Marshaun Coprich ran for four touchdowns in ISU's win vs Eastern Washington. (WJBC File Photo)
By ISU Sports Information
CHENEY- Marshaun Coprich rushed for a career-high 258 yards and Illinois State piled up 542 yards of total offense en route to a 59-46 victory over Eastern Washington in the FCS quarterfinals. The Redbirds advance to the semifinals for the second time in program history.
Following a stop on Eastern Washington’s first drive of the game, the Redbirds answered with a 12-play, 66-yard scoring drive that was capped off by a 31-yard field goal off the foot of Nick Aussieker. On the ensuing drive, David Perkins forced a fumble on a reception by Kendrick Bourne and Mike Banks recovered at the ISU 45-yard line. Coprich took over on the next drive, rushing for 36 of the team’s 55 yards during the five-play scoring drive, which he ended with a seven-yard touchdown run to extend the ISU lead to 10-0.
The Eagles answered the Redbird touchdown with one of their own, as Quincy Forte capped off a six-play, 69-yard drive with a nine-yard touchdown run to cut the ISU lead to 10-7 with 3:12 left in the first quarter of play. The Redbirds battled right back, and put together an eight-play, 55-yard drive to extend the lead back to 10 points. Fullback Brady Tibbits took his first career carry and pounded it across the line from three yards out to give the Redbirds a 17-7 advantage early in the second quarter.
A 37-yard field goal from Tyler McNannay on the next drive cut the ISU lead to a touchdown at 17-10, with 11:06 left before halftime. Once again, the Redbirds answered with an eight-play, 66-yard scoring drive as Tre Roberson capped off the drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Meredith. Meredith made a fantastic, one-handed grab as he tip-toed along the side of the end zone and put the Redbirds up 24-10 with 6:35 left to play in the half.
EWU would fight back again and cut the lead back to seven points at 24-17, after a Jabari Wilson one-yard touchdown run capped off an 11-play scoring drive at the end of the second quarter. After running two plays, the Redbirds elected to let the rest of the time run off the clock and take a 24-17 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Redbirds wasted little time put points on the scoreboard in the third quarter, as they drove 75 yards down the field in just under four minutes to extend the lead to 31-17. Big grabs from James O’Shaughnessy set up a 21-yard touchdown run for Coprich, who moved over 100 yards rushing for the 13th-straight time and upped his rushing touchdown total to 24. Eastern came back and settled for a 36-yard field goal from McNannay, after Pat Meehan sacked Adams on third down to force the attempt, and cut the lead to 31-20 with 9:01 left in the third quarter.
ISU answered again, as Coprich scored his third touchdown of the game on a 2-yard run to cap off a 10-play scoring drive and extend the lead to 38-20. On the ensuing drive, Alex Donnelly picked off a Vernon Adams pass attempt and returned it to the EWU 23-yard line and six plays later, Roberson ran it in from five yards out to widen the lead to 45-20 at the end of the third quarter.
A two-yard touchdown run by Adams early in the fourth quarter narrowed the ISU lead to 45-27, but a failed onside kick attempt by the Eagles was recovered by Collin Keoshian to give the Redbirds great field position. Four plays later, Roberson connected with Lechein Neblett on a 31-yard scoring strike to increase the lead to 52-27 with 10:30 left in the game.
EWU did not go away, as Adams connected with Cooper Kupp on a 30-yard touchdown pass and after a missed PAT try, the Redbirds lead was cut to 52-33 with 8:57 left in the game. After recovering an onside kick, Adams found Kupp again for a 35-yard touchdown to cut the ISU lead to 52-39 with 8:21 left in the game.
The Eagles kicked it long on the next kickoff and Tevin Allen fair caught the ball at the 25 yard line. Two plays later, Coprich broke loose for a 74-yard touchdown run, his fourth of the game, to extend the ISU lead to 59-39. With the run Coprich moved over 2,000 yards on the season becoming the only back in school history to achieve that feat. On the next drive, Mike Banks intercepted Adams, but with 1:40 to play, Adams connected with Shaq Hill for a 47-yard touchdown. That would be the final score of the game.
ISU now moves on to the semifinals to play at top-seeded New Hampshire. The game will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday.
