Final Stats
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Oct. 22, 2005
NORMAL, Ill. -
After shocking the Gateway Football Conference by defeating then No. 1 ranked Southern Illinois 61-35 in Carbondale, Ill., last week, the Illinois State Redbirds made it two straight against ranked opponents by defeating No. 13 Northern Iowa 38-3 at Hancock Stadium on Saturday. It was the first time the Redbirds had defeated two straight ranked opponents since 2002, and the `Birds did so in front of the season's largest crowd of 12,626 fans on Family Day.
The ISU offense came out firing in the first quarter, much like they did against Southern Illinois. On the first play from scrimmage, Luke Drone connected with Laurént Robinson on a 36-yard pass play, putting the Panthers on the defensive early in the game. The `Birds continued to march down the field, with Brian Thompson capping off the nine play, 80-yard drive, with a 9-yard run to give the Redbirds the early lead 6-0. Kevin Mazur missed the extra point attempt to keep the score at 6-0.
After Northern Iowa punted on its first possession, Drone led ISU down the field, going 3-for-3 on the drive and eventually finding Tristan Borzick in the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown pass, the Redbirds' second 80-yard scoring drive in a row. The touchdown catch was Borzick's first of the season and his first in a Redbird uniform. The Redbirds then went for the two-point conversion, with Drone finding Robinson on a fade route to the corner of the end zone for two points and a 14-0 lead with 6:36 left in the first quarter.
However, UNI drove 75 yards in 12 plays on its second possession of the game, eventually spotting inside the ISU 4-yard line and in prime scoring position. But, the Redbird defense came up big as they have all season, causing a Dexter Hill fumble and Cameron Siskowic recovered the ball, ending the Panther threat. The turnover was the defense's 20th on the year, six more than the squad had all of last year.
ISU scored its third touchdown of the day on a 46-yard pass from Drone to Robinson, their seventh connection of the season for a touchdown, bringing the score to 21-0 in the second quarter. It was Robinson's seventh touchdown on the season, which tied his own record for the fifth most touchdown catches in a season for ISU.
ISU had one more chance to score at the end of the second half, but Mazur missed just his third field goal in 10 attempts this season to end the scoring threat. The missed extra point and the missed field goals were the only blemishes in the first half for the Redbirds, as the `Birds went into the locker room with a 21-0 lead against the No. 13 ranked Panthers. Drone continued his nearly flawless passing of late, going 14-for-18, with 200 yards passing and two touchdowns in the first half.
UNI received the ball first in the second half and did not let the opportunity go to waste. The Panthers drove 66 yards in nine plays and put its only three points on the board with a 31-yard field goal by Brian Wingert, bringing the score to 21-3 early in the third quarter.
However, Mazur answered Wingert's field goal on ISU's next drive with a 21-yard field goal, bringing the score to 24-3 with 9:49 left in the third quarter.
Drone added his third touchdown pass of the day early in the fourth quarter to give ISU a 31-3 lead. The eight play, 72-yard drive, resulted in Robinson's second touchdown reception of the day. The Drone to Robinson connection succeeded again on the next ISU possession for Drone's fourth touchdown pass and Robinson's third touchdown catch of the day, bringing the score to 38-3 with 11:07 left in the fourth quarter.
Northern Iowa was not able to get anything going on offense all day, with the Redbird defense allowing the Panthers just three points and recording a season-high nine sacks. Buck Buchanan candidate Brent Hawkins paced the defense with five sacks, while Siskowic added 2.5 sacks of his own.
Drone finished the game going 22-of-28 for 321 yards and four touchdowns. Robinson ended his career day with 243 yards on 10 catches and scored three touchdowns and a two-point conversion.
ISU will play its second straight home game next Saturday, October 29, against Western Illinois. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:30 at Hancock Stadium.
Game Notes
With the 38-3 win, Illinois State brings the all-time series with Northern Iowa closer at 8-14. Illinois State is now 5-3 (2-2) while Northern Iowa moves to 4-3 (2-2) in 2005. Illinois State head coach Denver Johnson ups his ISU record to 30-34 in his career and moves to a 3-3 against UNI. Northern Iowa head coach Mark Farley moves to 37-19 in his career and 2-3 against Illinois State.
Illinois State Notes:
- Northern Iowa's three points against ISU was its lowest output all-time against ISU and the team's lowest output since 2003 when Western Kentucky held the Panthers to three points.
- ISU's 38 points gave the Redbirds three straight games with over 30 points scored.
- With his catch on the first play from scrimmage, Laurént Robinson extended his streak of consecutive games with a catch to 23, tying for the second longest streak in school history.
- Laurént Robinson's career high 243 yards against UNI now gives him 1,019 yards in 2005, good for second on the all-time ISU single-season receiving yards list. It was also just the third 200-yard receiving game in ISU history.
- With his 10 catches today, Laurént Robinson now has 59 catches on the season, tying for fifth on the all-time list.
- Laurént Robinson's three touchdown catches against UNI give him nine on the season, good for third on the all-time single-season list. The three touchdown catches also ties his career high which he set earlier this season against Drake.
- Laurént Robinson's 125 career catches puts him in sole possession of third place on the all-time Redbird receptions list.
- Laurént Robinson's 157 yards today gives him three straight games with 100 yards or more receiving, the first Redbird receiver to ever achieve that feat.
- Stafford Davis started his 43rd consecutive game in Redbird uniform.
- Running back Brian Thompson injured his knee on the Redbird's second scoring drive and did not return to the game. Thompson scored the first ISU touchdown of the day on a nine yard rush.
- James Temple's interception in the second quarter was his team-leading fourth of the season, and the team's ninth on the year.
- Cameron Siskowic's fumble recovery in the first quarter was his second of the season.
- Brent Hawkins' five sacks tied the all-time record for sacks in a game. He tied Rich Zukowski's 19-year-old record, which he set on November 8, 1986, against Wichita State.
