GATEWAY CONFERENCE Illinois State edges SW Missouri State


November 11, 2003 at 12:00a.m.


Western Illinois had to rally to keep Indiana State winless in league play.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Sha-Ron Edwards rushed for 239 yards and four touchdowns, including a game-winning 64-yard TD, to lead Illinois State past Southwest Missouri State 48-43 on Saturday.
Illinois State (5-6, 2-4 Gateway Conference) scored 21 points in the first nine minutes of the game before Southwest Missouri (4-6, 1-5) scored on a 9-yard pass from A.J. Porter to Steven Rush. Rush had five of the team's six touchdowns, including an 88-yard kickoff return in the second quarter.
Porter connected with Rush three times in the second half for long touchdowns of 74, 75 and 80 yards, giving Southwest Missouri its only lead of the game at 43-42 with 13:22 remaining.
Then Illinois State's Edwards broke loose on a 64-yard run for the go-head touchdown.
W. Kentucky 24, Northern Iowa 3
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Justin Haddix threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score for Western Kentucky.
Haddix completed 10 of 15 passes for 226 yards and rushed nine times for 53 yards as the Hilltoppers (7-3, 4-2 Gateway Conference) dominated the Panthers (8-2, 5-1).
Chris Miller snapped a 3-3 halftime tie with a 21-yard TD run late in the third quarter.
Western Kentucky blocked a field-goal attempt by Brian Wingert on the first play of the fourth quarter. On the next play, Haddix hit Casey Rooney for a 68-yard touchdown pass.
Haddix added a 3-yard touchdown run with 3:48 remaining.
W. Illinois 34, Indiana St. 28
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Travis Glasford rushed for two touchdowns and Wyatt Green returned a fumble 22 yards for another score as Western Illinois came from behind.
Indiana State (3-8, 0-6 Gateway) led 28-17 at halftime before Glasford's second touchdown, a 2-yard run early in the third quarter.
The Leathernecks (7-3, 4-2) closed within one point on Justin Langan's second field goal, a 33-yarder midway through the period, and took the lead for good on Green's fumble return just over three minutes later.