Illinois State senior running back Quincy Washington rushed for his fourth career 100-yard game, but a Western Illinois goal line stand and a pair of 98-yard-plus drives resulted in a 22-17 Leatherneck win, Saturday night.
Washington finished with a game-high 127 yards, but with the Birds trailing 15-10 in a fourth-and-goal situation from the WIU one-half yardline, the Leatherneck defense denied Washington the one-yard gain and ended the Illinois State (3-3 overall, 1-1 Gateway Football Conference) drive.
On the ensuing possession, Western Illinois quarterback Russ Michna led a 99-yard scoring drive that ended with a 23-yard pass to Stacy Coleman. It was Colemans second touchdown of the game and pushed the Western (5-1, 2-1) lead to 22-10.
That fourth-quarter drive topped Western Illinois first drive of the game, which totaled 98 yards after Reggie Gray slipped in the damp grass at the 2-yard line on the opening kickoff. The Leathernecks quickly erased their misfortune with a 14-play, 98-yard drive capped by a 6-yard touchdown run on a reverse by Coleman to take an early 7-0.
The Redbirds responded with a Stephen Carroll 37-yard field goal, following a 53-yard Dennis Butler kickoff return and pushed the score to 7-3. Early in the second quarter, Carroll had a chance to put the Birds within one point, but his 42-yard field goal attempt fell about three yards short.
On the fourth Redbird series, quarterback Kevin Zouzounis took control of the Redbird offense at ISUs 5-yard line. Three plays later, Zouzounis was hit by the WIU defense and the ball trickled out of the back of the endzone for a safety and a 9-3 Leatherneck lead.
WIU increased its lead to its haftime margin, 12-3, with a 37-yard field goal by Justin Langan at the 2:36 mark in the second half.
Langan added a 35-yard field goal for only scoring in the third frame and a 15-3 Western Illinois lead.
With 11 minutes left in the game, the Redbirds pulled within five points on Michael Souzas 9-yard option run behind the right side of the line. Souzas touchdown run, his rushing score of the season, finished a 12-play, 66-yard drive for ISU.
Souza, who started for the Redbirds and returned in the third quarter, added a 6-yard scamper in the fourth quarter for ISUs final score. The Redbirds onside kick attempt was unsuccessful.
Souza finished with 71 yards on the ground and 112 in the air on 7-for-13 passing. LaMonte Jones led all Redbird receivers with 68 yards on three catches. The Redbirds totaled 382 yards offensively, including 210 rushing, while Western Illinois finished with 308 yards of total offense.
Illinois State returns to action on October 19, when the Redbirds host Southern Illinos at Hancock Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m.
