No. 9 ISU Erases 21-Point Deficit, Defeats WIU 37-34

[October 20, 2014]  MACOMB - For the second week in a row, senior placekicker Nick Aussieker nailed a game-winning field goal, as No. 9 Illinois State (6-0, 3-0 MVFC) erased a 21-point second-half deficit to come from behind for a 37-34 win at Western Illinois (3-5, 1-3 MVFC) in front of 4,641 fans Saturday at Hanson Field.

ISU improved to 6-0 to start the season for the first time since 1967 and secured their fifth winning campaign in six seasons under the leadership of head coach Brock Spack. After starting the first half with three costly turnovers, junior transfer quarterback Tre Roberson was magnificent in the second half and finished the game with 256 yards passing and three touchdowns, to go with 81 yards and score on the ground. Walter Payton Award Watch List member Marshaun Coprich recorded his sixth-consecutive 100-plus yard rushing effort to start the season, finishing with 114 yards on 19 carries with a 69-yard touchdown run.

On the first play from scrimmage, Roberson was intercepted by Luke Venegoni, and WIU took over deep in Redbird territory at the 28-yard line. The defense held however, and limited the Leathernecks to a 25-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead two and a half minutes into the game. The Redbirds answered immediately, as Coprich took the carry on the second play from scrimmage 69 yards for a touchdown. Nick Aussieker missed the extra point, however, and ISU’s lead stayed at 6-3 with 12:36 left in the first quarter.

The Leathernecks came right back and took the lead at 10-6 on the next drive on a 12-yard touchdown run by J.C. Baker. Illinois State had a great opportunity to regain the lead on the next drive, but a Roberson pass sailed over the head of Cameron Meredith in the end zone and the ball was picked off by David McDaniel for the touchback. The Leathernecks added another score on a Trenton Norvell pass to Lance Lenoir for 29 yards in the second quarter to extend the lead to 17-6 with 11:36 left in the half.

WIU got the ball back on the next drive after a Roberson fumble, his third turnover of the half, and Devon Moore capitalized with a two-yard touchdown run to widen the Leathernecks’ lead to 24-6 with 8:24 left in the second quarter. The Redbirds offense struggled the rest of the way and the Redbirds headed to the locker room down by 18 points. Another field goal by Nathan Knuffman from 30 yards out with 5:28 left in the third quarter widened the WIU lead to 27-6, before the Redbirds answered with a touchdown on the next drive to cut the lead to two scores. A 51-yard completion from Roberson to James O’Shaughnessy set up the 10-yard touchdown throw to O’Shaughnessy three plays later cut the score deficit to 27-13 with 2:35 left in the third quarter.

A quick three-and-out by the Leathernecks and a shanked punt gave the Redbirds the ball back at the WIU 40 yard line. A 21-yard completion from Roberson to Meredith put the Redbirds in the red zone, and a crucial third-down completion from Roberson to Meredith set the Redbird up first-and-goal at the 6-yard line. On second down, Roberson faked the option and carried it in for the touchdown to cut the WIU lead to 27-20, following the extra point from Aussieker with 14:48 left in the game.

Following another punt by WIU, the Redbirds took over at their own 44-yard line and put together a 5-play, 56-yard scoring drive to tie the game at 27-27. A 24-yard completion to O’Shaughnessy moved the ball to the WIU 32-yard line and a 21-yard completion to Meredith moved the ball to the 11-yard line. Two plays later, Roberson found O’Shaughnessy in the end zone for a 9-yard score to tie the ball game.

However, the tie would be short-lived, as WIU answered on the next drive with a 75-yard touchdown pass from Trenton Norvell to Lance Lenoir put the Leathernecks back up by a touchdown at 34-27 with 10:52 left in the game. A crucial third-down conversion from Roberson to Anthony Warrum on the next drive moved the Redbirds past midfield to the WIU 40. A facemask penalty on the WIU defense would then move the ball down to the 24-yard line, and Roberson found Meredith for a 24-yard touchdown to tie the game again at 34-34 after the Aussieker extra point with 7:53 left.

On the ensuing drive, Western Illinois attempted a fourth-down conversion at midfield, but DraShane Glass batted down the pass and ISU took over. The following Illinois State drive stalled, as O’Shaughnessy’s diving catch attempt on third down was ruled incomplete and the Redbird punt bounced in the end zone for a touchback.

The Leathernecks took over at their own 20 and drove to near mid-field, before David Perkins intercepted a Norvell pass at the line of scrimmage and returned it to the WIU 32-yard line. The Redbirds moved the ball down to the WIU 17-yard line, before Aussieker nailed the winning field goal as time expired.
 

The Redbirds return home after the two-game road swing to host Missouri State (4-3, 1-2 MVFC) next Saturday at Hancock Stadium at 6 p.m.

[Michael Williams, Illinois State University]

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