Oct. 13, 2007
Final Stats
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Game Notes
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NORMAL, Ill. -
After battling a knee injury the past three weeks, senior tailback Rafael Rice returned to the form that the Redbird offense had grown accustom to seeing, as he ran for 182 yards on the ground to lead the Illinois State football team to a 69-17 victory over Indiana State. Illinois State found the end zone on 10-straight drives, with senior quarterback Luke Drone throwing for three in the air, as the Redbirds snapped a three-game losing streak in front of 14,077 fans during the school's homecoming weekend festivities.
Illinois State, who improved to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in the Gateway Football Conference, regained its swagger on offense as the Redbirds had five different players reach the end zone on the ground and had the second-highest rushing total (438) in school history. Senior wide receiver Jason Horton also had a big day, as the senior recorded four catches for 110 yards and a touchdown, while moving into seventh-place in all-time career receptions (105) and in a tie for fifth place (12) in the school's career touchdown catches.
The Redbirds had three players reach the 100-yard rushing mark as Rice, sophomore Geno Blow (122) and sophomore Cortes Rice (112) became the first trio to record 100-plus rushing days this season.
The Sycamores were able to get things started on their first possession of the game by using an option-oriented offense, however, were stymied by the Redbird defense inside the red zone. Indiana State settled for a 19-yard field goal at the 11:30 mark by kicker Cory Varnadore to give them the early 3-0 advantage.
But the Redbirds also achieved success on its first possession, as Drone pounded in a one-yard touchdown run on a seven play, 41-yard drive that began on a 52-yard kickoff return by wide receiver Horton. Redshirt freshman Steven Fetzer connected on the extra point, giving the Redbirds the lead, 7-3, with 8:16 left in the first quarter.
The Redbird defense swarmed the ball again on the Sycamores' next possession, when safety Jesse Caesar recorded his first interception of the season on a pass by quarterback Charles Dowdell at the Sycamore 29-yard line. Blow helped Illinois State capitalize on the turnover, as he broke through for a seven-yard touchdown run to put the `Birds ahead, 14-3, at the 6:50 mark.
It wasn't until the 1:57 mark in the first that the Redbirds threw the ball, as Illinois State began the game with 13-consecutive rushing plays. Drone, the Redbirds' signal caller, finished the Redbirds' 71-yard drive when he hit junior wide receiver Kevett Mickle on a five-yard touchdown pass in the early minutes of the second quarter. Fetzer hit his third PAT of the game, giving the `Birds a 21-3 advantage.
The Sycamores quickly responded on their next possession when running back Bryan McCulley scored his first touchdown of the season on a seven-yard run, cutting into the Redbirds' lead to 21-10 with 12:26 left in the half. But the Redbirds used the legs of Rice and the arm of Drone to answer the Sycamores' touchdown. Drone hit sophomore fullback Garin Harcar, who was wide open in the back of the end zone, for a six-yard touchdown strike at 8:06 in the second quarter. Harcar caught his second touchdown of the season, and Drone recorded his ninth touchdown pass of the year as the Redbirds took a 28-10 lead.
Indiana State and Illinois State traded scores to close out the first half, with Drone connecting with Horton on a 38-yard slant route to give the Redbirds the 35-17 lead heading into the locker room.
The Redbirds widened their lead, 42-17, on their opening drive of the second half, as Rice scored his sixth touchdown of the season on a five-yard run. After forcing the Sycamores to punt, the Redbirds struck again, on a two-yard touchdown from Blow at the 5:33 mark.
Junior backup quarterback Kevin Brockway saw his first game action of the season in the closing minutes of the third quarter, leading Illinois State to a touchdown on its eighth-consecutive possession as he pushed his way into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown. Brockway's touchdown was the first of his career, capping off a nine-play, 73-yard drive that gave the Redbirds a 56-17 advantage with 14:56 left in regulation.
The Redbirds scored on its ninth- and 10th- straight drives, as Cortes Rice scored touchdowns of two and six yards. Rice scored his first two touchdowns of the season, as the Redbirds ran the ball to close out the game.
The Redbirds will hit the road to face the No. 10 Youngstown State Penguins next Saturday, Oct. 20. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m.
