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