Western Illinois quarterback Matt Morrissey delivers a pass against Southern Illinois. In his first season at WIU, Morrissey has helped the Leathernecks improve their passing game. (Photo by Barry Bottino, PrairieStatePigskin.com)
By Barry Bottino
Matt Morrissey spent one season playing junior college football in Athens, Texas, the self-proclaimed “Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World.”
His time in a small East Texas town, at Trinity Valley Community College, launched him into Division I FCS and left a long-lasting impression.
“I learned the most and helped grow my love of the game at Trinity Valley,” said Morrissey, the junior quarterback at Western Illinois. “We all wanted to win. We all wanted to make it to the next level. We were so close, which led to more success on the field.”
Morrissey turned his opportunity into a spot at Northern Iowa before transferring to Western Illinois last winter.
“In the recruiting process, I identified Matt as someone who could be really impactful for us,” WIU head coach Myers Hendrickson said. “He’s a very smooth athlete. You see it in everything he does. At the quarterback position, you have to be able to do everything. I feel like Matt can make every throw.”
With 175 completions, Morrissey ranks second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference while passing for 11 touchdowns and completing 61.4% of his passes.
On Saturday in Terre Haute, Ind., Morrissey will lead the Leathernecks against Indiana State in a battle of teams still seeking their first win.
Western (0-9 overall, 0-6) has lost 22 games in a row.
What would a victory mean for WIU?
“It would give us a little boost to end the season and something to take into next season,” Morrissey said.
During his first year in Macomb, the new quarterback has built bonds with numerous teammates. One of the busiest group text chats is between Morrissey and his wide receivers.
The relationship is similar to his time at Trinity Valley with teammates such as current Indiana wide receiver Cam Camper, New Mexico State defensive back B.J. Sculark and Wofford tight end Jordan Davis.
“We’d be in each other’s rooms at night hanging out,” Morrisey said. “We had this thing where we’d say, ‘Oh, you didn’t get your ab workout in.’ So we would do our planks, pushups and sit-ups and hold each other to that every single night. That helped push you forward.”
Accountability is something Morrissey hopes to grow among his WIU teammates this off-season.
“This (season) is something I don’t want to experience again,” he said. “What we thought was hard work (last year), we’re going to have to work 10 times harder than that.
“I want to try and bring as many people along with me as I can,” he said.
This week’s opponent
Indiana State (0-9, 0-6) faced three ranked teams in the past three weeks, but made an impression on Hendrickson by losing 17-3 to South Dakota, 36-33 in overtime at North Dakota and 19-7 to Youngstown State. Reigning MVFC Freshman of the Year Cade Chambers, the Sycamores’ quarterback, threw one interception over the past three weeks. “There’s no question they’re a good team when he’s out there,” Hendrickson said. “Just look at the kind of ball they’ve been playing lately.” … Junior running back Justin Dinka, who also has battled injuries, rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns against North Dakota. … The offense, however, has managed just over 12 points and 260 total yards a game.
Kickoff: Noon; TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: Q981FM.com.
Key matchup to watch
Western Illinois vs. The First Quarter: Western has been outscored 89-17 in the first quarter of games this season. The only team WIU has held scoreless in the opening period is Illinois State. The Leathernecks have only scored points in one opening quarter, when they put up 17 against Lindenwood in September. A better start on both sides of the ball could lead to a much better result in Terre Haute.
What’s at stake?
One of these teams will walk off the field with their first win of the season. A victory for WIU would end a 22-game losing streak.
Quick hits
The Leathernecks have played four ranked teams in the past five weeks and allowed an average of 52.4 points a game. “What’s been frustrating is we’ve had some good practices,” Hendrickson said. “That three hours that we get on Saturday, we’ve got to do a better job of making plays out there.” … This week, Western’s opponent averages only 12.4 points a game. … Over the past month, the players participating for WIU have become much younger. Among the highlights are linebackers Ryan Crandall and Mike Cardilli at linebacker, safety Kamal Mukarram, cornerbacks Cordell Wilson and Toriano Tate, who is also returning kicks, and offensive linemen Caden Selle and Joey Treccia. Another new face is running back Dylan Van, a true freshman from St. Louis. “We do have a lot of young players in our program that we’re very excited about,” Hendrickson said.
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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