Sept. 24, 2005
Final Stats |
Quotes
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State defense dominated the Murray State offense in the second home game of the season for the Redbirds, as the unit gave up just 63 yards rushing and 135 total yards on the night in a 42-0 shutout of the Racers. Illinois State (3-1) has now won three-straight games after its season opening loss at Iowa State, while Murray State (1-2) heads into Ohio Valley Conference play with a losing record for the fourth straight season.
The Illinois State defense was the star of the first half, limiting Murray State to just 43 total yards of offense and 16 yards rushing. Brent Hawkins recorded two sacks for the Redbirds, with the first resulting in a Murray State fumble in the end zone that was recovered by Illinois State linebacker Niall Campbell for the touchdown. It was the third fumble recovery for a touchdown on the season for the Redbird defense.
After being pinned at its own one-yard line by Murray State punter Tim Wright, ISU drove 99 yards in 17 plays for the first score of the game. The drive concluded with a three-yard touchdown pass from Luke Drone to Kedric Meredith. The pass was Drone's eighth touchdown pass of the season and Meredith's first TD of his career as a Redbird.
Most of Illinois State's offensive production came by way of junior running back Pierre Rembert in the first half. Rembert rushed for 123 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns in the half. The first came on an 11-yard romp in the first quarter, bringing the score to 14-0. The second score came via a 56-yard dash in the second quarter, the longest of Rembert's career, for his fourth touchdown of the season. The play capped off a three-play, 61-yard drive to give ISU a 21-0 lead with 5:27 left in the half.
ISU continued its dominant play in the second half, scoring two more rushing touchdowns and preserving the team's first shutout since October 21, 2000, when the Redbirds defeated Prairie View A&M, 64-0. Brian Thompson's 14-yard rush for a touchdown started the Illinois State scoring in the second half, bringing the score to 35-0. Rafael Rice also added a rushing touchdown for ISU in the second half, an 11-yard romp with 26 seconds left in the third quarter, ending the scoring at 42-0.
Rembert rushed for 139 yards on 14 carries for two touchdowns for the `Birds. It was his second straight game over 100 yards rushing and his second straight game with two rushing touchdowns. Hawkins led the Redbird defense with four tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and two sacks.
ISU travels to Youngstown, Ohio, next weekend to face the Youngstown State Penguins in the 2005 Gateway Football Conference opener. Kick-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. CST at Stambaugh Stadium.
Illinois State Notes:
- Illinois State has recorded three straight wins in a season for the first time since 2000, when the team won six straight games.
- The shutout was Illinois State's first since October 21, 2000, when the Redbirds defeated Prairie View A&M, 64-0.
- Illinois State has given up just 6 points in the last two games, the lowest output since 2001 when the team recorded back-to-back shutouts against Indiana State and Prairie View A&M.
- Illinois State's 99-yard scoring drive in the first quarter was its first since October 9, 2004, when Laurént Robinson caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Yance Vaughan against Missouri State.
- Illinois State's 17-play, 99-yard scoring drive in the first quarter was the longest of the year in both yards and plays.
- Brent Hawkins' two sacks give him 4.5 on the season and 11.5 in his career at ISU. He also forced two fumbles and recovered one.
- Kevin Kreger, Jake Rourke and Kedric Meredith all recorded their first catches of the season in tonight's game. Kreger's catch was the third of his career at Illinois State, while Rourke and Meredith's catches were the first of their Redbird careers.
- Kedric Meredith's touchdown catch in the first quarter was the first touchdown reception of his career as a Redbird.
- Niall Campbell's fumble recovery in the end zone was Illinois State's third fumble recovery for a touchdown this season.
- With his catch in the first quarter, Laurént Robinson extends his streak of consecutive games with a catch to 19.
- Freshman Kaschiev Hunter saw his first action of the 2005 season and forfeited his redshirt status.
