CARBONDALE, Ill. – Illinois State (2-2, 0-1 MVFC) battled tough against No. 7 Southern Illinois (3-1, 1-0 MVFC) but ultimately the Salukis' offense proved to be too much in the second half and the Redbirds fell 35-17 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference season opener.
How it happened:
- After winning the opening toss, the Redbirds decided to defer to the second half and the Salukis received the opening kickoff. A defensive battle ensued throughout the first quarter.
- After a scoreless first quarter, the Redbirds got on the board first with a 22-yard field goal with 13:35 on the second quarter clock. The drive was set up by a blocked punt by Damien Jackson with help from Lavoise-Deontae McCoy that was recovered on the SIU five-yardline by Jackson.
- Late in the second quarter, ISU used an extended 11-play, 74-yard drive to eat up nearly six minutes of the game clock, culminating with a four-yard touchdown run from Pha'leak Brown, pushing the Illinois State advantage to 10-0, the same score that the Redbirds took into the locker room at halftime.
- After receiving the second-half kickoff, ISU needed six plays to drive the 75 yards after the fair catch, as Jackson Waring punched the ball in on a quarterback sneak from one yard out. On the drive, Waring and Austin Nagel connected twice on passing plays for gains of 38 and 23 yards.
- After trailing by 17 early into the third quarter, Southern Illinois scored 35 consecutive points on five touchdowns, the third of which helped the Salukis take their first lead of the game at 21-17, with 9:13 to play in the fourth quarter.
Game Notes:
- In his first collegiate start, Waring was 13-for-24 with 166 yards. His longest completion was for 38 yards to Nagel.
- Nagel was the leading wide receiver today for ISU with four catches for 100 yards. Behind him was Tristan Bailey who had two catches for a total of 30 yards.
- Cole Mueller showed off his speed and power once again as the Redbirds' top rusher. Mueller picked up 87 yards with his longest run going for 40 yards.
- Defensively, Shanon Reid led the team with 15 total tackles, nine of those solo. In the first quarter, Reid was credited with a pass breakup that was also an offensive pass interference call to stop the Salukis on 3rd and 8. Late in the second quarter, Reid intercepted the ball and allowed the Redbirds to head into the locker room with a 10-0 lead at the half.
- Kenton Wilhoit and Jacob Powell were other defensive standouts. Wilhoit snagged an interception as well early in the fourth quarter and capped off the game with five total tackles. Powell sacked Saluki quarterback, Nic Baker, for a loss of seven in the opening quarter.
- Also making his first collegiate start was linebacker Damien Jackson. Jackson had six total tackles against SIU and blocked a punt on special teams to set the Redbirds up for their first score of the game.
Up Next: Illinois State returns home to Hancock Stadium to take on the Missouri State Bears on Saturday, Oct. 2 in an exciting family weekend match-up.
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