Redbirds Run Away With 35-28 Win Over The Penguins In Season Finale

NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State football team sent its seniors off on high note Saturday, as the Redbirds (6-5, 3-5 MVFC) came from behind to defeat Youngstown State (4-7, 3-5 MVFC) by a score of 35-28 in the regular season finale on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Hancock Stadium in front of 5,583 on Military Appreciation Day.

How It Happened:
•    Illinois State scored on its opening possession, as James Robinson rushed into the end zone from 37 yards out to open up the scoring at 7-0 with 12:18 left in the first quarter.     
•    Youngstown State then cracked the scoring column on a 41-yard field goal from Zak Kennedy to cut the ISU lead to 7-3 with 6:54 remaining in the first quarter.    
•    The Redbirds found the end zone in the second quarter, as Brady Davis found Tylor Petkovich in the back of the end zone to extend the lead to 14-3 with 13:10 remaining in the first half.     
•    Kennedy nailed another 41-yard field goal for the Penguins to cut the deficit to 14-6 with 8:49 left in the first half.    
•    Penguin running back Tevin McCaster then pounded his way into the end zone from one yard to trim the Redbird lead to 14-13 with 5:41 remaining in the first half. 
•    Robinson would score for the second time on the day, as he scampered into the end zone from seven yards out to stake the Redbirds to a 21-13 advantage with 8:51 remaining in the third quarter.
•    Penguins quarterback Nathan Mays then connected on a 10-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Emans and the two-point conversion was good as Mays found Natavious Payne to knot the score at 21-21 as the third quarter came to a close. 
•    Mays would go to the air again, as Miles Joiner hauled in a 58-yard touchdown pass to give the Penguins their first lead of the afternoon at 28-21 with 13:12 remaining.
•    Illinois State true freshman running back Kevin Brown would then tie the game at 28-28, as he rushed into the end zone for his first career score with 11:06 to go in the contest.    
•    Brown would find the end zone one more time on a 16-yard touchdown run, which proved to be the deciding score as Illinois State went 35-28 with 5:47 left to go in the game and the defense held strong for the victory.

Game Notes:
•    With the victory, Illinois State secured its ninth season with a .500 record or above in the last 10 under the leadership of head coach Brock Spack.
•    Illinois State rushed the ball 44 times on the day for 345 yards with four touchdowns. 
•    Robinson carried the ball 23 times for 256 yards and the two scores … the 256 rushing yards are the third-most in a game for a Redbird back all-time just behind Marshaun Coprich's 258 yards at Eastern Washington in the 2014 FCS playoffs.
•    In his first collegiate action, Brown finished with 13 carries for 41 yards with two scores and also had one reception for 22 yards.    
•    Zackary Mathews would lead the Redbirds in tackles on the day with nine and also added a TFL.
•    Luther Kirk recorded his team-leading fifth interception of the season, and senior Mitchell Brees added his third pick of the year to go along with three pass breakups. 
•    Jason Harris recorded five tackles, a sack and forced a pair of Penguin fumbles.   

GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App:  Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.