NORMAL, Ill. – The No. 16 ranked Illinois State football team scored early and often, as the Redbirds (1-1) tallied nearly 500 yards of total offense in a 42-14 victory over Morehead State (1-1) Saturday night at Hancock Stadium in front of a festive home-opening crowd of 11,256.
How It Happened:
•   The Redbirds took the opening kickoff and proceeded to drive 89 yards in seven plays for the first score of the game, as James Robinson weaved his way into the end zone from 16 yards out to give the Redbirds a 7-0 lead three minutes in.
•   Less than a minute later, the first Morehead State drive of the game was brought to an abrupt stop when Tuvone Clark recorded the game's first turnover and returned an interception 29 yards for the pick six to extend the ISU lead to 14-0 with 11:07 left on the clock in the first quarter.
•   Following a fourth-down stop by the Redbird defense, the offense took over on its own two yard line and needed just eight plays to drive 98 yards for a touchdown, as a 52-yard run by quarterback Brady Davis made the score 21-0 in favor of the Redbirds at the end of the first quarter of play.
•   Andrew Edgar's first catch of the season resulted in an 11-yard touchdown from Davis in the second quarter to make the score 28-0 with just over five minutes left before halftime.
•   About two minutes later, Robinson tallied his second score of the night on a 34-yard run to give the Redbirds a 35-0 lead at the break.
•   Morehead State took advantage of a Redbird turnover and got on the scoreboard on a 3-yard pass from Mark Pappas to Jacob Peters for the only score of the third quarter.
•   Robinson's found the end zone for the third time early in the fourth quarter on a two-yard run to bring the score to 42-7 in favor of the Redbirds.
•   A 16-yard pass from Pappas to Geremiah Edison with 7:25 left in the game proved to be the final score of the contest, as Illinois State came away with the 42-14 victory.
Game Notes: Â Â
•   Robinson's three touchdowns tied a career high for the senior All-American, who averaged 7.7 yards per carry against the Eagles.
•   Clark's interception was the first of his career and extended the team's streak with at least one defensive touchdown to 11 seasons in a row under the leadership of head coach Brock Spack.
•   Clayton Isbell's interception was also the first of his career at Illinois State.
•   Davis' 52-yard touchdown run was the longest of his career at ISU and just the second rushing touchdown in his time in a Redbird uniform … his 89 yards rushing were also a career best.
•   Joey Lombardi led the team with two receptions, the first two of his career at Illinois State.
•   The victory for the Redbirds in the home opener extended their streak to 11 in a row and gave head coach Brock Spack win No. 75 in his career at ISU.
•   The victory also improved the Redbirds' record at home to 32-6 since Hancock Stadium was renovated in 2013.
Up Next:
Illinois State will hit the road and head to Charleston, Illinois, to square off against Eastern Illinois in the 108th Mid-America Classic next Saturday, with kickoff slated for 2 p.m.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Â Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
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