NORMAL, Ill. – In a dominating performance, Illinois State quarterback Tre Roberson threw for 382 yards and four touchdowns to lead the No. 5 Redbirds (11-1, 7-1 MVFC) to a second-round playoff victory against Northern Iowa (9-5, 6-2 MVFC), 41-21, Saturday afternoon at Hancock Stadium. With ISU hosting its first home playoff game in 15 years, the win gave the school its first playoff victory since defeating Appalachian State in 2012.
After losing to the Panthers on November 1 at the UNI Dome, ISU got its revenge on the only team to defeat them this season. The Redbirds exploded out of the gate with a lightning-quick, 73-yard opening touchdown drive that ended with a 6-yard inside slant pass from Roberson to senior wide receiver Cameron Meredith.
On ISU's second drive, a 28-yard back shoulder throw to freshman wide receiver Jon-Marc Anderson set up a 1-yard plunge from junior running back Marshaun Coprich for his 22nd touchdown of the year to put the Redbirds ahead, 14-0.
Coprich, the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year, reached the 100-yard plateau for a school-record 12th-consecutive 100-plus yard rushing performance. With his 148-yard game, he also earned the ISU single-season rushing yard record, passing Pierre Rembert's previous record of 1,743 yards (2006).
The Redbirds scored again on its third drive of the game after a Roberson quarterback draw set the offense up at the 5-yard line. Roberson tossed another inside slant pass to Meredith from two yards out to complete a 15-play, 87 yard drive that took nearly eight minutes off the clock. Meredith's second touchdown of the game gave him eight receiving touchdowns on the season, and the senior also surpassed the 100-yard mark for the fourth-straight game.
Senior placekicker Nick Aussieker's would-be career long field goal attempt of 51 yards was partially blocked by Xavier Williams midway through the second quarter. The Redbirds drove the field in the last minute of the first half to set up another Aussieker attempt. He converted a 45-yard field goal as time expired, and ISU took a 24-0 lead into halftime.
The Panthers started Sawyer Kollmorgen at quarterback in the second half, and he drove UNI down the field for a touchdown on its first drive of the third quarter. After fumbling a read-option exchange, Kollmorgen scooped up the ball and plunged in from three yards out.
A 39-yard Aussieker field goal and a 26-yard touchdown pass from Roberson to senior tight end James O'Shaughnessy extended the Redbird lead, 34-7. But the Panthers would not go down without a fight, as they wasted no time on an 84-yard drive that took less than three minutes off the clock and ended in a Johnson rushing touchdown. The Panthers recovered an ISU fumble on the ensuing kickoff, and punched in a touchdown three plays later to cut the lead, 34-21.Â
It seemed as though Roberson and the Redbirds had regained control of the game, driving down to the UNI 29-yard line, but Roberson was hit as he was passing and lost another ISU fumble.
The Panthers were unable to capitalize on the ISU miscue and its final two drives stalled out on a failed fourth down conversion, and an interception by junior defensive end Teddy Corwin. Corwin, who was recruited to ISU as a tight end, now leads the team with three interceptions. The ISU defense was dominant until the fourth quarter, allowing only 127 yards through three quarters.
O'Shaughnessy hauled in a 36-yard pass for his second receiving touchdown of the game to conclude the scoring and put him over 100 yards on the day.
ISU will now travel to Eastern Washington next Saturday for a FCS Playoffs quarterfinal matchup. Â Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT, with tickets on sale now at the ISU Athletics Ticket Office by calling (309) 438-7748 or by going online at GoRedbirds.com/tickets.
GoRedbirds.com:Â Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.ÂÂÂÂ
