Illinois State linebacker Boomer Grigsby became the all-time leading tackler in Gateway Conference history, but a staunch Southern Illinois defense and a 24-point second quarter helped the No. 1-ranked Salukis down the Redbirds 41-14 Saturday at Hancock Stadium.
On the second play of the second half, Grigsby brought down SIU quarterback Joel Sambursky after a three yard gain for his 10th tackle of the day and his 566th career tackle. Grigsby finished the day with 14 tackles, giving him 570 for his career. The previous Gateway record was held by Eastern Illinois Tim Carver with 565.
Yance Vaughan hit Kevett Mickle with a 43-yard scoring strike with 1:34 left in the third quarter to get the Birds on the scoreboard for the first time and the Vaughan to Mickle connection added a 10-yarder in the fourth quarter as ISU became the first team in six games to score more than 13 points against the Saluki defense, ranked No. 1 in the nation against the score. Earlier in the game, Vaughan became only the fourth Illinois State quarterback to pass for 2,000 yards in a season. His 2,148 yards rank No. 3 on the Redbird single-season list with two games remaining.
The Redbirds, 4-5, 2-4, saw their four-game home-field winning streak this season come to an end and their three-game home-field winning streak against SIU end as well.
The Salukis, 9-1, 6-0 in the Gateway, won their eighth straight game with a 498 to 283 advantage in total offense for the game as they scored more points against the Birds in Hancock Stadium in three seasons.
The game began with a series of punts until the Salukis got the games first break with 1:15 left in the first quarter when a fumbled punt put SIU back on offense at the Redbird 40. On the third play of the second quarter, Sambursky hit Matt Weishaar with a swing pass for 12 yards and the first touchdown of the day. Craig Coffins kick made it 7-0 SIU.
The Salukis also bobbled a punt return mid-way in the second quarter but recovered their own fumble. A 48-yard pass from Sambursky to Brent Little set up Terry Jacksons two-yard run to cap a 5-play, 71-yard drive to put Southern Illinois ahead 14-0 with 6:35 left in the first half.
Samburskys 46-yard pass to Little set up SIUs third score, a 12-yard pass from Sambursky to Kellen Allen with 27 seconds left in the half. Phillip Doyle picked up a Redbird fumble on the first play after the kickoff and returned it to the Redbird 13 yard line, setting up a 30-yard Coffin field goal with 2 seconds left in the half.
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Notes:
Yance Vaughan moved into third place on the Redbird single season passing yards list, passing Steve Stull and Mike Souza. Vaughan finished the day with 178 yards passing and has 2,148 this season.
On the second play of the second half, Boomer Grigsby became the all-time leading tackler in Gateway Conference history with his 566th career tackle. He surpassed Eastern Illinois Tim Carver who had 565. Grigsby finished the game with 14 for 570 in his career.
SIUs 41 points were the most allowed by Illinois State at home since a 58-14 loss to Western Kentucky in 2001.
