Leatherneck Nation

The 2014 Football season is in the books for the Leathernecks. This season saw a much-needed new scoreboard installed at Hanson Field. There was gradual improvement by a young team and national respect given to the conference as a whole.

I’m going to do this in three parts to make it a bit easier (for me). First up, the first third of the season...the non-conference games.

The season started off with a lightning delay but eventual home win against FCS non-scholarship team, Valparaiso (who would finish the season 4-8, their best season since 2007). Western won the game 45-6, with the 6 Valpo points coming on a TD in the last few minutes (“garbage time”) and a blocked XP.
Notable Performances:

• JC Baker putting up 137 rushing yards and a rushing TD, as well as 40 receiving yards and 1 receiving TD
• Trenton Norvell passing for 320 yards and 4 TDs with a 71.4 completion percentage. Following this game, Norvell would receive a College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) honorable mention.
• Hi-C Scott receiving for 67 yards and 2 TDs
• The Leatherneck Defense held Valpo to 277 total offensive yards and only 6 points
• David McDaniel came up with 9 total tackles (5 solo, 4 assisted) and 1 interception

Next, the Leathernecks traveled to Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin to take on the Wisconsin Badgers in one of the best gameday settings in all of college football. Wisconsin is currently 9-2 overall and ranked #16 in the FBS. Despite a kickoff receiving safety (that got us a bit of unwelcome notoriety on ESPN), the teams went into halftime with Wisconsin only up 9-3. The depth of a Big 10 team would eventually catch up to Western, with Wisconsin exploiting the weaker pass defense to put down 28 points in the second half to win 37-3.
Notable Performances:

• Defense holding the Badgers to only 9 points in the first half and holding them to 167 total rushing yards in the game.
• Defense holding Melvin Gordon to 38 net yards and 0 TDs. Gordon is currently leading all of Div. I football with 2109 total yards (191.7 per game) and for a week, held the FBS record for most yards in a game with 408 against Nebraska.
• Kicker Nathan Knuffman punted 7 times for an average of 43.4 yards per punt, accounted for the only Western points on a FG in the first half, and kicked-off twice with 1 touchback.

The Leathernecks then returned back home for their second game against a Pioneer League team...this time against the Drake Bulldogs. Drake finished their season 7-4 overall. Western only led by 4 points at halftime, but was able to put down 24 points in the second half to win 38-13.
Notable Performances:

• Baker put up 130 rushing yards, accounting for his career 9th 100+ yard game.
• Norvell passed for 205 yards and 1 TD
• David McDaniel blocked a punt that was picked up and returned for a TD by Brad Blumenshine
• Leatherneck Defense put down 7 sacks and held Drake to only 60 yards rushing total.

For the second time in the season, the Leathernecks followed up a home victory over a Pioneer league team with a trip to a Big 10 team...this time, heading up to Evanston, IL to take on the Northwestern Wildcats. Northwestern is currently 5-6 with unexpected wins against Wisconsin and Notre Dame. The game was tied up at 7 after 1 quarter but despite a solid defensive effort, Northwestern was able to tally a score in each of the quarters, 7 in the 2nd, 7 in the 3rd, and 3 in the 4th...which Western wasn’t able to keep up with. Despite the 24-7 loss, the Leathernecks won many statistical categories including first downs (22 vs 15), total offensive yards (376 vs 283), and time of possession (32:57 vs 27:03).
Notable Performances:

• Norvell passed for 292 yards and 1 TD
• Lance Lenoir caught 11 passes for 115 yards
• For the 4th straight game, the Leatherneck defense did not allow a 100+ yard rusher and only allowed 283 total yards in the game.

So, after the 4-game non-conference slate, Western was (as expected) 2-2, with wins against two FCS teams and losses against two P5 Big 10 teams. They’d gotten a couple of a big $ checks to help with the athletics budget and had some experience and confidence to head into the conference season.

Outstanding ST! You have been paying attention and taking notes! jc

The second third of the season (games 5-8 out of 12) kicked off the conference slate, starting with a game in Carbondale against the Southern Illinois Salukis (who finished the season 6-6). As seems to be the trend this season, the Leathernecks started off strong, taking a 14-10 lead into halftime, but had trouble stopping the SIU offense in the second half, with the Salukis putting up half (17) of their 34 points in the third quarter. SIU would come away with the win, 34-17.
Notable Performances:

• The Leatherneck Defense still didn’t allow a 100+ yard rusher
• Norvell passed for 271 yards a 1 TD, including a 50 yard toss to….
• Lance Lenoir had a 115 yard receiving game

The Leathernecks would then return home for Homecoming, against the 3-time defending national champions, and (at that time) undefeated, #1 ranked North Dakota State Bison (who would finish the season 11-1 and are the #2 seed in the FCS playoffs). Like before, Western started off strong...not so much on the scoring side of the ball, but with big defensive plays. The first half scoring was limited to one field goal each for a 3-3 halftime tie. Western came out strong in the second half, preventing the Bison from scoring, while tacking on a TD of their own to take a 10-3 lead into the 4th Quarter. A short punt gave NDSU great field position, and they were finally able to capitalize on a “trick” play...a handoff to RB Crockett who then passed back across the field to the QB Wentz for the TD. Western’s next drive went nowhere and the Bison, now with momentum, were able to move down the field for another TD to take the 17-10 lead that would be the final score. Despite losing the game, the fact that Western was able to very nearly take down the best team in the country showed many that they weren’t going to go away without a fight.
Notable Performances:

• Baker had another 100+ yard rushing game, racking up 175 yards and the only Leatherneck TD. Baker was named a CFPA Honorable Mention following the game.
• Kevin Kintzel had 16 tackles (8 solo) and a blocked kick (the most tackles since Kyle Glazier in 2010).
• Luke Venegoni and Jonathon Rollins both had 9 tackles, with Rollins also forcing a fumble and breaking up a pass.
• Offensive Lineman Matt Zobrist was named MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week after a stellar performance opening up the line for Baker to have great day running the ball.

Following the disappointing loss to the Bison, Western would have to travel to the “Ice Castle” at Youngstown State to take on the then #10 ranked Penguins (who would finish the season 7-5 and narrowly miss a playoff spot). This game was a lot more back-and-forth than many, with Western up by 11 after the 1st quarter, YSU up by 3 at halftime, and Western back up by 10 after 3 quarters. Western was able to hold off a late charge by Youngstown State, keeping them to 1 TD in the 4th quarter, while adding 3 more points themselves to come away with the 30-24 victory.
Notable Performances:

• Norvell passed for 291 yards and 4 TDs, with a 73% completion rate and no interceptions. Norvell would be named the MVFC Offensive Player of the Week, a College Sporting News All-Star of the week, and was a CFPA Honorable Mention (his second of the year).
• Lance Lenoir caught for 132 yards and 2 TDs
• Borsellino and Hi-C Scott each finished with over 60 yards and a TD.
• Nathan Knuffman helped keep a drive going with a 27 yard run on a fake punt.

Riding high on the win, the Leathernecks would return home to play in-state rival, Illinois State. ISU was 5-0 at the time and ranked in the top 10 nationally...they would finish the season 10-1 and have the 5th seed in the FCS playoffs. Western started off strong, with 24 points in the first half while only allowing 6 for Illinois State. Tacking on a FG, they were able to take a 27-6 lead until 2 ½ minutes left in the 3rd quarter when a ISU TD got them within 14 points. With all the momentum at this point, ISU would then proceed to execute one of the largest comebacks in league history, putting up 3 TDs and a FG for 24 points, while Western was only able to answer with 1 TD in the 4th Quarter. The ISU field goal was a last-second, 34-yard kick that gave the Redbirds the win.
Notable Performances:

• Norvell passed for 310 yards and 2 TDs, and following the game was added to the CFPA “National Performer of the Year” watch list.
• Baker ran for another 100+ yard game, racking up 111 yards
• Lance Lenoir would have another huge game, catching for 195 yards (including a 75 yarder) and 2 TDs. He would be named MVFC Offensive Player of the Week and a CFPA Honorable Mention.
• Martinez Davis had 9 tackles, one for loss, and a forced fumble
• David McDaniel had 8 tackles, recovered the previously mentioned fumble, and had an interception himself. McDaniel would be named a CFPA Honorable Mention.
• Venegoni would also have an interception and had 5 tackles credited to him.

So, ⅔ of the way through the season and the Leathernecks found themselves sitting at 3-5 (1-3 in the conference), although with two of the losses being very close to a couple of very good teams.

We finish up with the last 4 games of the season.

First up was a home game against the 23rd ranked Panthers of Northern Iowa (who would finish the regular season 8-4 with wins over both NDSU and ISUr and are in the FCS playoffs). Western started off slow in this game, with UNI getting ahead 20-0 before the Leathernecks got their first score with just over 1 minute left in the half to go into halftime down 20-7. A shutout 3rd quarter for both teams, then a roughly even 4th quarter (1 TD + XP for UNI, 1 TD + missed XP for WIU) meant that the first half difference was essentially the final score difference, with Western losing 27-13. This game was the 5th consecutive ranked team that Western had played this season.
Notable Performances:

• Lance Lenoir had 106 receiving yards, his 5th of the year
• David McDaniel blocked 2 kicks
• Kevin Kintzel had 10 tackles, 1 sack for 10 yards, and 1 forced fumble
• JJ Raffelson also had 10 tackles

Following the UNI game, Western had a bye week, and then went on the road (for the first of 2 weeks in a row to the state) to South Dakota. USD struggled this year, finishing the season 2-10 overall. Western scored early to take a quick 14-0 lead, but USD fought back to take the lead early in the 2nd Quarter. Western then got 2 points off a USD XP attempt that was returned to the other end zone and later tacked on another TD. Another UDS field goal tied up the score going into halftime at 23-all. The second half, however, was all Western, with 14 points in the 3rd quarter and 7 in the 4th, while holding UDS to only a field goal each quarter, for a final score of 44-29, with the Leathernecks coming away with the victory.
Notable Performances:

• Norvell had 287 yards with a 71% completion rate and 5 TDs (and no INTs)
• Baker had another 100+ yard game, finishing with 118 yards, which put him past the 1,000 yard mark for the season
• Sophomore Devon Moore nearly had a 100 yard game himself, racking up 98 yards and a TD
• The receiving corps as a whole did well, with 5 players getting TDs (Borsellino, Baker, Lenoir, Scott, and TE Larry Harris)
• Knuffman also kicked well, punting 5 times with an average of 40.4 yards and 2 within USD’s 20 yard line

Western found themselves heading back to South Dakota, this time 90 minutes up the road to Brookings to take on South Dakota State, who finished the regular season 8-4 and are in the FCS playoffs. On a snowy field, in one of the coldest games the the Leathernecks have played in a long time, one team seemed to have no problem with the elements...the Jackrabbits. SDSU went up early, outscoring Western in every quarter...up by 7 after 1, up by 18 at halftime, 32 after the 3rd quarter, and then after pulling a few of their starters, finally winning by 35 points, 59-24. SDSU star RB, Zach Zenner would end up with 132 yards and 2 TDs rushing, as well as 40 yards and another TD receiving. Their redshirt freshman WR, Jake Wieneke caught for 159 yards and 3 TDs.
Notable Performances:

• Baker narrowly missed another 100 yard game, ending up with 97 yards and 1 TD
• David Griffith led the team with 9 tackles
• The SDSU field crew....just because...well...that couldn't have been easy.

To finish out the season, the Leathernecks returned home for a Thanksgiving Break game against the Indiana State Sycamores. The Sycamores, who most felt would have to win this game to make the playoffs, would end up 7-5 in the regular season, but, despite the loss, ended up qualifying for an at-large spot in the playoffs, in large part due to their previous wins against other playoff teams, Liberty and Northern Iowa, as well as a win over MAC team, Ball State. The Leathernecks started off strong, essentially trading Western TDs for ISUb field goals until ⅔ of the way into the 3rd quarter when ISU would get their first TD of the game. Western then reeled off a FG and two more TDs to blow open the lead that ISU would end up not being able to fully recover from despite getting one more TD in the middle of the 4th quarter. The Leathernecks would hold on to win 34-20 and, what seemed like at the time, to knock ISUb out of consideration for a playoff spot.
Notable Performances:

• Baker rushed for 163 yards and a TD
• The Leatherneck Defense only gave up a total of 27 yards on the ground for the game
• Jonathon Rollins would end up with 10 tackles, 1 sack (for 13 yards) and 1 interception
• David Griffith, Luke Venegoni, and Martinez Davis would all each record an interception as well.

So, despite an up and down season, with a couple of pretty demoralizing tough losses, the team finished strong and ended the season 5-7 (3-5) in the conference. Despite not being a winning record, it was the best season record that the Leathernecks have had since 2010 with a lot of hope for the future.

I plan on finishing up my review of the 2014 football season in the next few days with some of the season and career records that were set during the year (and maybe a few that are on-target to be set in the near future).