Sept. 13, 2008
MURRAY, Ky. -
Already possessing two touchdowns in the game via the run, the Redbirds once again went to the ground midway through the third quarter to strengthen their lead. After advancing the ball on several handoffs from quarterback Kevin Brockway, tailback Geno Blow pushed through on a 1-yard run into the end zone to give Illinois State a 21-10 advantage at the 8:27 mark. The touchdown was Blow's first of the season.
Senior safety Tom Nelson continued to look strong on punt returns, as the Arlington Heights, Ill., native returned a 82 yards for the Redbirds' second touchdown of the game late in the second quarter. The 82-yard punt return marked the first time ISU has returned a punt for a touchdown since Joe Walkins returned a 52-yard punt against Youngstown State Oct. 23, 2004. It also marked the fourth-longest punt return in Illinois State history and the second-longest for a touchdown.
Nelson's 82-yard punt return easily blew past his career-high for punt return yards, which stood at 27 prior to Saturday night's game.
After fumbling the ball three times and nearly 25 minutes of being shut out, Murray State's offensive woes finally ended on a 41-yard field goal by Kienan Cullen at the 6:31 mark in the second quarter.
With both sides trading fumbles throughout the first half, Murray State took advantage of a Brockway miscue at the Redbirds' own 7-yard line. The Racers recovered the ball in the end zone for the touchdown, and the ISU lead was cut to 14-10 with just over four minutes left in the half.
Illinois State utilized the legs of tailback Parrish Fisher to take its first lead of the game, 7-0, with 24 seconds left in the first quarter. After a series of short runs by Fisher that put the Redbirds at the Racers' three-yard line on second down, Fisher broke through the MSU defensive line for his second-career rushing touchdown.
Be sure to check GoRedirds.com immediately following tonight's game for complete postgame coverage, including a game recap, final official statistics and postgame notes.
