Redbird Comeback Falls Short At Indiana State, 28-23

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – A 21-point second-quarter output for Indiana State (6-4, 4-3 MVFC) erased a 10-point first quarter lead for Illinois State (5-5, 2-5 MVFC) and the Redbirds fell by a final score of 28-23 to the Sycamores in front of 4,016 fans on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.

How It Happened:
•    Illinois State's first drive resulted in points, as JT Bohlken made a 27-yard field goal to give the Redbirds a 3-0 lead with 8:18 remaining in the first quarter.  
•    After a team-leading fourth interception from Luther Kirk, the Redbirds scored on their second drive when Markel Smith rushed 26 yards to score to widen the advantage to 10-0 with 5:12 left in the first quarter.  
•    Indiana State took advantage of a fumble from Smith, scoring two plays later as running back Titus McCoy ran into the end zone for a four-yard touchdown run to trim the Redbird lead to 10-7 with 11:54 to go in the first half.        
•    The Sycamores took advantage of another turnover via interception, as Indiana State quarterback Ryan Boyle found Dante Jones II in the corner of the end zone to take the a 14-10 lead with 7:23 remaining in the first half
•    The Sycamores would score one more time before the end of the half, as Titus McCoy scored on a two-yard touchdown run with 1:25 remaining to make it 21-10 in favor of Indiana State at the break. 
•    Brady Davis then found Spencer Schnell for a two-yard touchdown with 5:55 left in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 21-17.     
•    The Sycamores scored first in the fourth quarter, as Boyle found Dakota Caton on a 25-yard touchdown pass with 12:18 to go to extend their lead to 28-17.             
•    Davis went back to Schnell with 27 seconds remaining in the contest for a 15-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion was no good, as Indiana State led Illinois State 28-23 and the onside kick was recovered by Indiana State finishing off the game.   

Game Notes:    
•    James Robinson rushed the ball 20 times for 73 yards to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark on the season … He now has 1,034 yards on the season and is the first Redbird to accomplish the feat since 2015. 
•    Smith had 11 carries for 83 yards and a score for the Redbirds.     
•    Davis went 25-of-41 for 294 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in his first game back from injury.       
•    Schnell led the Redbirds receiving with 11 catches for 155 and the two touchdowns … He now has 2,005 in his career and is one of just nine players in school history to eclipse the mark.
•    Schnell's two touchdown reception upped his career total to 14, which ties him for eighth on the ISU career receiving touchdowns list with Cameron Meredith and James O'Shaughnessy.
•    Andrew Edgar caught eight passes for 104 yards on the day, his third 100-plus yard performance of the season.   
•    Schnell and Edgar are the first Redbird duo to both record at least 100 yards receiving in the same game this season. 
•    Defensively, Romeo McKnight and Kirk tied for a team-high with nine tackles … Kirk finished with six solo tackles and the interception and McKnight's nine stops were a personal-best.      

Up Next:
Illinois State will wrap up the regular season next Saturday on Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day at Hancock Stadium, when it plays host to Youngstown State (4-6, 3-4 MVFC). Kickoff is set for noon and fans can listen to the game on WJBC AM 1230, 93.7 FM and on the TuneIn app.

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