BROOKINGS, S.D. - Junior Ashton Leggett posted his first career 100-yard rushing game at Illinois State, as the Redbirds opened Missouri Valley Football Conference play with a precious 24-14 road victory over No. 20-ranked South Dakota State Saturday night at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium.
Illinois State (2-1 overall and 1-0 in the Valley) jumped out to a 24-0 lead and held on for the victory. The Redbirds opened their scoring with their longest drive of the season on a 17-play, 82-yard scoring drive that took 7:02 off the clock when Leggett busted into the end zone on a 2-yard plunge. On the drive, the Redbirds were 3-for-3 on third downs and Leggett accounted for 26 of the yards on the ground.
On South Dakota State's (0-2, 0-1) first possession of the second quarter, Illinois State's Josh Howe broke up a Jackrabbit pass play and Austin Davis hauled in the tipped pass for his first career interception. Taking the ball over on the SDSU 27-yard line, the Redbirds scored again when Steven Fetzer split the uprights on 36-yard field goal, his longest of the season, with 9:33 left in the second quarter.
The Redbirds went up 17-0 when Matt Brown connected with Tyrone Walker along the left sideline and Walker broke a tackle en route to the end zone for a 23-yard pass play. Brown extended the lead to 24 points with an 18-yard pass to Marvon Sanders at the 2:33 mark in the third quarter. Sanders finished with 10 catches for 87 yards to lead the Redbirds.
SDSU tried to bounce back with a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but E.J. Jones hauled in an interception with 5:14 left in the game to seal the victory.
Leggett ended the game with 20 carries for 100 yards, while Brown was 20-for-29 passing for 177 yards and two touchdowns. Erik Smith also added 18 carries for 74 yards for ISU. Davis and Howe led the Redbird defensive effort with 10 tackles apiece.
The Redbirds will continue Valley play next weekend, when Illinois State returns to Hancock Stadium to host Missouri State. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:07 p.m., and the game will be televised live via Fox Sports Midwest and Fox College Sports Pacific.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
