Nov. 3, 2007
FARGO, N.D. -
The Illinois State football team trails the North Dakota State Bison, 33-21, after one half of play on NDSU's Senior Day at the Fargodome in Fargo, N.D.
Despite the overwhelming crowd noise, the Redbirds were to capitalize on their opening drive, courtesy of big runs by quarterback Luke Drone and tailback Rafael Rice. On the second play from scrimmage, Drone was able to avoid pressure and establish a new career-long rush of 25 yards, putting the Redbirds in Bison territory. Rice was able to keep the drive alive on two occasions, allowing Drone to hit fullback Dave Mordis on a two-yard fade to give ISU a 7-0 lead with 10:33 remaining in the first.
But the Bison were also able to find the end zone on their opening drive, as NDSU knotted the score at 7-7 when Lockport, Ill., native Steve Walker connected with wide receiver Kole Heckendorf on a 19-yard touchdown catch with 8:59 left in the first.
The Redbirds appeared to have another scoring threat on their next possession, however, Drone was not ready for the snap from center Jonathan St.-Pierre on first-down. Drone fumbled the snap, which was recovered by NDSU at their own 42-yard line. The Bison capitalized on the turnover, as Walker was able to score on a quarterback sneak, giving the Bison a 13-7 advantage. But the Redbirds blocked the extra point attempt, as Kelvyn Hemphill broke through the line and got a hand on the kick from NDSU kicker Shawn Bibeau.
The Bison were able to take control of the ground game in the early minutes of the second quarter, as running back Tyler Roehl scored touchdowns on back-to-back possessions. Roehl scored his first touchdown of the game on a 34-yard scamper, and found the end zone again by pounding in a one-yard run, giving NDSU a 26-7 lead with 11:29 left in the second quarter.
Drone showed poise throughout the Redbirds' next drive, which ended with a touchdown when he hit wide receiver Eyad Salem in stride as he crossed the goal line on a 29-yard catch with 9:39 left in the first half. Drone went 4-for-4 during the drive, allowing the Redbirds to move the ball 70-yards and cut into the Bison lead at 26-14.
But the Bison were able to answer the Redbirds' touchdown, as Roehl took a handoff and out-ran the Redbird secondary on an 81-yard touchdown sprint down the Redbird sideline. Roehl, who established a season-long rush on the touchdown, was able to eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark for the fifth time this season.
The Redbirds were able to get things going and move the ball inside the Bison's three-yard line on their next drive, the Bison defense held tough, and forced ISU to turn the ball over on downs. But Illinois State forced the Bison to a three-and-out on the next possession, and got the ball back at the one-yard line when the snap got away from punter Mike Dragosavich on fourth down and was kicked out of the end zone. ISU accepted the penalty instead of recording a safety, and Rice was able to cross the goal line for a touchdown on a one-yard dive with six seconds left in the half.
