Longtime rivals Illinois State and Western Illinois will meet the earliest they have in a season since 1985 when the Redbirds (1-0) and Leathernecks (0-1) square off in the Missouri Valley Football Conference opener for both squads on Saturday in Macomb.
Redbirds quarterback Zack Annexstad and the Redbird offense came out firing and scored on five of the first six drives of the game in a 41-0 rout of Dayton in the season opener. The sixth-year senior completed finished the game 23-for-30 (76.6 percent) while throwing for 255 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by a 47-yard touchdown strike to wideout Daniel Sobkowicz.
Western Illinois opened the 2023 season on the road, making the long trip to New Mexico State and after playing NMSU close to even in the first half, the Aggies took control of the game in the second half picking up a 58-21 win.
Quarterback Matt Morrissey completed 16 passes for 215 yards with a pair of touchdown passes, and running back Ludovick Choquette ran for 37 yards and a touchdown for the Leathernecks.
Game time is 3 pm on Saturday afternoon.
