Jared Elliott’s head coaching career is off to an inauspicious. But the Western Illinois head football coach still loves his team.
The strength of schedule has played more a factor in WIU’s 0-2 start in the first two games with Elliott at the helm than anything else.
The Leathernecks controlled the first half in their season-opener at Montana State, holding a commanding 13-3 lead before field goal at the first half buzzer cut the advantage to a touchdown. After the break, MSU quarterback Troy Andersen settled in, leading a game-tying drive to open the second half, then using his bullish running style to plow his way to 145 yards rushing and two touchdowns in a 26-23 Bobcat victory.
Last week, Western Illinois held a 7-0 lead at Illinois of the Big Ten midway through the second quarter. WIU had just one less first down than the Illini’s 20 and gained just 15 less yards than Illinois’ 376. But the hosts outlast the Leathernecks 34-14 despite 276 passing yards from WIU senior quarterback Sean McGuire.
“Any level of football, wins don’t come easy,” Elliott said. “I think that’s important for your players to understand. What it takes and what it requires of you to win, it’s hard. Especially when you are playing a schedule like we are and a lot of teams are. Your out of conference games are critical.
“I love our football team and I think we have a good football team.”
The path does not get any easier. Western Illinois wraps up its non-conference schedule with its first home game against No. 15 Montana on Saturday in Macomb, Illinois. That game precedes a three-game stretch to open Missouri Valley Football Conference play that includes Youngstown State, a contest at Illinois State and back in Macomb against No. 1 North Dakota State.
“We have a very tough schedule, challenging schedule, a lot of great opportunities for us this year,” Elliott said. “We opened up with two very good, quality opponents on the road. There’s no question our guys are excited to be home this weekend.”
Despite berths in the FCS playoffs two of the last three seasons, including an eight-win season last year, Elliott is the fourth head coach for WIU this decade. Elliott served as the offensive coordinator on Charlie Fisher’s staff in 2016 and 2017, helping McGuire earn All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors each of the last two years.
Fisher, who took over at WIU after three years under Bob Nielson when Nielson left for MVFC rival South Dakota, himself jetted for the wide receivers assistant job on Herm Edwards’ staff at Arizona State in the off-season.
Elliot inherited a veteran roster spearheaded by McGuire and featuring 21 other seniors, including All-American defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, dual-sport athlete Steve McShane ( a first-team All-Summit League baseball player) and all-conference linebacker Quentin Moon. That group has been competitive early despite not punching through for a breakthrough.
The next chance comes against a Montana team off to a 2-0 start to open the second tenure Bobby Hauck, a head coach who had unparalleled success at UM between 2003 and 2009, winning 80 games and seven straight Big Sky titles.
“Montana State, I loved the way they played. After having played them, they were physical, they were tough, very sound and well coached. Montana is absolutely no different,” Elliott said.
“I love the way the Griz play the game. They play it the right way. They take a lot of value in their special teams and that phase of the game. They are very sound and well-coached on defense. They are very aggressive, know how to get to the quarterback and stop the run. And offensively, (quarterback) Dalton Sneed is a special player and really makes them go on offense.
“We have another great opponent in Montana this week and we are definitely looking forward to this Saturday.”
Sneed has been a revelation for the Griz, a dual threat who came to Montana by way of Fort Scott Community College after beginning his career at UNLV. Sneed’s ability to avoid pressure — he’s been sacked just twice despite UM’s deficient offensive line — combined with his timing, arm strength and talent to throw on the run have made him a fan favorite in his two starts as the Grizzlies’ quarterback.
That porous offensive front will be tested on its interior on Saturday. Saunders is a 6-foot-2, 310-pounder who Montana State head coach Jeff Choate said was the best interior defensive linemen he has seen on film at the FCS level in his three seasons at MSU.
In contrast, Montana will start true freshman Cole Sain at right guard. Redshirt freshman Colton Keintz, a local product that did not play varsity football until his senior year at Missoula Big Sky, is the starting right tackle.
Montana’s wide receivers will likely have an athletic advantage on WIU’s defensive backs, a premise that will likely hold true for UM’s talented group of pass catchers regardless the regular-season opponent.
What Montana will face Saturday that differs from its first two gams (Northern Iowa, Drake) is the speed on the perimeter in the form of McShane and sophomore Tony Tate along with the moxie of McGuire.
The 6-foot-5, 238-pound McGuire has thrown for more than 7,000 yards and nearly 60 touchdowns in his decorated career. Although UNI employed a two-year starter and senior in Eli Dunne and Drake senior Grant Kraemer holds the distinction of being three-years starter, neither has the presence or arm talent McGuire possesses.
“I’ve had the opportunity to work with Sean for three years now and he’s one of the most special young men I’ve ever been around,” Elliott said. “You take away his talent and who he is as a player, it’s who he is as a young man. He has all those natural leadership qualities, especially at that position. He makes people better around him.
“He has off the charts intangibles. He’s a very unique young man. How he prepares, what it means to him, how much he loves the game is a contagious thing to your football. Sean is very gifted. He’s a football junky. He handles everything really well.”
During the non-conference schedule season, McGuire and the Leathernecks have battled both teams from the Treasure State. WIU is one of three teams, including Montana and Montana State, that each played two games in this season’s Missouri Valley Football Conference –Big Sky crossover challenge.
Montana State beat WIU before falling 45-14 at No. 3 South Dakota State last week. Montana upset No. 13 Northern Iowa 26-23 to kick off Hauck’s second tenure in style. Montana and WIU will wrap up the round robin. Either Elliott will have his first head coaching victory or a flawed yet tenacious Montana team might find themselves undefeated entering Big Sky play.
“I think the challenge is a great thing because you have two great conferences,” Elliott said. “I have so much respect for the Big Sky Conference. Really top to bottom, both leagues every year, very competitive games, very equal talent-wise. Sometimes, the styles of play are different but I have so much respect for that league and the quality of the teams that are in it.
“We have another great opponent in Montana this week and we are definitely looking forward to this Saturday.”
