Despite two touchdowns apiece from Quincy Washington and Vito Golson, Illinois State could not contain Southwest Missouri State as the Bears posted 611 yards of total offense handing the Redbirds their ninth loss of the season, 48-31, in the season finale Saturday at Plaster Sports Complex.
SMS scratched the scoring column first on a 62-yard pass from Austin Moherman to Mark Marcos at the 6:16 mark in the first quarter. The Bears than closed out the first when running back Demetrius Smith scampered into the end zone for a one-yard scoring run.
The Redbirds struck back at the 12:55 mark in the second quarter with an 82-yard drive capped by a 37-yard Dusty Burk pass to Golson for a touchdown.
Another one-yard run by Smith with two minutes left in the half gave SMS a 21-7 advantage, but the Birds found the end zone once more before halftime as Washington ran the ball in from the one-yard line with 24 seconds left on the clock.
In the third, the Bears collected an early field goal that was answered by the Redbirds with at Steve Carroll field goal from 47 yards out with 9:14 left in the quarter. Washington scored his second touchdown of the day on another one-yard carry at the 5:45 mark to tie the game. The Bears responded with a 92-yard drive that ended with a three-yard run by Eddie Linscomb to put SMS up by seven.
The first three drives of the fourth resulted in touchdowns as Moherman found Marcos open once again as SMS extended the lead to 14 early in the fourth. On the next drive, the Birds cut the lead to seven as Burk hit Golson with a 21-yard strike at the 11:11 mark. Twenty seconds later, Eddie Linscomb ran back the kickoff for a 65-yard score putting the Bears ahead 45-31. SMS added another field goal with 7:06 remaining.
Burk finished the day with 240 yards on 13-of-22 passing, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Golson hauled in five catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns while Washington rumbled for 82 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
The Redbirds conclude the 2001 campaign 2-9 and 2-5 in the Gateway while SMS finishes the season at 6-5 and 3-4.
