Oct. 27, 2007
Final Stats |
Quotes |
Notes
NORMAL, Ill. -
With his team clinging to just a six-point lead (20-14) late in the fourth quarter, Western Illinois running back Herb Donaldson broke a 38-yard run into the end zone that capped off a 50-yard scoring drive, as the Illinois State football team (4-5, 2-3 GFC) lost, 27-14, to the 24th-ranked Leathernecks (6-3, 3-1 GFC) Saturday afternoon in front of a crowd of 15,118 at Hancock Stadium. Senior linebacker Kye Stewart had a career-high tying 17 tackles for the Redbirds, moving him into seventh place all-time on the ISU career tackles list.
Stewart's double-digit tackling effort was his seventh of the season and the 21st of his career. Senior wide receiver Jason Horton recorded four receptions against the Leathernecks to move into sixth place all-time on the Redbirds' career receptions list with 114. Senior quarterback Luke Drone threw for 270 yards on 22 completions, to move him into second all-time on the ISU career completions list.
Western Illinois appeared to put the game out of the hands of ISU in the third quarter, as the Leathernecks produced 10 points, largely due to the 52-yard touchdown pass from Barr to wide receiver Carl Sims deep down the left side of the field. Western Illinois kicker Taylor Rowan's 53-yard field goal through the uprights earlier in the third quarter gave WIU an additional three points.
The Redbirds came roaring back midway through the fourth quarter when wide receiver Kelvin Chandler scored his second touchdown of the season off a 10-yard pass from quarterback Luke Drone into the end zone that cut the Leatherneck lead to just 20-14.
The momentum was short-lived for ISU, however, as Western Illinois sealed the victory just two possessions later after recovering a fumble by wide receiver Eyad Salem. The Leatherneck offense then drove 50 yards down the field, with Barr capping off the drive with a pass to Donaldson that gave the Leathernecks the 27-14 advantage.
ISU scored its first touchdown of the game at the 9:27 mark in the fourth quarter when Drone found Salem in the end zone for a 15-yard pass that cut the WIU lead to 20-7. Salem's touchdown tied a career-high for the Elgin, Ill., native, as he also hauled in a touchdown pass in a 38-17 loss to Missouri Sept. 22.
After starting the game at their own 20-yard line, the Redbird offense produced a quick three-and-out, to give the ball to Western Illinois at its own 45-yard line. The Leathernecks took full advantage of the situation, as Donaldson took a handoff from Barr and blew by the Redbird defense for a 55-yard touchdown run to give WIU a 7-0 lead at the 13:23 mark in the first quarter. The Leathernecks' scoring drive took just 10 seconds off the clock, tying the shortest opponent scoring drive by time and by plays against the Redbirds this season.
The Redbirds had their first scoring opportunity of the game midway through the second quarter when sophomore tailback Geno Blow pushed the ISU offense deep into Leatherneck territory to set the `Birds up for a potential field goal. With its field goal team out on the field, and kicker Steven Fetzer lined up for a 50-yard field goal attempt, ISU elected to try and convert on fourth down with a fake by holder Preston Earl, but the scoring attempt was not successful, and the `Birds were unable to score on the drive.
Illinois State returns to action next Saturday (Nov. 3), when it travels to Fargo, N.D., to take on 2008 Gateway Football Conference member North Dakota State. Kickoff is slated for 4:07 p.m.
