Western Illinois Preview
8/29/2011 5:29:00 PM | Football
Led by quarterback Matt Barr, the 2010 Western Illinois Leathernecks went from a 1-10 record and last place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference to become an 8-5 NCAA Division I national playoff participant.
That seven-victory improvement from 2009 to 2010 was the most in conference history. WIU won their first round playoff 17-10 over Coastal Carolina before falling in the round of 16 to Appalachian State 42-14.
Ranked among the top 25 in all the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision preseason polls, the Leathernecks must replace both Barr at quarterback and leading receiver Lito Senatus.
Will Lunt and transfer Josh Hudson look to take over the offense. Lunt started the final seven games for Western in 2009, throwing for nearly 1,000 yards and four TDs during his redshirt-freshman campaign. Hudson earned First Team All-Mid Empire Conference honors as he threw for 2,163 yards and 15 TDs to 10 interceptions,
Caulton Ray, a junior who rushed for 1,075 yards last year, returns to give the Leathernecks a strong running threat.
Wide receiver Terriun Crump will be the top receiving target after averaging 13.1 yards per catch a year ago.
Junior defensive end Dwight Harris is expected to lead the Leatherneck defensive line. Harris started in all 13 games last season, accounting for 30 tackles, including five for losses. Nose tackle Emeka Nwankwo, a transfer from Notre Dame, brings extra experience to the middle of the line.
Kevin Palermo leads a talented linebacker corps. The senior team co-captain was fourth on the squad in tackles last year and has totaled 110 stops in 33 career games.
Tickets for the Sam Houston State vs. Western Illinois season opener Thursday at 6 p.m. are on sale now online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets or at the SHSU ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium.
Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.
Junior Josh Hudson joined the
