Entering the fifth week of Gateway Conference action the battle for the top is at the UNI Dome where first place Northern Iowa (3-0, 4-2) takes on third place SIUC (2-1,4-3) for no. 1.

The rest of the league is fairly quiet with the only other conference game coming in Macomb where Southwest Missouri State battles

The Bears (1-6, 0-4) have been unlucky this season losing their four Gateway games by a total of 15 points. Turnovers continue to be the problem for SMSU committing a league high 18 miscues.

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The 33-30 loss at SIUC was especially disheartening because the Bears led 20-0 at one point in the third quarter.

SMSU tailback Mike Cosey, who ran for 105 yards on 31 carries, is the first running back for the Bears’ since 1985 to rush for three consecutive 100- yard games.

The receiving corps has been another strong position for the Bears as Phil Perkins leads the league averaging five catches per game, while Jason Cannon is fifth making four catches per contest.

Western Illinois (1-2, 3-3) in contrast to SMSU is coming off their first Gateway victory with a 25-22 victory over Illinois State. The Leathernecks won in the fourth quarter as running back Ephron Crump scored the game-winning touchdown with 3:46 left in the game.

The Leathernecks continue to lead the league in scoring averaging 30 points a game and also pacing the conference in total defense giving up just 278 yards per contest.

Saturday’s contest will be WIU’s homecoming game.

Second-place Indiana State (3-1, 5-2) after suffering its first conference loss a week ago to Northern Iowa, 27-10, will go outside the league and host Western Kentucky .

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This game is Homecoming for the Sycamores. Indiana State has won only one Homecoming contest since joining the Gateway in 1986 and that was a 41-14 victory over Western Kentucky two years ago.

Tailback David Wright needs 450 yards in his next four contests to become Indiana State’s all-time leading rusher.

Eastern Illinois (1-1, 6-1) and Illinois State (1-2, 2-5) are both idle this week.

The Panthers continue to be led by tailback Willie High whose 138 yards per game is currently eighth in the country.

The Redbirds get a week off to after losing their last two ball games by a total of six points.

The Gateway Conference player of the week on the offensive side of the ball is Saluki Danny Smith, who passed for 328 yards and two touchdowns in the Dawgs overtime win over SMSU.

On the defensive side of the ball Illinois State’s linebacker Don Martin won league honors. Martin made seven tackles, one sack and ran a punt block in for a touchdown. SIUC linebacker Brain Tranchitella was also considered for the award.