Senior quarterback Kevin Glenn passed for four touchdowns, including three in the opening quarter, to break the Illinois State career touchdown record and lead the No. 5-ranked Redbirds past West Virginia Tech 75-10 Thursday night at Hancock Stadium.
Setting a single-game record for most points scored in a game at Hancock Stadium, total offense (738 yards) and the largest margin of victory in the stadiums history, Illinois State (1-0) opened its season under new head coach Denver Johnson passing for 355 yards and rushing for 378. West Virginia Tech (0-2) finished the game with 238 yards in the air and 41 on the ground.
West Virginia Tech got on the board first, scoring on its first possession with a 42-yard field goal at the 13:32 mark of the first quarter. The Redbirds answered back, scoring on their first three possessions of the game. Glenn drove the Birds 82 yards on the first two possessions, finding Justin Frierson for both touchdowns while Steve Kostro scored on a 15-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Dusty Burk, who entered the game with five minutes remaining in the first quarter.
With three minutes remaining in the first quarter and the Redbirds up 21-3, Glenn re-entered the game and connected with Kentucky transfer Garry Davis for a two-yard pass before ending the quarter with a field goal by Jake Strader.
Early in the second, Jeffrey James recovered a fumble by West Virginia Tech quarterback Eric Smith and trotted in eight yards for another touchdown to give the Redbirds a 38-3 lead with 14:50 remaining in the half. Strader topped off the scoring by ISU in the first half with a 30-yard field goal with six minutes remaining, sending the Birds into halftime with a 41-3 lead.
Gean Gilot opened up the third quarter for ISU blocking a field-goal attempt by West Virginia Tech. Armando Andrade picked up the loose ball and ran 85 yards for the Redbirds fifth touchdown of the night. A 55-yard run by Walter James in the third quarter, a 44-yard run by Willie Watts and a six-yard run by Michael Garner in the fourth topped off the Redbird scoring, which resulted in the most points scored in an Illinois State season-opener.
The Redbirds continue its season when it meets instate rival Northern Illinois Sept. 9 in DeKalb, Ill.
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