TERE HAUTE, Ind. – Seventeen fourth-quarter points were not enough to push the No. 9 ranked Illinois State football team (2-2, 0-1 MVC) past Indiana State (3-1, 1-0 MVC) Saturday afternoon, as the Redbirds fell to the Sycamores, 34-31 at Memorial Stadium. 

The momentum shifted in Illinois State’s favor in the fourth quarter, as Indiana State quarterback Isaac Harker’s pass was tipped by La’Darius Newbold and then intercepted by safety Alec Kocour on a diving catch to gain back possession for the Redbirds at the Sycamores’ 43-yard line. Quarterback Jake Kolbe then weaved through defenders to pick up a quick 16 yards, before completing a pass to Warrum for 10 yards. Inside the red zone the ‘Birds were stopped short of the touchdown by the Sycamore defense on third-and-goal, forcing Sean Slattery to kick a 23-yard field goal through the uprights cutting Illinois State’s deficit to the Sycamores to a touchdown, 24-17, at the start of the fourth quarter.

A 27-yard field goal allowed Indiana State to pull ahead, 27-17, soon after but then it was the Redbirds’ turn as the offense.  Kolbe powered the offense down field on a five-play, 61-yard drive that was capped off by a 10-yard reception from Kolbe to Anthony Fowler in the end zone to cut Indiana State’s lead to three, 27-24.

 With merely five minutes left in the game, Indiana State took over on downs at Illinois State’s 43-yard line after an unsuccessful fourth-down conversion by the Redbirds. The Sycamores were held to a field goal on the drive to pull away, 34-24. Illinois State showed resilience once again, putting together a five-play, 70-yard drive that was highlighted by a pair of 20 and 21-yard completions from Kolbe to Anthony Warrum to narrow the lead to 34-31. Following a punt by the Sycamores, the Redbirds took over at their own 40 yard line with 2:22 left to play with a chance to tie the game or take the lead. However, Kolbe was sacked and the Sycamores recovered the fumble to ice the contest.

 Warrum finished with two touchdowns in the second half to tie him for third on the career touchdown list with 22 total. Warrum finished the game with 151 yards on 10 grabs to mark his second 100-plus yard receiving performance of the season and eighth of his career at ISU. True freshman Tristan Smith got the start for the Redbirds and Hasan Muhammad-Rogers also saw time, but Kolbe rallied the team and threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns.  On the ground, six running backs helped the Redbirds rush for 121 yards with George Moreira leading the way with 37 yards and one touchdown.

 The Redbird defense was led by Alec Kocour and Brent Spack, who each recorded 13 tackles in the game and Kocour would add the only turnover of the contest on his first interception of the season. Alejandro Rivera also made a statement tallying five solo tackles for combined 12 tackles while also recording a sack and a tackle-for-loss.

 Indiana State controlled the first half and led 17-7 at the break and the Sycamores scored first to begin the second half on a 12-play, 93-yard drive that shaved 4:59 off the clock. Harker’s 31-yard pass to Thompson left the Sycamores within two-yards of the end zone before Roland Genesy dove over the pile landing in the end zone for the score to widen Indiana State’s lead to, 24-7.

 With the Redbirds in need of a score, Kolbe took over guiding the offense down the turf from its own 24-yard line on a nine-play, 76-yard touchdown drive, which started the comeback for the Redbirds.   

 Illinois State will remain on the road next Saturday, as they travel to Fargo, North Dakota, to face off against the No. 1 team in the country and five-time defending national champion North Dakota State. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome, and the game will be live streamed on ESPN3.