Sept. 15, 2007
Final Stats
Game Notes
CHARLESTON, Ill. -
Led by the arm and legs of quarterback Luke Drone as well as the hands of Garin Harcar and Kedric Meredith, the No. 15 Illinois State football team defeated in-state rival No.14 Eastern Illinois, 24-21, Saturday at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, Ill. The win was the Redbirds' sixth-straight over EIU, and the Redbirds have defeated a ranked opponent in 10 out of the past 11 seasons.
The Redbirds improved to 2-1, as Drone finished with season-highs in both passing and rushing. The Mt. Carmel, Ill., native gained 267 yards on 20-for-31 passing in the air with two touchdowns and two interceptions and added 35 yards on the ground. Harcar tied his career-high with four receptions and set a new personal standard with 49 yards receiving. Meredith also had a career day, with three catches for 59 yards.
The Panthers fell to 1-2 on the year, and were led by running back Travorus Bess, who had a game-high 99 yards rushing.
After Eastern Illinois scored in the early seconds of the fourth quarter on a one-yard run from Chip Keys, the Redbirds responded with a huge momentum swing as they marched down and regained the lead, 24-21, on a two-yard touchdown run from tailback Rafael Rice with 6:52 left in the contest. Rice's first touchdown of the game was the 17th of his career, which tied him for sixth-best total in school history.
The Panthers looked to be in field goal range on the ensuing drive, however, fumbled the snap as quarterback Bodie Reeder tried to spike the ball with under 30 seconds left to play. The ball was recovered by defensive end Kaschiev Hunter, and the Redbirds then took a knee to run out the clock and preserve the victory.
The Redbirds struck first in the game after linebacker Bill Hronec recovered a fumbled snap by EIU quarterback Cole Stinson on Eastern Illinois' opening drive near midfield. The `Birds took the lead, 7-0, on a seven play, 47-yard scoring drive capitalized by a six-yard touchdown catch by fullback Garin Harcar from Drone with 10:23 remaining in the first quarter.
The Panthers responded on their next possession, tying the game at 7-7 on an eight-yard run by Ademola Adeniji that finished a 12 play, 87-yard scoring drive that took 4:35 off the clock.
Illinois State opened the second quarter with a 63-yard march, highlighted by a 24-yard catch from Meredith and ending with a 23-yard field goal from redshirt freshman Tyler Funk at the 13:22 mark. However, the Panthers were able to respond again on a leaping, eight-yard touchdown reception by Micah Rucker that gave EIU the lead, 14-10, with 8:54 left in the half.
However, the Redbirds showed determination and execution during its last possession of the half, as Drone found Meredith on third-and-11 for a 22-yard touchdown catch with 16.4 seconds remaining to give the `Birds a 17-14 advantage. The Redbirds were able to convert on three third down situations during the 76-yard drive, on a reception from Kevett Mickle and on a run from Drone.
The Redbirds were threatening in the middle of the third quarter until Drone felt pressure from the Panther defense on a third-and-long situation, and threw a pass that was intercepted by Bloomington, Ill. native Adrian Arrington inside the 10-yardline. But the Redbird defense held Eastern Illinois on their own half and took over close to the 50-yardline. The Redbirds were working on another scoring opportunity when another Drone pass, which appeared to be broken up by EIU cornerback Bobson Mercier as he fell out of bounds, was ruled an interception and the Panthers took over again deep inside their own territory with under four minutes left in the third.
The Redbirds will face NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member Missouri Saturday, Sept. 22, in Columbia, Mo. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
