DeKALB – With Saturday’s intrastate rivalry football game between NIU and Western Illinois University just around the corner, the battle between the schools’ live mascots nears its final stages.

Since Aug. 16, NIU’s Mission III and WIU’s Colonel Rock “Ray” IV have been engaged in a friendly competition to decide which is the “Goodest Boy in Illinois.” The winner will be awarded a special doggy bone and bragging rights.

As part of the challenge, Mission and Ray have been participating in social media challenges featuring light-hearted tasks like “trick-offs” and “who wore it best?”

Fans can cast their vote for the “Goodest Boy” with a $5 donation to the giving pages for NIU or Western Illinois. Donations represent mascot votes and will be directed to the universities’ general scholarship funds.

The competition wraps up at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, one hour before kickoff of the 2024 season opener between the Huskies and Leathernecks at Huskie Stadium.