A fourth quarter interception by Western Illinois Marlan McLaughlin in the end zone helped seal a 40-31 win over the Illinois State football team Saturday.
McLaughlin picked off a Yance Vaughan pass intended for Ramon Barber with two minutes left in the game, dropping the Redbirds to 3-3 on the season and 1-2 in the Gateway.
After a 48-yard field goal by Stephen Carroll put the Birds up 3-0, Western Illinois running back Travis Glasford (29 carries, 123 yards) scored on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Steve LaFalce to give the Leathernecks a 7-3 lead.
On the next series, the Redbirds regained the lead on an 18-yard touchdown run by Brian Thompson (21 carries, 152 yards, TD). The score was set up two plays earlier when Vaughans swing pass to Jason Horton (3 catches, 77 yards, TD) went for 42 yards.
Vaughan (13-29, 219 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs) looked particularly sharp on the Redbirds next scoring drive, spreading the ball around on pass completions to Horton, Kevett Mickle and Jonathan Denley. The drive resulted in a 14-yard touchdown on a screen pass from Vaughan to Laurent Robinson, making the score 17-7.
James Norris hauled in a 52-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Illinois State lead to 17-14, but the Redbirds re-extended their lead to 10 after Western Illinois punter Kris Coffee accidentally kneeled down at his own 16-yard line while handling a bad snap. The special teams mishap resulted in a quarterback sneak by Vaughan, making the score 24-14.
Western Illinois cut into the Redbird lead again when LaFalce scrambled into the end zone from two yards out with 17 seconds left in the first half. The Leathernecks took the lead in the third quarter when LaFalce found Matt Yellin open in the end zone on fourth down. The extra point was no good, but the Leathernecks led 27-24.
Western Illinois extended its lead to 13 after Reggie Gray (9 catches, 198 yards, TD) hauled in an 83-yard touchdown pass from LaFalce and Justin Langan kicked a 31-yard field goal. The Redbirds clawed their way back with six minutes left when Vaughan connected with Horton on a 7-yard scoring strike. But Langans 43-yard field goal late sealed the game, setting up McLaughlins interception.
The Redbirds return home next Saturday to face Youngstown State.
