Oct. 21, 2007
ST LOUIS -
After the Illinois State football team surrendered 155 yards of total offense in the first quarter to No.12 Youngstown State in Saturday's Gateway Football Conference match up, senior linebacker Kye Stewart took control of the Redbird defense. Stewart finished with a game-high 12 tackles in ISU's 27-22 upset win over the Penguins, and was named the Gateway Defensive Player of the Week by the league Sunday for the fifth time in his career. Stewart's 12 tackles, including six solo stops, led the way as the Redbirds only allowed 152 yards of total offense over the last three quarters of the game.
Stewart's double-digit tackling effort against YSU was his sixth this season, as well as the 20th in his Illinois State career.
The Nashville Tenn., native has been a difference-maker on defense for the Redbirds this season, as the 2007Sports Network Preseason all-American leads the team with 90 total tackles (40 solo). Stewart also ranks No. 12 in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in total tackles. The 2006 All-Gateway First-Team selection also became the 12th player in Redbird history to post 300 or more tackles in a career earlier this season, and currently sits in ninth place with 339.
Stewart and 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
