 Up 14-12, the Redbirds surrendered the lead on Ashton Glaser's
2-yard touchdown run with 2:54 remaining in the contest. The
touchdown plunge concluded a 15-play, 88-yard scoring march that
took up 6:31 of the fourth quarter. The Redbirds then had to start
their next possession on their own 3-yard line, after Marshaun
Coprich misplayed the kickoff.
On the first play of the ensuing drive, Darrelynn Dunn was
tackled in the end zone by Missouri State's Howard Scarborough for
the second safety of the game, giving the Bears a 21-14 lead with
2:47 left. The Redbirds attempted an onside kick following the
safety, which the Bears recovered on ISU's 30-yard line. Austin
Witmer's 42-yard field goal then gave the Bears a 24-14 advantage
with 1:03 left.
Nick Aussieker's career-long 47-yard field goal brought the
Redbirds within one score at 24-17 with 10 seconds remaining, but
the Bears recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the victory.
In the second quarter, ISU starting quarterback, Matt Brown,
became the Missouri Valley Football Conference's all-time leading
yards passer, surpassing Northern Iowa's Ryan Helming (9,089). Brown
finished the game with 204, giving him 9,232 in his career. His two
touchdown passes gave him a total of 73 touchdowns he has been
responsible for in his career, surpassing Luke Drone (72) for first
on that list as well.
The Bears got on the board first, marching 79 yards on 10 plays
to take a 7-0 lead. On third down from the ISU 45-yard line,
quarterback Kierra Harris found Dorian Buford with a 41-yard
completion down to the ISU 4-yard line. Harris scored on a 1-yard
plunge three plays later to cap the drive. The Bears then tacked on
with their first of two safeties to take a 9-0 lead with 7:23 left
in the first quarter. On second down from his own 14-yard line,
Brown was flushed from the pocket before being hit from behind by
Missouri State's Nate Davis. The hit jarred the ball loose, with it
eventually rolling out the side of the end zone for a safety.
Brown, Dunn and Tyrone Walker keyed an 11-play, 49-yard touchdown
drive to get the Redbirds on the board in the second quarter. On
third-and-goal from the Bears' 4-yard line, Brown found Walker on
the fade route in the right corner of the end zone to bring the
Redbirds within two points at 9-7.
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The second half ended on turnovers from each team. The
Redbirds looked to gain the lead before halftime after Austin
Davis forced a midfield fumble that was recovered by Tim Dawson.
However, Brown threw an interception to kill the threat and send
both teams into the break with the score 9-7.
Brown and Walker connected again to give the Redbirds their first
lead of the game on a six-play, 63-yard touchdown drive in the third
quarter. On third down and 2 from the MSU 15-yard line, Brown again
threw a fade to Walker, this time to the front-left pylon. Brown's
second touchdown throw of the game gave the Redbirds a 14-9
advantage with 3:04 left in the third quarter.
On the first play of Missouri State's next possession, Ben
Ericksen recorded his second interception of the game and
team-leading fifth of the season, after Mike Zimmer tipped a pass.
However, Dunn was stuffed by the Bears on a fourth-and-2 attempt,
giving MSU the ball at their own 35-yard line.
The Bears took advantage, climbing back to within two points at
14-12 on a 20-yard field goal by Austin Witmer to cap a nine-play,
62-yard scoring drive. A big chunk of the drive came on Harris'
46-yard completion to Buford that put the Bears on ISU's 7-yard
line. However, the Redbird defense held firm, with Colton Underwood
tackling Harris for a 1-yard loss on third-and-goal.
The Redbirds will hit the road for their next two contests,
playing at Northern Iowa on Oct. 27 and at Indiana State on Nov. 3.
Kickoff against the Panthers is set for 4 p.m. Saturday at the UNI
Dome.
___
Postgame
notes
[Text from
news release received from
Illinois State University]
|
