Junior quarterback Michael Souza connected with Ramon Barber on a game-winning 33-yard touchdown reception to lead Illinois State to a 31-20 win over Northern Iowa in Gateway Football Conference action, Saturday night.
Barber snagged the ball at the 1-yard line without a defender in a 15-yard radius and walked into the endzone for the Redbirds first road victory in their last nine tries. Souza poured salt in the wound with a 3-yard touchdown run with six seconds left to seal the come-from-behind victory.
Back in the first quarter, it only took one minute and eight seconds for Northern Iowa (4-4, 1-3) to take a 7-0 lead when Tom Petrie connected with Eddie Gallas on a 74-yard touchdown pass.
Illinois State (5-3, 3-1) overcame the shock of UNIs quick start by responding on the ensuing drive with a 47-yard field goal by Stephen Carroll. Carrolls kick, his 10th of the year, capped a 11-play, 51-yard drive, which was kept alive on a 15-yard personal foul penalty by UNI.
Mackenzie Hoambrecker put the Panthers up 10-3 with a 24-yard field goal at the 4:43 mark in the first quarter. The Redbirds continued to trade punches with UNI, as freshman Ramon Barber hauled in his first collegiate touchdown on a 22-yard pass from Michael Souza to knot the game at 10-10.
The Panthers took a 17-10 halftime lead after the only score in the second frame. Petrie launched another bomb with a 67-yard touchdown pass to Ben Sanderson. The scoring drive followed a series of turnovers where UNIs Adam Benge fumbled the ball on his own 11-yard line, but Illinois State wasnt able to capitalize as Quincy Washington bobbled the handoff on the UNI 2-yard line.
The two teams battled through a scoreless third quarter before Souza found Golson in the right corner of the endzone on a 4-yard fade pattern to deadlock the score at 17-17 with 8:25 left in the contest. Golsons touchdown marked the 16th of his career and his fourth of the season and finished a 11-play, 62-yard drive.
Again, UNI had an answer as Hoambrecker topped off a 10-play, 72-yard drive with a 37-yard field goal and a 20-17 Northern Iowa lead with 4:30 left on the clock.
Washington led the Redbird rushing attack with his fourth-straight 100-yard performance. Washingtons 104 yards tied the ISU record for consecutive 100-yard rushing games. Souza ended the day completing 13-of-33 for 184 yards and three touchdowns.
Dwayne Smith grabbed four balls for 51 yards, while Barber finished with three catches, two for touchdowns, and 60 yards.
The Redbirds return to action on November 2, when Illinois State travels to Western Kentucky for the first time since 1990. Kickoff is slated for 4:30 p.m.
