Oct. 4, 2008
Final Stats |
Notes | ISU In The News
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -
Tailbacks Geno Blow and Walter Mendenhall each rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns apiece and the Illinois State defense limited Indiana State to 115 yards of total offense, as the Redbirds rolled to a 57-6 victory in their Missouri Valley Football Conference opener Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
The Redbirds (2-2 overall, 1-0 in the Valley) scored on six of their first eight possessions, including a spurt of 27-straight points in the first half. Despite having both starting offensive tackles sidelined with injuries, the Redbirds exploited the Indiana State (0-5, 0-1) rushing defense with 410 yards on the ground. In the first quarter, Illinois State rushed on 15 of its 16 first-quarter plays with the Kevin Brockway's only pass attempt resulting in a 16-yard touchdown pass to Garin Harcar.
Blow opened the Redbird scoring with his first of two 1-yard touchdown runs. His first touchdown, at the 4:21 mark in the first quarter, followed Indiana State's Corey Varnadore's 25-yard field goal on the Sycamores' opening drive. After Harcar's fifth-career touchdown catch, the Redbirds held a 14-3 lead.
In the second quarter, sophomore placekicker Steven Fetzer added a pair of field goals from 24 and 40 yards out, while Eyad Salem hauled in a 43-yard touchdown pass from Brockway that put the Redbirds up 27-3. Brockway completed 6-of-13 passes for 108 yards, and rushed for a career-best 60 yards on nine attempts.
Indiana State completed the first-half scoring with its second field goal as the Redbirds led 27-6 at halftime. The Redbird offense continued to move the ball and scored on the opening drive of the second half on Blow's second 1-yard touchdown run of the game.
Illinois State added a safety, its first since the 2003 season, after Indiana State snapped the ball over the quarterbacks head into the end zone. After the Sycamores' free kick, the Redbird offense moved the ball down field again, as Walter Mendenhall scored his first touchdown of the game with a 2-yard run to give Illinois State a 43-6 advantage.
Mendenhall scored his second touchdown with a 40-yard run down the right sideline and gave the Redbirds a 50-6 lead at the 11:02 mark in the fourth quarter. Freshman quarterback Drew Kiel ended the scoring with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Kevett Mickle.
The 400-yard rushing game by the Redbirds was the first since running for 438 yards against Indiana State last season. With 125 passing yards, Illinois State gained a season-best 535 yards of total offense. Indiana State's 113 yards of offense was the lowest allowed by the Redbird defense since the 2006 season.
Illinois State will play its fourth road game, in five contests, next Saturday at Northern Iowa. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:05 p.m.
