Redbird Defense Comes Up Big Late in 23-21 Road Win At UNI

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – As games between Illinois State and Northern Iowa tend to be, it was another close contest Saturday afternoon between the two teams at the UNI-Dome as the two teams traded shots throughout the game. However, it was the Redbirds (3-2, 1-1 MVFC) who came up with big defensive stops late in the game to come away with the 23-21 win over the Panthers (2-4, 2-2 MVFC) on Homecoming at UNI.

How It Happened:
•    Illinois State scored on its opening drive of the game, as quarterback Zack Annexstad and Wenkers Wright led the Redbirds down the field on a 13-play, 79-yard drive that took 5:33 off the clock and was capped off by a 3-yard touchdown pass from Annexstad to Bryson Deming to make it 7-0 in favor of the Redbirds.
•    Just over two minutes later, the Panthers struck back on a 53-yard touchdown pass from Theo Day to Sergio Morancy to tie the game at 7-7 with 6:13 left in the first quarter.
•    A 33-yard field goal by Ian Wagner gave the Redbirds the lead back at 10-7 with 2:18 left in the first quarter.
•    Wright then capitalized on his strong game, bowling his way in from three yards out to make it 17-7 in favor of ISU with 8:12 left in the second quarter.
•    Once again, the Panthers answered with a 3-yard touchdown run by Dom Williams to trim the ISU lead to 17-14 with 4:35 remaining in the half.
•    As the first half expired, Wagner connected on his second field goal of the game this time from 25 yards out to give ISU a 20-14 lead at the break.
•    Wagner then extended the Redbird lead to nine at 23-14 with 9:41 left in the third quarter on a career-long 41-yard field goal.
•    The Panthers cut the Redbird lead to just two points at 23-21 on a 6-yard end-around run by Sam Schnee with 12:50 left in the game. 
•    Both teams had chances late in the game, but the Redbird defense ultimately held the Panthers at bay when Zeke Vandenburgh sacked Day to end the game and secure the victory for ISU. 

Game Notes:    
•    The Redbirds won at the UNI-Dome for the first time since 2012 and for the second time under the direction of head coach Brock Spack, who improves to 7-6 all-time against the Panthers.
•    Redshirt freshman placekicker Ian Wagner saw action in his first game after returning from injury and connected on 3-of-4 field goal attempts … he had makes of 33 and 25 yards in the first half and his career-long 41-yard make in the third quarter proved to be the game winner.
•    Wright finished the game with a combined 99 yards of total offense (55 receiving, 54 rushing) and scored his first career rushing touchdown in the win for the Redbirds. 
•    Quarterback Zack Annexstad threw for a career-best 257 yards on 29 completions with the lone passing score of the game to Deming in the first quarter.
•    Senior tight end Tanner Taula led the way receiving for the Redbirds with seven receptions for 63 yards, while Jalen Carr and Wright each added six apiece.
•    Kenton Wilhoit led all tacklers with 11 stops, which included a sack early in the contest.
•    Vandenburgh finished the game eight stops, including the game-clinching sack to bring his season total to seven.

Next Up:
Illinois State returns to Normal next Saturday for Homecoming, when the Redbirds host South Dakota at 2 p.m. at Hancock Stadium.