davis (wide receiver), Brandon Lanier (tight end), Isaiah Foote (offensive line), Tre Henry (defensive line), Juan DelaCruz (linebacker), Willie Jones (defensive back), Christiaan Masucci (placekicker) and Jared Campbell (punter) were named Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association Players to Watch … Western Illinois football team also was recognized by Phil Steele/Draftscout.com with five players named to the 2024 Phil Steele/Draftscout.com Preseason All-Big South-OVC Team. The Leathernecks had a pair of linebackers named second team as Juan DelaCruz and Ryan Crandall were honored. Western Illinois also had a trio of players named third team as wide receiver Demari Davis, offensive lineman Isaiah Foote, and cornerback Willie Jones were listed.
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