SIU and Western Illinois get together for the last time in MVFC play on Saturday. Western Illinois will depart for the OVC after this season.
Meet the Leathernecks:
Western Illinois is having a tough time in their last year in the MVFC to say the least. They're currently 0-6 and have lost their 4 MVFC games by a combined 141 points.
WIU is coached by Myers Hendrickson, in his 2nd year with the program. Hendrickson was a WR at Western Illinois from 2008 to 2010 and came over from NAIA Kansas Wesleyan University where he coached them for 3 years compiling a 31-5 record and 2 NAIA Quarterfinals losses. Hendrickson has still yet to win a game at Western going 0-11 last year.
The Leathernecks are 11th of 12 teams in points per game (17.1 PPG) and dead last in points allowed per game (45.9 PPG). The next closest to them is Indiana State at 33.0 points allowed per game.
In terms of passing offense, Western Illinois is 6th in passing yards per game (225.4 yards per game) and tied for last in the MVFC in passing yards allowed per game (247.3).
The Leathernecks are dead last in rushing yards per game (43.9 YPG) and 1st in rushing yards allowed per game (239.7 YPG).
Western Illinois' QB is 6-4 Junior Matt Morrissey from Montini High School in Elmhurst, IL. Morrissey started his collegiate career at Trinity Valley CC before transferring to Northern Iowa. Morrissey threw 29 passes at UNI, 28 of which came in the first round of the 2021 FCS Playoffs against Eastern Washington when starter Theo Day got hurt. Morrissey went 10-28 in that game and threw 2 interceptions in a 19-9 UNI loss. This season, Morrissey has thrown for 1,536 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. He's been sacked a ridiculous 35 times though leading to his -139 rushing yards on the season.
The leading rusher on the Leathernecks is 5-11 Redshirt Freshman Seth Glatz from Morton High School in Morton, IL. Glatz has rushed 58 times this year for 200 yards but has yet to record a touchdown. Those touchdowns have gone to 5-9 Senior Ludovick Choquette from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. Choquette was born in Canada but was a 3 star recruit out of Clearwater, Florida on 247 Sports. Choquette has rushed 51 times this year for 185 yards and 3 touchdowns. He's also shown the ability to make some noise in the passing game as well. In his Sophomore season at WIU, he caught 5 touchdowns.
WIU's leading receiver is 5-8 Senior Jaylin Jackson. Jackson started his collegiate career at Reedley College before transferring to Western last year. This season, Jackson has caught 35 passes for 372 yards and 3 touchdowns. Another WR to watch out for is 5-6 Graduate Student Jay Parker. Parker spent 3 years at Austin Peay before transferring to WIU. Parker has spent time on the kick return team returning 17 kicks for 311 yards. He also has 34 catches this year for 301 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Weather:
A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56.
Massey Ratings:
Massey Ratings has SIU winning 37-13 and gives SIU a 94% chance of winning.
Links:
Leatherneck Nation Message Board
Watch, we're gonna win by some WTF* score like 17-10
*WTF given WIU's lack of a decent defense.
Trap game of the decade.
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James Madison
Anybody traveling to Macomb for this one?
This should be a gimme for the Dawgs. However, SIU needs to make sure they don’t underestimate Western. A loss would ruin what has been a great season thus far.
Should be a blowout, but I thought that two years ago and they almost beat us. A loss would put a big dent in our playoff hopes.
Massey says SIU 38 WIU 10 and gives us a 97% chance of winning.
I like the Dawgs big time - our D should spend all day in their backfield.
While all signs point to a blow out for our Salukis, a simple reminder would be 2021 when we needed OT and a two point conversion stop to win it. There might be somewhat of a letdown after losing to SDSU by a touchdown. Perhaps not.
WIU QB can sling it, so our secondary will indeed be tested. I certainly hope we are up to the challenge.
GO DAWGS!!!
If this is a close game and SIU’s offense looks inept again, I’d have major concerns about the rest of the season. The offense hasn’t really looked great to me since the Austin Peay game and even then I think they left points on the table.
Great to hear D'Ante is playing. No mention of him reaggravating his knee injury.
I hope for an easy win, but after last week’s close loss to SDSU, it wouldn’t surprise me if this were closer than it should be. Hopefully the offense uses this game to get rolling.
WIU has given up 34 or more points in all 7 games. If our offense can't get going this week it never will
I watched two WIU games last night. I was board. They stinks. One of the top Illinois 8A high school teams would certainly play them to the wire in a game. Might not win, but would be competitive. No exaggeration.
I'm not sayin' -- I'm just sayin'!
Let’s just hope we don’t play down to them as is our custom.
