NORMAL, Ill. – In another highly-contested and physical matchup, the Illinois State football team fought off Youngstown State for a 31-29 victory in a thrilling, intense Missouri Valley Football Conference game Saturday night in Youngstown, Ohio.
The No. 4 Redbirds (4-1, 2-0 MVFC) escaped with a win over the No. 7 Penguins (3-2, 1-1) by staving off a furious comeback by Youngstown State. Holding a thin 24-23 lead with 8:35 remaining in the game, YSU stalled the Redbirds at the ISU 39-yard line, but a gutsy fake punt call from ISU head coach Brock Spack led to a six-yard run from Bryce Holm to keep the drive alive. The fourth-down conversion led to the 'Birds capping a nine-play, 82-yard drive with a 19-yard rushing touchdown by Marshaun Coprich, who took a carry off tackle and sprinted up the right sideline to give his team a 31-23 cushion.
But the Penguins staged a furious comeback following a big kickoff return by Jody Webb down to the ISU 45-yard line. YSU drove into the red zone, converting a key fourth down before quarterback Hunter Wells connected with Martin Ruiz on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 32 seconds remaining. With the scored standing at 31-29, the Penguins were forced into a two-point conversion attempt. Wells dropped back but with the pocket collapsing he took off, diving for the end zone. He extended the ball over the goal line and was initially ruled in. But following an officials' review, Wells' knee was determined to have been down one yard short. The ensuing onside kick was recovered by ISU and the 'Birds took a couple of knees to wrap up the game.
ISU was once again led on offense by the All-American Coprich, who finished with 131 yards on 23 carries and one touchdown. Tre Roberson was also outstanding, finishing 6-of-11 for 130 yards and a touchdown while also carrying the ball five times for 90 yards and a score – including a 58-yard sprint where he made several defenders miss on his way to pay dirt.
The Redbirds took control with a long drive to start the game, but it eventually stalled at the YSU one-yard line after the 'Birds elected to bypass a short field goal attempt and go for it on fourth-and-goal. Quarterback Jake Kolbe was unable to connect with Anthony Warrum in the end zone, but Spack showed trust in his defense by going for it. The decision ended up paying off immediately when Josh Burch cut in front of a Penguins' receiver on a pass attempt a few plays later, jumping up to snag an interception and the senior returned it 26 yards for a touchdown. Burch's second career interception return for a touchdown gave the 'Birds an early 7-0 lead.
Youngstown State came back right away with an eight-play, 80-yard drive highlighted by a 46-yard screen pass from Hunter Wells to Martin Ruiz to set up a three-yard run from Shane Kuhn. The short score capped the drive, but the extra point was blocked by Adam Conley and the 'Birds kept a 7-6 lead, which proved to be a crucial early play in the game. Following a couple of stalled drives, Roberson broke free for a flashy 58-yard touchdown on a scramble in which he ducked to avoid a sack and made a couple of defenders miss on his way to giving the 'Birds a 14-6 lead.
Both defenses held strong throughout the rest of the half until Penguins placekicker Zak Kennedy nailed a 24-yard field goal to cut the ISU lead to 14-9 heading into halftime.
The Redbirds and Penguins each picked up right where they left in the second half, as the third quarter was a defensive battle with Kennedy hitting a 36-yard field goal and Sean Slattery nailing a 44-yarder. Slattery's field goal was set up by a couple of nice completions from Roberson – one to Warrum for a 26-yard gain up the left sideline and another to Kyle Williams for 15 yards.
After each team grinded through the third quarter, the fourth quarter brought some excitement and intensity as the Penguins took their first lead of the game with Kuhn's second touchdown of the day on a one-yard rush. They converted the subsequent two-point conversion attempt to go ahead, 21-18. But the 'Birds came back immediately when Roberson connected with a wide-open Coprich for a 35-yard completion up the right sideline. Following a nice 10-yard scramble from the quarterback, Roberson connected with Warrum for a 39-yard score to increase the lead to 24-20.
YSU then drove the field but stalled inside ISU territory. They settled for a field goal attempt, which Kennedy nailed for a career-long 49 yards to keep the Penguins within reach at 24-23. Kennedy's kick led to the eventual hectic and thrilling finish which saw the 'Birds take a 2-0 Valley lead back to Normal.
The Redbirds will hit the road again to take on MVFC foe Missouri State (1-4) in Springfield, Mo., next Saturday at 2 p.m.
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