Nov. 10, 2007
Box Score |
Notes
CARBONDALE, Ill. -
Quarterback Luke Drone threw for over 200 yards, but ISU's two turnovers proved costly, as the Illinois State football team fell to the Southern Illinois Salukis, 34-24, in the Redbirds' regular-season finale Saturday afternoon at McAndrew Stadium in Carbondale, Ill. Drone finished with a game-high 222 yards in the air, but threw two interceptions that SIU converted into touchdowns in the second half of the Gateway Football Conference match up.
The Redbirds (4-7, 2-4 GFC) were also led by strong safety Jesse Caesar, who recorded a game- and career-high 12 tackles, adding a pass breakup and a forced fumble. Senior Kye Stewart finished with 10 tackles, his ninth double-digit tackling effort of the season and the 23rd of his Illinois State career.
The Redbirds were able to get on the board early in the first quarter, after Caesar forced a fumble during the Salukis' opening drive. On third down-and-five at the Saluki 30-yard line, quarterback Nick Hill found an open receiver, tight end Byron Gettis, in the middle of the field. Caesar then hit Gettis at the 50-yardline, causing Gettis to fumble, and Stewart pounced on the loose ball. The Redbirds then marched downfield and found the end zone, as Rafael Rice cut through a hole in the right side on a three-yard touchdown plunge, giving the Redbirds a 6-0 lead with 10:55 left in the first.
The `Birds widened their lead to 9-0 during their opening drive of the second, after kicker Steven Fetzer connected on a 37-yard field goal with 10:33 left in the half.
But the Salukis were able to respond, scoring two touchdowns in the closing minutes of the second quarter. Hill cut into the Redbirds' lead at 9-7 with a five-yard quarterback-keeper at 3:25, while the Saluki signal caller found wide receiver Phil Goforth on a two-yard fade in the corner of the end zone to take the lead with only seven seconds remaining the first half. The Salukis were able to score their second touchdown after pass interference was called on cornerback Kelvyn Hemphill on third-and-goal from the ISU two-yard line.
Southern Illinois took a 17-9 lead when kicker Kyle Dougherty nailed a 36-yard field goal at the 7:59 mark in the third. The kick capped off a 59-yard drive that began after Fetzer was unable to connect on a field goal attempt from 42-yards, during the Redbirds' opening possession of the second half.
Saluki running back Larry Warner was able to pace the Salukis on their next drive, busting off two runs of 20 and 37 yards. SIU scored when Hill hit fullback Rick Burgess on a three-yard touchdown with 13:34 remaining in regulation. Warner's long runs were the key to the 10-play, 84 yard scoring drive. The Salukis quickly re-gained possession when Drone was intercepted by Clayton Johnson at the SIU 11-yard line on a pass intended for Jason Horton.
Hill capitalized on the turnover when he recorded his third touchdown pass of the game, hitting wide receiver Justin Allen on a slant route for an 18-yard score. Dougherty nailed the extra point, giving SIU a 31-9 lead with 9:50 left.
However, the Redbirds did not give up, as they put together a nine-play, 71-yard spurt that ended with a one-yard dive from Drone at the 7:38 mark. Illinois State was successful on the ensuing two-point conversion, as Cortes Rice plowed through the middle of the line for the score.
The Redbirds continued to swing the momentum in their favor, as ISU was able to recover the ball on the onside kick from Bobby Kelsey. Junior Tom Nelson tipped the ball as it hit the 43-yard line, and senior Dan Weiner snagged the ball to give the ball back to the ISU offense. But the Salukis were able to quiet the Redbird attack two plays later with another turnover, as Drone was picked off for the second time by Johnson at the SIU 25-yard line.
SIU benefited from the Redbird turnover again when Dougherty hit his second field goal of the game, this time from 44 yards. Dougherty's kick gave the Salukis the 34-17 advantage with 3:30 left.
But the Redbirds continued to play hard, as they cut into the Saluki margin (34-24) when Cortes Rice pounded in a five-yard touchdown with 1:30 remaining. However, the lead was too much for ISU to overcome, as SIU recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock to end the game.
