Redbirds Drop 24-7 Decision On The Road To No. 4 Ranked Bison

FARGO, N.D. – The Illinois State offense got off to a good start in the first quarter Saturday against No. 4 North Dakota State and took an early lead, however the Bison (6-2, 4-1 MVFC) scored 24 unanswered points to come away with a victory over the Redbirds (5-3, 3-2 MVFC) at the Fargodome.

How It Happened:
•    The Redbirds struck first on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Zack Annexstad to Daniel Sobkowicz on a back shoulder throw to the back of the endzone that made it 7-0 with 3:24 left in the first quarter.
•    NDSU answered that score with one of their own on the next drive, as Cam Miller found Hunter Luepke out of the backfield for a 20-yard touchdown pass to tie things up at 7-7 with under a minute to play in the opening quarter.
•    With just four seconds remaining the first half, the Bison took their first lead of the game on a 29-yard field goal by Griffin Crosa to make it 10-7 at the break.
•    The Bison extended the lead to ten points at 17-7 with 7:45 left in the third quarter when Miller ran it in from four yards out.
•    A 12-yard touchdown run by quarterback Cole Payton with 7:30 left in the game the widened the NDSU lead to 24-7.

Game Notes:    
•    Linebacker Lavoise-Deontae McCoy led the Redbird defense with a career-best 10 tackles against the Bison.
•    Safety Dillon Gearhart set a career-high with 8 stops against NDSU. 
•    The touchdown reception by Sobkowicz was his team-leading third of the season. 
•    Jeremiah Jordan had a solid game once again for the Redbirds, recording seven tackles and the team's lone sack of the contest.

Next Up:
Illinois State returns home next Saturday, November 5, to host Youngstown State at Hancock Stadium, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. CT.

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