Oct. 14, 2006
Final Stats
NORMAL, Ill. -
There was a lot of hype surrounding today's homecoming football game between the Illinois State Redbirds and the Southern Illinois Salukis. The No. 5 `Birds responded, not allowing an SIU score in the second half, downing the No. 7 team in the country, 37-10 in Gateway Football Conference action, Saturday afternoon at Hancock Stadium.
A crowd of 17,237 came out to watch the two, top-10 ranked teams battle, the sixth highest in Hancock Stadium history. The crowd was the most to see an Illinois State football game in over 30 years.
The `Birds handed Southern Illinois its first loss of the year, as the Salukis move to 5-1 overall, 1-1 in Gateway play. Illinois State improves to 5-1 on the year, staying undefeated in GFC action at 2-0.
Southern Illinois capitalized on its first scoring drive of the game, as senior Craig Coffin capped off a 14-play, 61-yard scoring drive with a field goal from 38 yards to give the Salukis an early 3-0 lead just over seven minutes into the first quarter.
Answering for the `Birds was quarterback Luke Drone, who found Laurént Robinson deep in SIU territory. Run out-of-bounds at the four-yard line, Robinson's catch marked the 30th straight game with a reception, a new ISU record. On the ensuing play, Drone handed off to Pierre Rembert who scampered, untouched, into the end zone at the 1:04 mark in the first half. The touchdown was the seventh of the season for Rembert and ended a 68-yard crusade for the `Birds. Kevin Mazur added the extra point for ISU, giving the Redbirds a 7-3 advantage.
Just three minutes into the second quarter, a roughing the passer penalty was assigned to ISU, calling off an interception from Saluki quarterback Nick Hill to ISU defensive back James Temple. SIU gained 15 yards on the penalty, setting up an eight yard touchdown reception from Hill to tight end Braden Jones. The score at the 11:47 mark in the second quarter set the score in favor of the Salukis, 10-7.
A 16-yard reception by sophomore Jake Rourke, followed by an 11-yard run by Rembert allowed the `Birds to cross midfield, sparking another ISU scoring drive just before the half. Drone handed off to Rafael Rice, who ran 17 yards for his ninth career rushing touchdown, as ISU again took the lead, 14-10, with just under two minutes left to play in the first half. The 92-yard scoring drive was the second longest of the season for the ISU offense.
Southern took possession after the kickoff but didn't hold the ball for long as Hill threw his first collegiate interception as Redbird linebacker Cameron Siskowic stepped in front of the pass for his second pick of the season and of his career. The `Birds took over at SIU's 33-yard line.
Drone found wide receiver Jason Horton on a 32-yard connection just five yards out of the end zone. ISU settled for a 19-yard field goal from Mazur to go up 17-10 at the half.
It was all Illinois State in the third quarter, as the Redbirds continued its scoring surge with a pair of touchdowns. The `Birds scored on their first offensive possession after the intermission, with Drone connecting with Pierre Jackson, covering 36 yards on the pass and putting the Redbirds ahead of the Salukis, 24-10. This was the fourth touchdown reception of the season for Jackson and 10th of his career. Also, the touchdown pass was the 11th on the year for Drone, as the junior moves into sole possession of fourth place in career TD passes at ISU.
Less than five minutes later, Drone again found Horton, connecting a 68-yard touchdown. The score ended a three-play, 93-yard drive for the `Birds, though Mazur missed PAT, as ISU went up, 30-10, with 7:33 left in the third quarter.
Rice extended the lead to 37-10 with 8:09 left to play, as the junior recorded his second touchdown of the day, running six yards for the score.
Not to be outdone, the Redbird defense made big plays in the second half, highlighted by a forced fumble in the fourth quarter. Niall Campbell punched the ball loose from SIU's Justin Allen, as Jesse Caesar recovered the fumble and ran for 33 yards before being pulled down by a Saluki defender and setting up the Redbird offense at Southern's 46-yard line.
ISU was led in tackles by Kye Stewart with 17, including a tackle-for-loss. Siskowic added another 12 stops for the `Birds.
Drone finished with 280 yards passing on the day, with 233 of those yards being linked to either Horton (120) or Jackson (113). With both eclipsing the 100-yard mark on the day, it marks the first time since Oct. 31, 1998, that two Redbird receivers collected more than 100 yards receiving in a single game.
