Nov. 5, 2005
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -
Final Stats
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Tailback Pierre Rembert returned to the Illinois State lineup and ran up, down and through the Missouri State defense, as the junior racked up a school record and Plaster Field record 272 rushing yards and scored six of ISU's seven touchdowns to lead the Redbirds to a 48-23 Gateway Football Conference victory, Saturday.
With the win, Illinois State improves to 6-4 on the season and 3-3 in league play, while Missouri State fell to 4-5 and 2-4, respectively. In addition to Rembert breaking the school record for rushing yards in a game, he also tied the ISU record for rushing touchdowns in a game with six; equaling Ron Bell's effort against Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Nov. 21, 1970. Rembert's six touchdowns also tied the conference record and is the most in a game between league teams.
Rembert's rushing attack wasn't the only record setter for the Redbirds, as Buck Buchanan Award candidate Brent Hawkins notched his 16th sack of the season in the first quarter to give him sole possession of the conference record for quarterback sacks.
Three second quarter touchdowns by Rembert gave the Redbirds a 20-10 halftime advantage. Rembert, who missed last week's game against Western Illinois with a sprained knee, pounded out 127 first half rushing yards for his third 100-yard game this season and the first since Murray State.
After a first quarter 36-yard field goal by Jon Scifres, the Redbirds took their first lead of the game when Rembert scored from six yards out to cap a 12-play, 92-yard scoring drive. Freshman placekicker Kevin Mazur pushed the PAT wide left and the Redbirds led 6-3 with 10:12 left in the half.
On the ensuing drive, Missouri State regained the lead 10-6, on Michael Cooper's 1-yard touchdown run. The `Birds again responded by going 56 yards on nine plays when Rembert rushed into the end zone from two yards out for a 13-10 advantage. ISU extended its lead right before the intermission, when Rembert scored his third touchdown of the half on another 2-yard plunge.
Rembert added two more touchdown runs in the third quarter and scored his sixth of the game in the fourth to give the Redbirds 35 unanswered points. After A.J. Porter connected with Franz von Haas for an 18-yard touchdown pass, ISU freshman Cortes Rice scored the first touchdown of his career and lifted the lead to 48-17. Porter found Michael Sparks on a 5-yard touchdown route for the final score.
The Redbirds will close out the regular season next Saturday when they host Indiana State at Hancock Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
