ISU's Erik Madsen and WIU's J.R. Zwierzynski are both from Joliet Catholic High School in Joliet, Ill.
Drone: A Worker QB
Junior Luke Drone is an efficient quarterback and because of that, the Redbird offense works. Drone's career passing efficiency rating (153.9) is 26 points higher than any other quarterback in ISU history. His rating is also No. 4 in I-AA football among career active leaders. Drone also carries the best career completion percentage in school history by completing 62.7 percent of his attempts. Against No. 7 Southern Illinois, Drone completed 14-of-18 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. This season, Drone ranks No. 11 nationally in passing efficiency with a rating of 156.18 through six games.
Double Trouble
The passing game for the Redbirds was working last week against Southern Illinois, and receivers Jason Horton and Pierre Jackson benefitted from it. The duo racked up 120 and 113 yards, respectively, through the air and accounted for two touchdowns. With the two both over 100 yards receiving, it marked the first time since October 31, 1998, that two Redbirds were over 100 yards receiving in the same game.
Tackle U.
Producing a national champion tackler in Boomer Grigsby in 2002, and having him the I-AA record for career stops, ISU defenders are known for their ability to wrap up opposing teams. Again that's the case in 2006. Both Kye Stewart and Cameron Siskowic rank among the top three tacklers in I-AA football. Two ... in the top three! Stewart enters today's game with 65 total stops, or 13 per game, while Siskowic has collected 71 tackles and is averaging 11.83 per game.
Give Him a '10'
With his two rushing touchdowns against Southern Illinois last week, junior Rafael Rice now has 10 rushing touchdowns in his career as a Redbird. After transferring to ISU in 2005, Rice strung together a string of five consecutive games with a rushing touchdown in 2005 and now has scored in back-to-back games this season.
Horton Hears a Cheer
Wide receiver Jason Horton heard more than one cheer last weekend against Southern Illinois. The junior collected 120 yards receiving in the game, his first career game with over 100 yards receiving. He now has 15 catches for 254 yards and two touchdowns in 2006.
Who Needs a Compass?
The Redbirds have not had many problems finding success around the state of Illinois this season. With a win this week over Western Illinois, the Redbirds will have defeated their I-AA Illinois directional counterparts in 2006. ISU has already posted wins over EIU and SIU, and will be looking to get a win in the Western part of the state. With the win, it will mark the first time that the Redbirds have defeated all three directional schools in the same year since 2000.
A Long and Winding Road
The past five seasons have been a journey for ISU head coach Denver Johnson, but after last week's win over Southern Illinois, Johnson has reached a new turn in the road. For the first time since 2001, Johnson is over .500 in his career at ISU. Johnson is now 37-36 (.507) in his tenure as the Redbird mentor, and 58-48 (.547) in his nine-year head coaching career, split between ISU and Murray State.
Three Kneel-Downs from 500
Taking away Luke Drone's three kneel-downs in the final seconds of Illinois State's 37-10 win over No. 7 Southern Illinois, the Redbirds would have totaled 500 yards of total offense for the second straight game against SIU. However, ISU finished with 499 yards of total offense, leaving the Redbirds in search for their first 500-yard game this season. In 2005, the 'Birds had four games with over 500 yards of total offense
34-Point Differential
No. 7-ranked Southern Illinois entered last week's game averaging a league best 43.6 points per game. The offensive juggernaut boasted the second highest scoring offense among I-AA teams, but the Illinois State defense wasn't phased. Instead, the Redbirds held the Salukis at bay, as SIU scored a season-low 10 points in the 37-10 loss. In addition, the Salukis totaled 279 yards of total offense - 151 less then their average heading into the contest.
Run Rembert Run
That has been the offensive philosophy to date in 2006. With 164 carries in the first six games, senior running back Pierre Rembert has accounted for 65.6 percent of ISU's rushing attempts this season. An integral part of the ball-control offense, Rembert is averaging 27.3 carries per game and is on pace to finish with 301 during the regular season - the second highest total in ISU history.
30 and Counting
With a catch in today's game, Illinois State wide receiver Laurént Robinson will extend his school record of having at least one catch to 31 straight games. Robinson has been hobbled all season with a nagging ankle injury, but was able to set the school standard with one catch for 23 yards against Southern Illinois.
Getting Your Picks On Route 66
With Hancock Stadium located just off nostalgic Route 66, the Redbird defense has been getting their kicks in 2006. Through six games, the `Birds have intercepted 10 passes, which is tied for the ninth-best team total in Division I-AA. The kicker is that the Redbirds have already matched last season's total of 10. In addition, the 'Birds are averaging 1.7 picks per game, which would put them on pace for 18 interceptions, the most since 1989.
Rembert Running with Regularity
Six games into the 2006 season. Six 100-yard rushing games for Illinois State running back Pierre Rembert. By rushing for 100+ yards in every game this season, Rembert has compiled the longest such streak in ISU history, bettering four straight 100-yard rushing games by Quincy Washington, Willie Watts and Toby Davis.
Home Sweet Home
Illinois State officials were expecting a huge crowd for last weekend's Gateway Football Conference showdown against Southern Illinois, and that's exactly what they got. Temporary bleachers were brought into the north end of Hancock Stadium to accommodate the Homecoming 2006 crowd and 17,237 fans came out in force, good enough for the sixth largest crowd in Hancock Stadium history and the most people to see a Redbird football game in Normal since 1971.
Road Warriors
With a win two weeks ago at Western Kentucky, the Redbirds have won three straight conference road games dating back to 2005. The streak started against Southern Illinois, who the 'Birds defeated in Carbondale 61-35 on October 15 when they were ranked No. 1 in the country in I-AA. ISU then went on to defeat Missouri State 48-23 on November 5. With the three straight wins, it marks the first time ISU has done that since 1999, when they defeated Missouri State, Southern Illinois and Youngstown State in succession on the road. The 'Birds have never won four straight Gateway road games.
Gaining Yards When It Counts
Success on third down is key to any football team's success, and that's a big reason for Illinois State's 5-1 record. In all, the 'Birds have converted on third down 51 percent of the time (42-for-83), which ranks No. 8 in I-AA football for success rate on third down.
Drone Feeling Little Pressure
Luke Drone has had plenty of time to throw the ball this year and has managed to keep his uniform somewhat clean along the way. Despite a re-built offensive line, the group has responded by only allowing five sacks all season or 0.83 sacks per game, which ranks No. 6 in I-AA.
Action Jackson
Despite having all-American wide receiver Laurént Robinson hobbled with an ankle injury, senior Pierre Jackson has emerged as an alternative deep threat for the Redbirds. "Jelly" has notched three 100-yard receiving games this season and leads the team with 28 catches for 524 yards. He has also added four touchdowns.
Movin' on Up
In just his second season as a starter, Luke Drone is starting to creep up the charts in the ISU record book. With 4,352 career passing yards, Drone only needs 27 yards to surpass Dusty Burk (1999-01), who passed for 4,378 yards during his Redbird career, and move into sole possession of the No. 3 spot on the all-time ISU passing list.
In the Zone
The efficiency the Redbirds have shown in the Red-Zone this season rings like a Hawk Harrelson home run call - "you can put it on the board." Through six games, the 'Birds are 20-for-24 in the Red-Zone with 14 touchdowns and six field goals for an 83 percent success rate and 58 percent on Red-Zone touchdowns. ISU opponents haven't been in the zone as often, nor have had the success. Redbird foes are 9-for-14 inside the Red-Zone with three touchdowns and six field goals.
Fourth and Futile
It hasn't been easy converting on fourth down against the Redbirds in 2006. Through six games, ISU opponents are 3-for-9 when "going for it" on fourth down for a 33.3 percent success rate. In fact, opponents haven't had much more success on third down. Redbird foes are 35-for-82 on third down, or 43 percent.
Rembert's Rave Reviews
Through six games, his first as ISU's featured running back, Pierre Rembert has gotten two thumbs up. With 135.3 rushing yards per game, Rembert ranks No. 7 nationally among running backs. He is on pace to finish the regular season with 1,488 yards on the season, which would rank as the second highest total in Redbird history.
Which 'Bird will get the Fifth
When Brent Hawkins claimed the 2005 Gateway Defensive Player of the Year award, it marked the fourth straight by a Redbird player and tied the league record for consecutive league MVPs with Northern Iowa (1991-94). Both Cameron Siskowic and Kye Stewart hope to extend that ISU streak. Siskowic, a 2006 Buck Buchanan Award candidate, leads the team in tackles with 71, while Stewart leads the team in tackles per game with 13.
All-America U
ISU has produced at least one all-American player in 20 of its last 23 seasons. Over the last seven seasons, 27 players from 11 different positions have been honored. Laurént Robinson, Brent Hawkins, Stafford Davis and Cameron Siskowic were all consensus selections in 2005.
Transferable
Since 1993, when the NCAA rules changed to allow players immediate eligibility at the I-AA level, Illinois State has had 44 players transfer from I-A schools. ISU's I-A transfers on this year's roster include: Alan Abrams (RB, Ole Miss); Adam Blankenship (DL, Nebraska); Pierre Jackson (WR, Minnesota); Brandon Joyce (OL, Indiana); Dan Passarelli (WR, Northern Illinois); Pierre Rembert (RB, Michigan); Cameron Siskowic (LB, Washington St.); Jonathan St-Pierre (OL, Miami (Fla.)) and James Stevenson III (DL, Illinois).
