It has been a string of frustrating losses for the Western Illinois football team as they get set to visit UNI this weekend in Gateway Conference play. The Leathernecks are 0-4 in the league race and all the game have been close. Also, the Panthers will be their fourth straight opponent that is ranked in the nation’s top ten.

Coach Don Patterson says it does feel like the movie “Groundhog Day” as he says it seems like the bounces of the football don’t even up. Western Illinois has scored a lot of points this season but the defense has given up too many. Patterson says they’re a little young on defense. Patterson says the defense hasn’t been a championship defense.

Patterson says a struggling defense has put a lot of pressure on the offense. He says the mindset of the players is that if they lose 35-34, then they didn’t get it done on offense. Patterson says the defense is doing the best they can and the offense should be playing better based on experience. Western Illinois is 3-5 on the season.