By ISU Sports Information
NORMAL, Ill. – Despite a two-score lead at the half, No. 12 Illinois State could not maintain the lead over No. 15 Western Illinois as the Leathernecks (6-3, 3-3 MVFC) scored 31 unanswered points in the second half to defeat the Redbirds (6-3, 4-2 MVFC) by a score of 31-14 Saturday at Hancock Stadium in front of 13,192 fans.
After being shut out in the first half, WIU scored 17 quick points in the third quarter and tacked on 14 more in the fourth quarter to snap a seven-game losing streak to ISU. Illinois State quarterback Jake Kolbe completed 19 passes for 223 yards with two first-half touchdown passes to pace the ISU offense and Christian Gibbs finished with 113 yards on five passes, after missing the last several games due to injury. Tyree Horton led the way for the ISU defense with nine tackles, including one for a loss, and Davontae Harris finished with seven stops, a sack and two tackles-for-loss.
Illinois State threatened early midway through the first quarter, but Kolbe was intercepted in the end zone by Aaron Diggs to end the Redbird threat. Following a stop on the ensuing WIU offensive drive, the Redbirds took over at their own 35 yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Kolbe aired it out to Gibbs who hauled in the pass and ran away from the Leatherneck defender for the 65-yard touchdown and the 7-0 lead just before the end of the first quarter.
Western Illinois was threatening early in the second quarter, but DraShane Glass picked off his second pass in as many weeks to put an end to the Leatherneck scoring threat and give the Redbirds the ball back at their own 33 yard line. The Redbirds took full advantage of the turnover, driving 67 yards in 11 plays for their second score of the game. Costly personal foul penalties by the Leathernecks kept the drive alive and Kolbe connected with Tylor Petkovich for the four-yard touchdown reception to cap off the drive and extend the lead to 14-0 with 6:43 left before halftime.
The Leathernecks wasted little time getting on the board in the third quarter, needing just 1:12 to drive 78 yards on three plays to cut the ISU lead to a touchdown at 14-7 early in the third quarter. WIU quarterback Sean McGuire found Brandon Gaston for a 35-yard score to cap off the drive and get the Leathernecks their first points of the game. Following a punt by the Redbirds, the Leathernecks proceeded to drive 89 yards on 11 plays to tie the game up at 14-14 with 10:16 left in the third quarter, after a one-yard run by Clint Ratkovich. A 28-yard field goal by Sam Crosa gave WIU its first lead of the game at 17-14 as time expired in the third quarter.
After getting the ball back following a failed fake punt attempt by the Redbirds, the Leathernecks needed just one play to extend the lead to 10 points at 24-14, as McGuire found Ratkovich for a 27-yard diving touchdown grab in the back of the end zone early in the fourth quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Markel Smith fumbled on the return and WIU took over at the 20 yard line. Five plays later, Steve McShane found the end zone for a one-yard score to finalize the Leathernecks’ lead to 31-14 with just under 10 minutes to play.
The Redbirds head to Brookings, South Dakota, next Saturday to face the top-10 ranked South Dakota State Jackrabbits. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
