SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Illinois State receiver Brandon Venson caught just one pass during Saturday's contest at Missouri State and he wasn't even the intended receiver. The catch however, was the difference in the game as Venson hauled in a 38-yard tipped hail mary pass from Matt Brown as time expired in the first half to propel the Redbirds to a, 24-14, win over the Bears at Plaster Field.
Venson's first career touchdown grab put the Redbirds up 21-14 at the break and the Redbirds (4-4, 3-2 MVFC) used a stifling second-half defensive effort and the team's first 100-yard rushing effort of the season from Cliffton Gordon to push past the Bears (5-4, 3-3 MVFC) on MSU's homecoming weekend. Gordon finished the game with 30 carries for 122 yards. Illinois State's defense held Missouri State to 31 yards rushing and got two second-half sacks each from Bert Whigham and Doni Phelps.
Illinois State set the tone early, holding the Bears to a three-and-out on the opening drive of the game, and then Antonio Adams fell on a missed punt by Jordan Chiles. That set up a short, 16-yard field for the Redbirds and the first points of the game on a one-yard run by Geno Blow.
The Redbirds forced three-and-outs and limited the Bears to just 13 yards on their first three drives of the game, but the Bears broke through on their fourth drive of the game and made it a 7-7 contest on a 47-yard deep pass from Cody Kirby to Jermain Saffold. It was one of four plays of 25-yards or longer by the Missouri State passing attack on the game.
The Redbirds and Bears traded scores on the next two drives and appeared to be headed into halftime tied at 14 as Illinois State's last drive of the half sputtered with numerous penalties. Illinois State had two shots at the end zone from 38-yards out and seven seconds on the clock - the first was nearly intercepted and the second provided a jaw-dropping momentum shift.
With half a second left on the clock, Brown rolled out to the right and threw a deep pass intended for Eyad Salem near the right pylon of the end zone. Salem was covered by two defenders, knocked the ball up into the air, and Venson snagged it for the go-ahead tally. Zach Kutch added a 42-yard field goal in the second half to give the Redbirds the rest of their points.
The Redbirds' defense turned up the pressure in the second half and ended the Bears' opening drive with the team's first sack of the game by Phelps. Phelps brought Kirby down again for a 10-yard, drive-ending sack to start the fourth quarter and Whigham supplied two sacks and two hurries on the Bear's final two drives of the game. Josh Howe tallied a career-high and team-best nine tackles.
Illinois State finished with 178 yards rushing, also getting 43 yards from Blow and 17 yards from Brown. The 43 yards from Blow pushed him over the 2,000-yard mark for his career. Brown finished the contest 18-of-27 for 133 yards and threw two touchdown passes. Salem led the Redbirds with six catches for 28 yards. Venson's 38 yards on the one pass led all receivers and Cody White caught a 15-yard touchdown pass.
MSU's Kirby threw for 248 yards and two scores, including eight passes to tight end Clay Harbor. Harbor finished with 108 yards and moved into first place all-time at Missouri State with 138 career receptions.
Illinois State returns home for a Family Day match-up with Western Illinois Saturday at 1 p.m. inside Hancock Stadium.
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