W. Illinois subdues Illinois St. for sixth
Gerald Davis scored a school-record five TDs to pace Missouri State.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NORMAL, Ill. — Herb Donaldson rushed for 241 yards and two touchdowns Saturday to lead Western Illinois to a 27-14 victory over Illinois State.
Western Illinois (6-3, 3-1 Gateway Conference) dominated, leading 20-0 until the fourth period, when Illinois State (4-5, 2-3 Gateway Conference) scored a pair of touchdowns to make it 20-14. But the Leathernecks came back with a touchdown from Donaldson on a 38-yard run to make the final score 27-14.
Donaldson opened the game with a 55-yard run for a touchdown in the first period. Leatherneck wide receiver Carl Sims caught a 52-yard pass from quarterback Matt Barr to score a touchdown in the third period.
Kicker Taylor Rowan made two field goals — one 53 yards and one 48 yards.
Redbird quarterback Luke Drone threw 270 yards for two touchdowns. Illinois State wide receiver Eyad Salem scored the first touchdown for the Redbirds off a 15-yard pass from Drone in the fourth period. Wide receiver Kelvin Chandler followed with a touchdown off a 10-yard pass from Drone.
Overall, Illinois State had 17 first downs compared with 15 for Western Illinois. The Redbirds passed for 270 yards while the Leathernecks had 72. Meanwhile, Western Illinois rushed 337 yards to Illinois State’s 64 yards.
Missouri St. 63, Indiana St. 7
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Gerald Davis scored a school-record five touchdowns, including four in the first half.
Davis early work gave Missouri State (5-4, 2-3 in the Gateway Conference) a 42-7 halftime lead over winless Indiana State (0-9, 0-5), who were giving up 46.2 points per game.
The previous record of four touchdowns was held by 10 Missouri State players. Davis finished with 82 yards on 14 carries. Kingjack Washington led Missouri State with 104 yards on 13 carries.
Missouri State’s defense scored the first touchdown of the second half when Indiana State quarterback Charles Dowdell lost the ball when he was tackled and Jeron Poole returned the ball 43 yards for a touchdown to put Missouri State up 49-7 with 12:46 left in the third quarter.
Quarterback Cody Kirby, who also sat out the second half, was 10 of 12 for 183 yards and a touchdown.