UNI Football Travels to Western Illinois

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No. 17 UNI football travels to Macomb, Illinois to face Western Illinois in a Missouri Valley Football Conference matchup. The Panthers are 4-3 on the year and sit second in the MVFC with a 3-1 record after defeating South Dakota State 24-9 Saturday at the UNI-Dome. Western Illinois is 3-4 on the season and 2-2 in Valley play.

The Panthers are coming off an impressive homecoming win. UNI kept SDSU out of the end zone for the first time since 2013 and scored a defensive TD for the third time in four conference games. UNI held the Jackrabbits to just nine points and 376 yards, well below SDSU's averages of 529 yards and 48.4 points. UNI held SDSU's vaunted rushing attack to just 51 yards on 20 carries for a 2.6 average.

Western Illinois has one of the top passing offenses in the country. Sean McGuire is eighth in the nation and first in the MVFC conference in touchdown passes. He is also in the top 15 in passing yards. Runningback Steve McShane, brother of UNI freshman Deion McShane, has receiving, rushing and punt return touchdowns. McShane is the reigning MVFC Offensive Player of the Week.

The Leatherneck defense is ranked 20th in the FCS in yards allowed at 326.6 yards per game and 66th in the nation in scoring defense at 29.4 PPG. Quentin Moon leads WIU with 46 tackles and Pete Swenson has 7.0 sacks which leads the MVFC.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.

NEED TO KNOW
• The Panthers are ranked 17th in the STATS FCS Poll and 23rd in the FCS Coaches' Poll.
• UNI continues its streak of red-zone scoring. The Panthers are now 24-24 on the year of red zone chances one of just two perfect teams in the FCS. UNI scored a touchdown and a field goal Saturday to remain perfect. The Panthers have eight rushing touchdowns, nine passing TDs and seven field goals.
• Running back Marcus Weymiller, offensive tackle Cal Twait, quarterback Eli Dunne and linebacker Duncan Ferch were announced as captains for the 2018 season by head coach Mark Farley.
• Redshirt freshman Chris Kolarevic has produced in a big way in his first year on the field. He is currently second in the MVFC for tackles per game at 10.8. Duncan Ferch is fifth at 10.6 tackles per game.
• Brothers Trevor and AJ Allen, sons of Panther Hall of Famer Andre Allen, are both making waves for UNI early this season. Trevor is UNI's leading rusher through seven games with 436 yards. AJ is one of three Panthers with multiple interceptions and is tied for third on the team in total tackles.
• In the Farley era, UNI is 11-5 against WIU, but the Leathernecks have won two of the last three games against the Panthers. WIU won last year's game 38-29 in the UNI-Dome.
• UNI leads the series 30-15.
• The Panthers scored a defensive touchdown for the third time in four Missouri Valley Conference games. Against Indiana State, Duncan Ferch scored on a pick-6, against South Dakota, Brawntae Wells recovered a fumble in the end zone and Saturday Xavior Williams returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown.
• UNI tallied consecutive shutouts for the first time since 2008 with wins over Hampton and Indiana State. The Panthers went nine quarters without giving up a point.
• Eli Dunne is 119-191 (63.3 percent) on the season for 1,424 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has thrown just two interceptions on the season. In conference play, he has been even more efficient, throwing 90-120 (66.7 percent) for 1,009 yards and eight touchdowns. He has just one pick in conference play on the season.
• UNI Kicker Austin Errthum has the highest kickoff average (63.4 yards), the fewest return yards (299 yards), the highest net (42.1 yards) and the most touchbacks (23) of any kicker in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. He also has the highest percentage of field goals made in the MVFC at 9-of-11 for 81.8 percent on the year.
• Duncan Ferch was named the MVFC Defensive Player of the Week after notching 13 tackles and three pass breakups against South Dakota State.
• Cal Twait was named the Missouri Valley Conference Lineman of the Week after leading the Panther O-line unit in a dominant performance over Indiana State.
• Deion McShane was named the MVFC Newcomer of the Week after picking up seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown against Hampton.
• The game is the will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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UNI Football Travels to Western Illinois

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Players Mentioned

Eli Dunne

Austin Errthum

Duncan Ferch

Chris Kolarevic

Deion McShane

Cal Twait

Brawntae Wells

Marcus Weymiller

Xavior Williams

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