Oct. 15, 2005
Final Stats (PDF)
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Illinois State dazed No. 1 Southern Illinois with a 21-point first quarter, but it was ISU's 27 unanswered point response Saturday night at McAndrew Stadium that put the Salukis on the canvas for a 61-35 defeat, as the Redbirds posted their first knockout of a ranked opponent in nine games and their first win over the nation's top team since 1993.
With the victory, Illinois State improved to 4-3 on the season and 1-2 in Gateway Football Conference action. The 61 tallies marked the most points by the `Birds against SIU in the 68-game history and the highest point total by Illinois State in a Gateway game. It was also the most points surrendered by the Salukis since 1999 when Indiana State defeated SIU 66-45. With the loss, SIU fell to 4-2 and 2-1, respectively.
Fueled by another Redbird defensive forced turnover, the ISU offense came out firing. The `Birds scored on their first three possessions and put points on the scoreboard in six of their seven first half possessions. ISU jumped out to a 7-0 lead after sophomore Jesse Caesar forced the Redbird defense's 17th turnover of the season. Caesar jarred the ball loose from Brent Little after a pass reception and sophomore Kye Stewart picked up the fumble, his second of the season, before returning it 19 yards.
On the ensuing play, ISU's Luke Drone connected with Laurént Robinson in the middle of the field for a 23-yard gain. The catch gave Robinson 22 straight games with a catch, which is tied for the third longest string in ISU history. With the ball on the 2-yard line, Brian Thompson finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run off the left end.
The Redbirds pushed the lead to 14 points after Drone found Pierre Jackson on a 7-yard pass. The `Birds rolled 62 yards in five plays for the score, including two Drone passes to Robinson for 33 yards. ISU took a commanding 21-0 lead when Thompson's 8-yard touchdown run capped a 10 play, 56 yard scoring drive.
SIU responded with back-to-back scoring drives. Arkee Whitlock ran the ball in from one yard out to end a 12 play, 67 yard drive. The Salukis missed the point after attempt, on a fumbled hold, and trailed 21-6. Following the Redbirds' only stalled drive of the first half, Little caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Joel Sambursky, who added the two-point conversion to close the deficit to 21-14.
Illinois State regained the momentum with 17 unanswered points to close out the first half. Freshman Kevin Mazur put the `Birds up 24-14 with a 20-yard field goal. After holding the SIU offense to a "three and out," Drone completed his second touchdown pass of the first half, when fronted with an all-out blitz, by lofting a 30-yard touchdown pass to Jackson.
On the ensuing kickoff, Alex Filin forced the SIU return man to fumble and it was recovered by Tom Nelson at the SIU 23-yard line. Two plays later, Thompson plunged in the end zone from 1 yard out to give the Redbirds a 38-14 halftime advantage.
ISU tacked on 17 more points in the third quarter on a 27-yard field goal by Mazur and touchdowns by Thompson and Robinson. Thompson's 30-yard touchdown run, with 12:10 left in the third quarter, was his fourth rushing touchdown of the contest, tying a Redbird record for a league game. Drone's 60-yard touchdown pass to Robinson with nine seconds left in the third quarter, gave Robinson a career high for receiving yardage with 180 on nine catches.
The offensive juggernaut, which totaled 594 yards, was powered by Drone, Robinson and Thompson. Drone finished with 319 yards on 23-for-29 passing, including three touchdowns. Thompson pounded out 165 yards on 21 carries for a 7.9 yard per attempt average to go along with his four touchdowns. Stewart and Cameron Siskowic led the Redbird defense with 11 and 10 tackles, respectively.
Illinois State returns to action next Saturday when the Redbirds host No. 14 Northern Iowa for Family Day at Hancock Stadium.
