VS 
ISU's Homecoming
Kickoff: 2:00 PM (Central)
Weather Forecast (as of 10/23): 65 degrees, mostly cloudy, 50% chance of rain in the morning, but clearing by 9-10ish.
TV: CSN Chicago and ESPN3/WatchESPN.com
Illinois State is currently 5-1 overall, 3-0 in the conference, tied for 1st place in the conference with Western. ISU started off the season with a 31-14 loss at (currently #12 ranked Iowa). They then proceeded to rifle off 5 straight wins against Morgan State (67-14), Eastern Illinois (34-31), Northern Iowa (21-13), Youngstown State (31-29) and Missouri State (38-2). ISU is currently ranked 3rd in the STATS poll and 4th in the FCS Coaches' Poll.
The History:
Illinois State is the most-played opponent that Western has, and probably the closest thing to a rivalry we have (although it's not a very heated one). This year will be the 97th meeting between the two teams going back to November 24th, 1904. This matchup has been played every year back to 1923 except for 1973 (when we were both Div. II Independent teams and apparently weren't able to figure out a way to get the game scheduled). Western holds the overall advantage, winning 50, losing 43, and 3 ties. We are 8-7 against ISU since 2000, although they currently hold a 4-game winning streak against us. The last win against ISU was a 65-38 beatdown in 2010 in Macomb (which was also the last year we made the playoffs).
Offensive Player Comparison:
ISU QB Tre Roberson - 946 yards (157.7 per game), 9 TDs, 1 INT, 179.26 efficiency, also 207 yards (34.5 per game) and 2 TD rushing
WIU QB Trenton Norvell - 1471 yards (245.17 per game), 9 TDs, 6 INTs, 130.44 efficiency, 25 rushing yards and 1 rushing TD
ISU RB Marshaun Coprich - 779 yards (129.8 per game) on 138 attempts (5.64 yards per), 10 TDs
ISU RB George Moreira - 106 yards (17.7 per game) on 21 attempts (5.05 yards per), 1 TD
ISU RB Jamal Towns - 68 yards (11.3 per game) on 19 attempts (3.58 yards per), 1 TD
WIU RB Nikko Watson - 584 yards (146.0 per game) on 115 attempts (5.08 yards per), 6 TDs
WIU RB Steve McShane - 127 yards (21.17 per game) on 39 attempts (3.26 yards per), 0 TDs
WIU RB Devon Moore - 98 yards (24.50 per game) on 38 attempts (2.58 yards per), 2 TDs
ISU WR Anthony Warrum - 573 yards (95.5 per game) on 26 catches (22.0 yards per), 8 TDs
ISU WR Christian Gibbs - 148 yards (49.3 per game) on 4 catches (37.0 yards per), 1 TD
ISU Team Receiving Stats - 1210 yards (201.7 per game) on 73 catches (16.6 yards per), 11 TDs
WIU WR Lance Lenoir - 519 yards (86.5 per game) on 36 catches (14.42 yards per), 2 TDs
WIU WR Joey Borsellino - 375 yards (62.5 per game) on 30 catches (12.5 yards per), 3 TDs
WIU Team Receiving Stats - 1492 yards (248.67 per game) on 120 catches (12.43 yards per) 9 TDs
Defensive Player Comparison:
ISU S Alec Kocour - 43 total tackles (16 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 INT
ISU LB Pat Meehan - 39 total tackles (18 solo), 2 tackles for loss, 1 INT
ISU DE David Perkins - 32 total tackles (13 solo), 4 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 3 pass breakups
ISU's Brannon Barry - 8 total tackles (5 solo, 4 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 1 INT
ISU Team Defensive Stats - 466 total tackles (229 solo), 37 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 6 INTs, 3 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, 1 blocked kick, 1 safety
WIU LB Brett Taylor - 67 total tackles (35 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble
WIU DB Dallas Nichols - 38 total tackles (20 solo), 2 tackles for loss, 1 INT
WIU DB David Griffith - 38 total tackles (22 solo), 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 INTs, 1 forced fumble
WIU DB Aaron Diggs - 38 total tackles (27 solo), 2 tackles for loss, 1 INT (95 yard TD), 2 forced fumbles
WIU Team Defensive Stats - 495 total tackles (264 solo), 37 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 7 INTs, 8 forced fumbles, 1 blocked kick
Special Teams Comparison:
ISU K Sean Slattery - 7 for 11 on FGs, long of 50, 1 blocked
WIU K Nathan Knuffman - 6 for 9 on FGs, long of 38, 1 blocked
ISU P Reece Attard - 21 punts for 843 yards (40.1 average), long of 70, 7 inside the 20, 1 blocked
WIU P Luke Otto - 16 punts for 571 yards (35.69 average), long of 46, 4 inside the 20, 1 blocked
(Otto took over as punter during the Illinois game)
ISU Punt Returns - 32 yards on 6 punts (5.3 yards per), long of 16
WIU Punt Returns - 89 yards on 9 punts (9.89 yards per), long of 42
ISU Kickoff Returns - 391 yards on 20 kicks (19.5 yards per), long of 54
WIU Kickoff Returns - 513 yards on 22 kicks (23.32 yards per), long of 71
Stat Ranking Analysis
Here's the full comparison between the two teams.
A few things I noticed:
- ISU - doesn't make a lot of penalties, 4.5 per game, best in the conference, 9th in the FCS...so, they won't beat themselves.
- WIU - good at fumble recoveries, 8 so far, is best in the conference, 7th in the FCS
- ISU - only has had 2 passes intercepted, best in the conference, 7th in the FCS
- ISU - 16.58 yards per completed pass, best in the conference, 4th in the FCS...we have more overall yards, but they do it in fewer passes...much more efficient
- WIU - we rarely give up sacks, 2 for 13 yards so far, a .33 average, best in the conference, tied for 2nd in the FCS
Otherwise, we actually look (stats-wise) fairly evenly matched. It may be they're Homecoming (it was UNI's last week), they may be one of the best teams in the country, but I think we can hang with them. My prediction, we come out fast and strong like we did against UNI and win a close, 34-31 victory over the Redbirds to spoil another Homecoming. A bit of redemption for letting them back into the game last year when we had them on the ropes.
I'll be heading down to the game with my dad after a 10k that morning here in Macomb. I'm hoping to see a good crowd of purple in the visitors section to cheer on the Leathernecks.
Scott Lawson - Board Admin
