Redbirds sail past Saint Xavier

Posted on September 2, 2018
Illinois State secured their first win of the 2018-19 season at Hancock Stadium. (WJBC File Photo)

By WJBC Staff

NORMAL, Ill. – A dominating defensive effort resulted in four takeaways for Illinois State (1-0), as the Redbirds shut out Saint Xavier (0-2) by a score of 46-0 in the season opener Saturday night at Hancock Stadium. The Redbirds scored on their very first offensive play of the game and cruised to the victory to begin the 2018 campaign.

How it Happened:
•    On the first offensive play for the Redbirds, James Robinson carried the ball into the end zone from 13 yards out to put the first points on the board.
•    After an interception by linebacker Ty DeForest gave the Redbirds great field position, starting quarterback Brady Davis connected with Tylor Petkovich for a 15-yard touchdown as the Redbirds went up 14-0 in quarter one.
•    Kicker Sam Fenlason opened the scoring in the second quarter with his first field goal at ISU, a 37-yard make that extended the score to 17-0.
•    On 4th and 1, Jordan Birch scampered from 32 yards to put the Redbirds up 24-0 at halftime.
•    ISU continued to find the end zone in the second half, as Robinson scored from 11 yards out to put the Redbirds up 31-0.
•    Running back Markel Smith became the third ball carrier to record a score on the ground, as he scored from 2 yards out to widen the lead to 38-0 after three quarters.
•    Senior captain Nick Kielbasa later scored his first career touchdown on the ground, as the Redbirds went up 44-0.
•    The Redbirds recorded a team safety mid-way through quarter four to reach the final score of 46-0.

Game Notes:
•    The Redbirds outgained the Cougars 368 to 30 on the night, as SXU had negative 30 yards on the ground (fourth-lowest mark in school history).
•    Davis split time under center with Jake Kolbe and Tristan Smith. Davis finished the game 12-for-19 for 123 yards and his first career passing touchdown as a Redbird … Kolbe finished 6-for-10 for 50 yards and Smith was 1-for-2 for four yards.
•    Four different Redbirds scored touchdowns on the ground in the contest: Robinson (2), Birch, Smith and Kielbasa.
•    A total of 10 different receivers caught passes from the three different quarterbacks, as Spencer Schnell led the way with five catches for 39 yards … Petkovich was the only receiver with a touchdown catch, which was the second of his career
•    Braxton Haley, Andrew Edgar, Arturo Romero, and Trenton Hatfield each recorded their first career receptions for the Redbirds.
•    Quarterback turned safety Malachi Broadnax led the way defensively for the Redbirds, as he recorded seven tackles with one tackle-for-loss.
•    The Redbirds had 12 tackles-for-loss, as Ryan Guhl and Zackary Mathews each recorded two leading the way.
•    ISU’s three interceptions were the most since also picking off three passes in a win against South Dakota State on Oct. 29, 2016.

Up Next:
The Redbirds continue the homestand next Saturday, Sept. 8, against Eastern Illinois (0-1) in the Mid-America Classic. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Hancock Stadium,

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