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W. Illinois has an explosive offense and stingy defense
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
If you need any more evidence that this is a weird year for the Missouri Valley Football Conference, how’s this: A year after losing its last 10 games (including every conference game), Western Illinois is tied for first in the league ... and no one thinks this is weird.
“I don’t think that there’s any coach [in the league] who would even come close to making a prediction as to how any game’s going to go this Saturday,” said Leathernecks coach Mark Hendrickson, whose team plays host to YSU at 7 p.m. Saturday. “The games will all be decided on the field, that’s for sure.”
Hendrickson, who has been at WIU for 12 years, was promoted to acting head coach for the final eight games last season after longtime coach Don Patterson resigned in late September for health reasons.
As WIU’s offensive coordinator for the past 11 years, Hendrickson’s specialty is on that side of the ball — the Leathernecks are first in the league with 447.7 yards per game — but it’s his defense that’s been the most impressive this fall.
Western Illinois (4-2, 2-1) is first in the conference in scoring defense (18.7 per game, four better than anyone else), first in total defense (318 yards per game, nine better than anyone else) and first in turnover margin (plus-four).
The unit is led by senior Kyle Glazier, a preseason All-American who plays a roaming linebacker spot known as the “Leatherneck.” He leads the league in tackles with 13 per game, including a career-high 21 in last week’s 33-29 loss to South Dakota State.
“They’re No. 1 in so many categories, I can’t even remember them all,” said YSU coach Eric Wolford. “They’re a well-coached football team, they’ve got talent and their players are playing with confidence.”
Offensively, quarterback Matt Barr has played well, completing 99 of 173 passes for 1,282 yards, 12 TDs and just one interception. He threw for a career-high four TDs last weekend, while his 26 completions and 351 passing yards were his second-best totals all-time.
He also had two receivers go over 100 yards, including Terriun Crump, who had career-bests in catches (10) and yards (183).
On the ground, Bryce Flowers (625 yards, seven TDs) and Caulton Ray (488 yards, six TDs) lead the way, but Barr (282 yards) is also a threat to run.
“Their quarterback has played unbelievable,” said Wolford. “He’s a special player. And they’ve got the most athletic offensive line in the conference.
“They’re No. 1 up there in that category [total offense] for a reason.”
The Leathernecks line up in multiple formations on offense but switched to the no-huddle in the summer, helping them physically — Hendrickson said his team is in better condition, offensively and defensively, because of the change — and, more importantly, psychologically.
“It adds a little more excitement and adrenaline in that they’ve got to hustle up between every rep and get ready for the next play immediately,” Hendrickson said.
Defensively, they play a 3-4 and focus on stopping the run first, hoping to make opponents one-dimensional. They always have one more defender than teams can block, which means you have to get creative if you want to run the ball, Wolford said.
YSU (3-3, 1-2) has won six straight in the series but has yet to win on the road this season and are playing a team tied with Southern Illinois and Northern Iowa for first place.
The Penguins have also lost 11 of their last 12 games in October.
“We’ve got a big challenge ahead of us,” Wolford said. “No question about that.”