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American college football season
The 2018 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season . They were led by first-year head coach Jared Elliott and played their home games at Hanson Field . They were a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). They finished the season 5–6, 4–4 in MVFC play to finish in fifth place.
Previous season The Leathernecks finished the 2017 season 8–4, 5–3 in MVFC play to finish in fourth place. They received an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs where they lost to Weber State in the first round.
On December 22, head coach Charlie Fisher resigned to become the wide receivers coach at Arizona State .[1]
Preseason Award watch lists Preseason MVFC poll The MVFC released their preseason poll on July 29, 2018, with the Leathernecks predicted to finish in seventh place.[3]
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
North Dakota State
390 (39)
2
South Dakota State
270
3
Northern Iowa
258
4
Youngstown State
248
5
Illinois State
248
6
South Dakota
206
7
Western Illinois 163
8
Southern Illinois
139
9
Missouri State
90
10
Indiana State
41
Preseason All-MVFC Teams The Leathernecks placed five at six positions players on the preseason all-MVFC teams.[4]
Offense
2nd team
Sean McGuire – QB
Steve McShane – RB
Defense
1st team
Khalen Saunders – DL
Justin Fitzpatrick – DB
Steve McShane – RS
2nd team
Quentin Moon – DB
Schedule Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance 8:00 p.m. at Montana State * SWX L 23–2618,507 September 8 6:30 p.m. at Illinois * BTN L 14–3439,252 September 15 3:00 p.m. No. 15 Montana * ESPN+ W 31–274,011 September 29 3:00 p.m. Youngstown State * ESPN3 W 45–384,352 October 6 2:00 p.m. at No. 15 Illinois State ESPN+ L 16–338,516 October 13 6:00 p.m. No. 1 North Dakota State ESPN+ L 7–342,709 October 20 2:00 p.m. at Missouri State ESPN+ W 31–1412,109 October 27 1:00 p.m. No. 17 Northern Iowa * ESPN+ W 37–172,832 November 3 1:00 p.m. at Southern Illinois ESPN3 W 34–314,780 November 10 1:00 p.m. at South Dakota ESPN+ L 12–178,761 November 17 1:00 p.m. Indiana State * ESPN3 L 13–155,822 *Non-conference game Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time
Game summaries at Montana State
1
2
3
4
Total
Leathernecks
7
6
7
3
23
Bobcats
3
3
14
6
26
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
0–2
1993
MSU, 29–16
at Illinois
1
2
3
4
Total
Leathernecks
7
0
7
0
14
Fighting Illini
0
14
10
10
34
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
0–2
2015
ILL, 44–0
Montana
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 15 Grizzlies
18
0
3
6
27
Leathernecks
14
3
0
14
31
Youngstown State
1
2
3
4
Total
Penguins
7
0
10
21
38
Leathernecks
6
10
14
15
45
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
12–18
2015
YSU, 23–21
at Illinois State
1
2
3
4
Total
Leathernecks
6
7
3
0
16
No. 15 Redbirds
2
10
0
21
33
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
51–46–3
2017
WIU, 31–14
North Dakota State
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 1 Bison
3
14
7
10
34
Leathernecks
0
7
0
0
7
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
2–7
2017
NDSU, 24–12
at Missouri State
1
2
3
4
Total
Leathernecks
7
3
7
14
31
Bears
7
0
0
7
14
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
17–16–1
2017
WIU, 49–30
Northern Iowa
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 17 Panthers
3
7
0
7
17
Leathernecks
0
16
7
14
37
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
15–31
2017
WIU, 38–29
at Southern Illinois
1
2
3
4
Total
Leathernecks
7
7
0
20
34
Salukis
7
10
14
0
31
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
35–23–4
2017
WIU, 28–14
at South Dakota
1
2
3
4
Total
Leathernecks
3
0
0
9
12
Coyotes
7
0
3
7
17
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
5–3
2017
USD, 38–33
Indiana State
1
2
3
4
Total
Sycamores
3
6
3
3
15
Leathernecks
3
0
10
0
13
Overall record
Last meeting
Result
25–15
2017
WIU, 45–0
Players drafted into the NFL References
