CARBONDALE, Ill. – Following a slow start to the game for both teams on Saturday afternoon, No. 13 Illinois State put up 28 points in the second quarter and never looked back against host Southern Illinois as the Redbirds (5-2, 1-2 MVFC) rolled to a 35-14 win over the Salukis (3-5, 1-3 MVFC) at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale.

How It Happened:
•    After a scoreless first quarter by both squads, the Redbirds put the first points of the game on the scoreboard as a great second effort at the goal line by Victor Dawson on 4-and-1 from the one gave ISU a 7-0 lead with 13:06 left in the second quarter … the touchdown capped off a 13-play, 59-yard drive that took over seven minutes off the clock.
•    The Redbirds extended the lead to 14-0 with 4:51 left before halftime, after a 5-yard touchdown run by quarterback Chase Kwiatkowski capped off a 9-play, 80-yard scoring drive.
•    After a sack by Dexter Niekamp and fumble recovery by Ben Harman, the Redbirds got the ball back at the SIU 29-yard line and needed just four plays to score on a 10-yard touchdown keeper by quarterback Beckham Pellant to bring the score to 21-0 in favor of Illinois State with 1:53 left in the first half.
•    Another fumble recovery by the Redbirds once again gave them great field position at the SIU 27-yard line and once again it was Pellant who converted as he found Dylan Lord wide open in the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown pass to widen the Illinois State lead to 28-0 with 41 seconds left in the second quarter.
•    The Illinois State advantage grew to 35-0 with 5:20 to play in the third quarter, after Pellant connected with Luke Mailander on a 57-yard touchdown pass … the drive started at ISU's own 1-yard line and the Birds got breathing room on a 41-yard run by Victor Dawson that set up the score from Pellant to Mailander that capped off the 99-yard scoring drive.
•    The Salukis scored their first touchdown of the game late in the third quarter, as DJ Williams found Kyle Thomas for a 29-yard touchdown pass to make the score 35-7 in favor of ISU with 1:12 left in the stanza.
•    SIU tacked on one final touchdown with 4:40 left in the game, after Tae Marrero Jr. returned a punt 45 yards for a touchdown to bring the score to its final at 35-14.

Game Notes:    
•    With the win, the Redbirds have now won three out of the last four games against the Salukis in Carbondale.
•    Illinois State has defeated all four directional schools (NIU, WIU, EIU, SIU) in the same season for the first time since 1940.
•    Pellant set career highs in completions (16), attempts (25), passing yards (191) and tied his career best with two touchdown passes in the contest against the Salukis … he also ran for the first touchdown of his career in the contest.
•    Mailander, last year's MVFC Freshman of the Year, recorded his first touchdown of the season and finished the game with a season-best 90 receiving yards.
•    Lord's touchdown catch was his fourth in the last five games and he now leads the team with six on the year.
•    Dawson's rushing TD was his fifth of the year, matching his total from all last season.
•    Mason Kaplan led the ISU defense with 13 total tackles in the contest … Solomon Oduma starred as well with seven tackles, including two sacks and a forced fumble.

Next Up:
Illinois State returns home next weekend to host Indiana State (2-5, 0-3 MVFC) for its annual Homecoming game. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CT on Jay and Lori Bergman Field at Hancock Stadium.

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