Oct. 20, 2007
Final Stats 
| Post-game Notes
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Running back Geno Blow ran for 100-yards for the fifth-straight game, and quarterback Luke Drone threw for a season-high 278 yards in the air, as the Illinois State football team overcame an early deficit to upset the No. 12 Youngstown State Penguins, 27-22, Saturday afternoon on YSU's homecoming at Stambaugh Stadium in Youngstown, Ohio. Blow finished with a game-high 128 yards on 17 carries, on a Penguin rushing defense that was ranked No. 26 in the country heading into Saturday's conference tilt.
Blow's fifth-straight 100-yard rushing day tied him with Pierre Rembert for the second-longest 100-yard rushing streak in school history, as the Redbirds improved to 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the Gateway Football Conference. Senior Jason Horton also had a big day for the 'Birds, as he caught five passes for 119 yards, one yard shy of his career-high.
YSU took an early 10-0 lead with 5:09 left in the first quarter, as the Penguins scored on their first two possessions. Youngstown State got on the board when running back Kevin Smith pounded in a touchdown from one-yard out, and added three more points on a 37-yard field goal from Brian Palmer.
But on the first play of the Redbirds' second possession, Blow took the handoff and broke free, weaving through the Penguin secondary for a 77-yard touchdown scamper with 4:49 left in the quarter. Blow's TD run was the longest of his career, and was the third-longest rush in a Gateway Football Conference game in team history. Kicker Steven Fetzer nailed the extra point, giving YSU a slim, 10-7 advantage.
After forcing the Penguins to punt on their first possession in the second, Fetzer nailed his first-career field goal, hitting from 47 yards with 12:54 left in the half. Fetzer's 47-yard kick was the longest Redbird field goal since Oct. 16, 2004, when Stephen Carroll hit from 48 yards. The field goal appeared to shift the momentum back to ISU, as the Redbirds forced the Penguins to punt again on the next drive.
The Redbirds knotted the score, 13-13, as ISU continued to show improvement on the offensive end. When it appeared that the Redbird drive had been stymied by the Penguin defense, Fetzer made another field goal, this time from 36-yards, with 6:09 left in the second quarter.
After getting the ball back, Illinois State appeared to have stalled again at their own 31-yard line on third-and-15. However, Drone avoided pressure and aired it out to wide receiver Jason Horton down the sideline, and Horton made a leaping catch over a Penguin defender. Horton then ran un-touched into the end zone, completing a 69-yard touchdown grab to give the Redbirds a 20-13 lead with 1:37 remaining.
Horton's 69-yard catch was the longest passing play of the year for the Redbirds, and was the longest catch of Horton's career, topping his previous- best of 68 yards.
The Penguins were able to cut into the Redbirds' lead on their opening drive of the second half, as Palmer made a 40-yard field goal attempt into strong, swirling winds Palmer's third field goal of the game made the score 20-16, with 9:44 remaining in the third.
The Redbirds were able to bounce back in the beginning minutes of the fourth quarter after putting together a solid drive to end the third. Facing a third-and-6 at the Penguins' 14 yard line, Drone dropped back and hit wide receiver Kevett Mickle on a 14-yard fade route in the corner of the end zone, giving the Redbirds a 27-16 lead with 14:07 left in regulation. Mickle's catch ended a 14 play, 97-yard drive, which was the longest scoring drive for the Redbirds this season. The 'Birds were able to keep the scoring drive alive by converting on third down, as ISU was a perfect 4-for-4 on the drive.
But YSU was able to shift momentum back in its favor after forcing ISU to a three-and-out, as De'Angelo Wilson returned a Bobby Kelsey punt 76 yards to the Redbird three-yard line. Smith found the end zone for the second time from one-yard out to make it 27-22, but the Penguins were unable to convert on the two-point conversion attempt. Illinois State showed poise by converting on third-down on three occasions on its next possession, but were unable to lengthen its lead, as Fetzer was just short on a 48-yard field goal attempt with less than five minutes to play.
Youngstown State was able to move the ball into scoring position, but the Redbird defense held tough and forced YSU to a fourth-and-10 from the Redbirds' 32-yard line. Quarterback Tom Zetts dropped back and threw a pass intended for wide receiver Louis Irizarry, but YSU was unable to convert as Jesse Caesar was there to defend on the play, giving ISU the ball back with under two minutes left. The Redbirds were to wind the clock down to 44 seconds, but had to punt away.
The Redbird defense held tough once again, as Zetts' desperation heave was picked off by cornerback Kelvyn Hemphill to seal the game. Hemphill's interception was the first of his career, which gave Illinois State its second Gateway victory of the season.
The Redbirds will be back at home to face the Western Illinois Leathernecks next Saturday, Oct. 27. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m.
