NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State junior quarterback Tre Roberson and junior running back Marshaun Coprich led the way for the Redbird football team Saturday night, as ISU gained 496 total yards en route to a 55-6 home win over Austin Peay.
The ISU quarterback threw for a career-high 222-yards and four touchdowns, with one of those being a career-best 66-yard catch from senior wide receiver Lechein Neblett. Coprich headed the ISU rushing attack with 156 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.
Illinois State (3-0) forced Austin Peay (0-4) to two punts on its first two drives where the Redbirds were able to capitalize with a pair of 33-yard field goals from senior kicker Nick Aussieker to put ISU on top, 6-0. One of the Redbird field goals was aided by an interception from sophomore Oshay Dunmore who delivered the team's seventh interception of the season, breaking last year's team total of six.
The Redbirds would not have to wait much longer for their first touchdown of the game. On the very next play from scrimmage, Coprich exploded through the Governors' front seven and sprinted down the sideline for a 69-yard touchdown run and a 13-0 Redbird lead.
More struggles on the offensive side of the ball for APSU gave ISU the ball to start the second quarter where the Redbirds promptly marched down the field and capped off an eight play, 85-yard drive with a seven-yard Coprich touchdown run, making the score 20-0 in favor of the Redbirds.
Austin Peay sustained some offensive pressure in its seventh drive of the game when a missed field goal attempt was called off due to a Redbird roughing the kicker penalty. Austin Peay drove down to the ISU one-yard line, but an impressive goal line stand from the Redbirds forced a turnover on downs and kept the shutout intact.
Illinois State began the second half with a bang as junior Josh Burch took the APSU kickoff at the Redbird five and ran all the way to midfield. After an 11-yard run from Roberson, the Redbird quarterback connected with senior wide receiver Cameron Meredith for a 26-yard over-the-shoulder pass, before slinging a 13-yard touchdown pass to Meredith for a 27-0 Redbird lead.
The Governors were able to convert on a fourth-and-one on their opening drive of the second half, and followed with a 56-yard bomb from APSU freshman backup quarterback Mickey Macius to senior wide receiver Javier Booker. A Redbird defensive pass interference call at the ISU one-yard line extended the drive for the Governors where they were finally able to break through on the scoreboard with a one-yard rush from Boone. An APSU failed two-point conversion left the score at 27-6.
On ISU's next three drives, Roberson connected with Neblett for an acrobatic 26-yard touchdown pass, and the duo followed with a 66-yard touchdown connection to give the Redbirds a 41-6 lead. The deficit was extended to 42 points when Roberson hit sophomore wide receiver Anthony Warrum on a 22-yard corner route for the touchdown. Illinois State tacked on another touchdown in the fourth-quarter when freshman Bryce Holm on his second career carry punched it in from one yard out to give the Redbirds the 55-6 lead and the win.
Saturday's victory marked the ninth of Redbird head coach Brock Spack's coaching career in non-conference home games at ISU and the eighth-straight win at home overall. In addition, a Hancock Stadium crowd of 8,443 saw the Redbirds go 5-5 in the red zone and hold APSU to under 180 total yards for the game.
Illinois State's next game will mark Redbird homecoming when ISU takes on the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State, Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available on GoRedbirds.com, by calling (309) 438-8000 or by visiting the ISU ticket office.
GoRedbirds.com:Â Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.ÂÂÂÂ
