Western Illinois wins Gateway Conference opener

ASSOCIATED PRESS

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Herb Donaldson rushed for 191 yards and a touchdown to lead Western Illinois to a 19-7 victory over Indiana State on Saturday.

The Leathernecks (4-2, 1-0 Gateway Football Conference) had a 6-0 lead on two Taylor Rowan field goals when Donaldson scored on a 5-yard run in the third quarter to complete a 15-play, 92-yard drive.

Indiana State (0-6, 0-2) responded with a 3-yard touchdown pass by Reilly Murphy to Brian Jackson midway through the fourth quarter, but Western Illinois quarterback Matt Barr later scored on a nine-yard run.

Western Illinois rushed for 338 yards on 71 carries, totaling 424 yards in offense to 264 for Indiana State. It was the 11th career 100-yard rushing game for Donaldson and his fourth of the season.

Alex Douglas added 95 yards rushing on 24 carries for the Leathernecks.

Missouri State 58,
No. 23 Illinois State 41

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Freshman quarterback Cody Kirby threw for four touchdowns to rally Missouri State.

Kirby threw for 277 yards on 17 of 24 passing as Missouri State (4-2, 1-1 Gateway Conference) watched its early 17-0 lead evaporate when Illinois State (2-4, 1-1) scored four consecutive times in the second quarter.

But Missouri State outscored Illinois State 21-6 in the third quarter with two of the scores coming on Kirby passes to regain the lead for good at 45-34.

Illinois State scored three touchdowns in 5:12 in the second quarter, the first coming on a trick play when the offensive line and running back Geno Blow lined up alone on the left side of the field and quarterback Luke Drone snapped the ball directly to Blow who ran 30 yards untouched for the score with 10:34 left in the half.