Saturday, September 14
Macomb, IL
2 p.m.
Montana State University
at
Western Illinois
Photo by: Garrett Becker
GAME DAY NOTEBOOK #3: Bobcats Visit Western Illinois for First Time Since 1993
9/14/2019 1:00:00 PM | Football
Isaiah Ifanse unlikely to play in today's game
Montana State heads to the Great Plains this week, visiting Western Illinois' Hanson Field for the first time since 1993. On that night a generation ago, Fred Moore gashed the Leathernecks for 182 rushing yards.
That was a breakout performance for a late-summer transfer on a steamy night way back then, and if the Bobcats are going to benefit from a similar performance today it could come – again – from an unlikely source. That is because one of MSU's primary ball carriers is doubtful tonight's game.
Starting running back Isaiah Ifanse will miss today's game with an injury suffered last weekend against Southeast Missouri. Ifanse's replacement in the starting lineup is expected to be Logan Jones.
* * * * *
The Cats will be without three other players today. Cornerback Munchie Filer (elbow), WR Willie Patterson (shoulder), TE Jacob Hadley (foot) and cornerback Ty Okada (knee) will miss today's contest. Filer and Patterson are regular starters.
* * * * *
The Montana State-Western Illinois series is only three games old, but has an interesting mathematical twist. MSU's 26-23 win over the Leathernecks last fall is one of only two such scores in Bobcat history. The other was a 2010 win over Idaho State.
It gets better.
In 1993, the Cats traveled to Macomb and beat the Leathernecks 29-16. That game remains the only time in Bobcat history that exact final scored has occurred in either an MSU win or loss. And three years earlier this series began with a 38-16 Montana State victory in Reno H. Sales Stadium. To this day, that is the only such score in a Bobcat win or loss. (Thanks to Bennett Hostetler for the research.)
* * * * *
Western Illinois derives its 'Leathernecks' nickname from the U.S. Marine Corps, and as such is the only non-military institution with such a distinction. That right was granted in 1927, when then-athletic director and head football, baseball and basketball coach Ray "Rock" Hanson was granted permission by the U.S. Navy because of his status as a Marine hero.
That was a breakout performance for a late-summer transfer on a steamy night way back then, and if the Bobcats are going to benefit from a similar performance today it could come – again – from an unlikely source. That is because one of MSU's primary ball carriers is doubtful tonight's game.
Starting running back Isaiah Ifanse will miss today's game with an injury suffered last weekend against Southeast Missouri. Ifanse's replacement in the starting lineup is expected to be Logan Jones.
* * * * *
The Cats will be without three other players today. Cornerback Munchie Filer (elbow), WR Willie Patterson (shoulder), TE Jacob Hadley (foot) and cornerback Ty Okada (knee) will miss today's contest. Filer and Patterson are regular starters.
* * * * *
The Montana State-Western Illinois series is only three games old, but has an interesting mathematical twist. MSU's 26-23 win over the Leathernecks last fall is one of only two such scores in Bobcat history. The other was a 2010 win over Idaho State.
It gets better.
In 1993, the Cats traveled to Macomb and beat the Leathernecks 29-16. That game remains the only time in Bobcat history that exact final scored has occurred in either an MSU win or loss. And three years earlier this series began with a 38-16 Montana State victory in Reno H. Sales Stadium. To this day, that is the only such score in a Bobcat win or loss. (Thanks to Bennett Hostetler for the research.)
* * * * *
Western Illinois derives its 'Leathernecks' nickname from the U.S. Marine Corps, and as such is the only non-military institution with such a distinction. That right was granted in 1927, when then-athletic director and head football, baseball and basketball coach Ray "Rock" Hanson was granted permission by the U.S. Navy because of his status as a Marine hero.
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
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