NORMAL, Ill. – Two offenses that came into Saturday's contest averaging over 25 points each found points tough to come by, as No. 10 Illinois State and Indiana State turned the annual Homecoming game into a defensive slugfest. Fortunately for the Redbirds (6-2, 2-2 MVFC), the defense was able to force three turnovers and came up big late in the red zone stopping the Sycamores (2-6, 0-4 MVFC) from scoring to secure a 17-10 win on Jay and Lori Bergman Field at Hancock Stadium.

How It Happened:
•    Indiana State struck first in the game, as Brady Alen connected with Jayden Reed on an 8-yard touchdown pass to give the Sycamores an early 7-0 lead with 9:11 left in the first quarter.
•    The Redbirds got on the scoreboard with 3:30 left in the opening quarter, as Michael Cosentino connected on a 22-yard field goal to make the score 7-3 in favor of the Sycamores.
•    Illinois State took the lead at 10-7 with 10:04 left in the second quarter, after Victor Dawson bowled his way into the end zone from three yards out to cap off a 15-play scoring drive that took 6:48 off the clock.
•    The Redbird defense then got into the action, as Key Crowell picked off a Brady Allen pass and returned it 48 yards for the pick six touchdown to widen the Illinois State advantage to 17-7 with 8:13 left before halftime.
•    After a scoreless third quarter by both teams, Sebastian Lopez connected on a 23-yard field goal with 7:47 left in the game to cut the Illinois State lead to a touchdown at 17-10.
•    Indiana State had an opportunity late in the game to tie things up and were inside the Illinois State red zone, but a defensive stop and turnover on downs by the Redbird defense sealed the game as the offense took a knee to secure the win.

Game Notes:    
•    With the win, the Redbirds have now won six of the seven games against the Sycamores and Illinois State head coach Brock Spack improved to 13-4 in his career at Illinois State against the Trees.
•    The Redbird defense forced three turnovers and held strong in the red zone, as the Sycamores were just 2-for-5 inside the Illinois State red zone which proved to be the difference in the contest.
•    Dawson's touchdown in the second quarter was his sixth of the season, surpassing his mark of five from last season.
•    Crowell's interception was his first as a Redbirds and it was the second pick-six of the year for the Redbirds.
•    Tye Niekamp led the way for the Redbirds with 12 tackles in the game, to go along with a TFL, pass break up and two quarterback hurries … with his performance, Niekamp moved over 400 career tackles (407) to become just the fifth player in school history to record over 400 tackles … with his TFL, he also tied his former teammate Zeke Vandenburgh for fourth on the career TFL list.

Next Up:
Illinois State (6-2, 2-2 MVFC) continues its two-game homestand next Saturday, when they host Murray State (1-7, 0-4 MVFC) for a noon kickoff on Jay and Lori Bergman Field at Hancock Stadium.

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