Nov. 11, 2006
Box Score
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -
The Illinois State Redbirds traveled to face Indiana State with the opportunity to do something it had not done since 1999, win eight games. With strong air attack that racked up four touchdowns through the air and a solid rushing offense, the Redbirds (8-2, 5-1 GFC) did just that and defeated the Sycamores (1-10, 1-6 GFC) at Memorial Stadium.
Illinois State took an early 7-0 lead as Luke Drone and Laurént Robinson connected on a 90-yard touchdown pass with 7:05 left in the first quarter. The catch extended Robinson's school record to 32 consecutive games played with a reception and was the fourth longest touchdown reception in school history.
However, Indiana State answered on its next drive with a touchdown pass of its own, a 40-yard connection from Reilly Murphy to Carl Berman to tie the score at 7-7 with 3:38 left in the first quarter. The game was not tied long, though, as Drone threw his second touchdown pass of the day, this time to Pierre Jackson, to re-claim the lead at 14-0 late in the first quarter.
The Redbirds third touchdown of the day was set up by a Pierre Rembert 50-yard dash and capped off by a one yard touchdown pass from Drone to Garin Harcar. After the Kevin Mazur extra point conversion, the `Birds extended the lead to 21-7 with 8:23 left in the first half. With one second left in the half, Indiana State's Kyle Hooper booted a 40-yard field goal to cut into the Illinois State lead 21-10 heading into the locker room.
Hooper's 40-yard field goal with 8:40 left in the third quarter brought Indiana State closer at 21-13. A 7-yard touchdown scramble by Murphy with 1:23 left in the third quarter cut the Illinois State lead to one at 21-20.
Just 3:31 seconds into the fourth quarter, the Redbirds answered back on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Drone to Jackson, their second touchdown connection of the day and Drone's fourth, to widen the lead to 28-20. The `Birds would then widen the lead to two touchdowns once again on a Rafael Rice 18-yard touchdown run with 5:21 left in the game to make the score 35-20. Drone put the cap on the game with a 4-yard touchdown run with 2:17 left to bring the score to its final at 42-20.
Drone finished the game 16-of-26 for 298 yards and five touchdowns (four passing, one rushing). Robinson, who had his first 100-yard performance of the season after battling an ankle injury for the bulk of the year, finished with six catches for 169 yards and a touchdown. In addition, he set school records for the most catches (178) and receiving yards in a career (2,773). On the ground, Rembert recorded his ninth 100-yard rushing game of the season with 132 yards on 27 carries.
The Redbirds conclude their regular-season schedule next week in Cedar Falls, Iowa, against No. 12 Northern Iowa. The game, which will be shown live on WYZZ Fox 43, is scheduled to kick off at 4:35 p.m. at the UNI-Dome.
