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 22nd, head coach Charlie Fisher resigned to become the wide receivers coach at Arizona State.[1] He finished at Western Illinois with a two-year record of 14–9.
Preseason
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
|
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 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
2–1 |
2003 Playoffs |
WIU, 43–40 2OT |
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 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Leathernecks |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
2–7 |
2017 |
NDSU, 24–12 |
at Missouri State
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Leathernecks |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Bears |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
17–16–1 |
2017 |
WIU, 49–30 |
Northern Iowa
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Panthers |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Leathernecks |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
15–31 |
2017 |
WIU, 38–29 |
at Southern Illinois
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Leathernecks |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Salukis |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
35–23–4 |
2017 |
WIU, 28–14 |
at South Dakota
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Leathernecks |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Coyotes |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
5–3 |
2017 |
USD, 38–33 |
Indiana State
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Sycamores |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Leathernecks |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
25–15 |
2017 |
WIU, 45–0 |
Ranking movements
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.
| Week |
Poll |
Pre |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
Final |
STATS FCS |
RV |
RV |
RV |
RV |
RV |
RV |
RV |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coaches |
RV |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
RV |
NR |
|
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|
|
|
|
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References
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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