Illinois State @ Eastern Illinois 9/15/07

[Panthers_Blue]

The Redbirds make the trip southward to the campus of EIU for a rematch of last years frist round playoff match. This has always seem to be a good match up every time they meet up. Kickoff is set for 6pm on Saturday.

[Panthers_Blue]

Bump

[PantherRob82]

Should be a good one. Hard to tell how good either team is so far.

[Mountain Panther]

Ahhhh the never ending battles of the Illinois directionals.....

[nmatsen]

Good luck to both teams. We don't play EIU this year (until we play them in the first round of the play-offs in the UNI Dome) but am looking foward to seeing how ISU performs. I am still scratching my head over the Drake loss. I am hoping that seeing a summary and a score from this game will help scratch the itch.

[TTUEagles]

Good luck to our OVC brethren from TTU. EIU looked really good in the opener (then again, look who you played, unfortunately for us this year), and I was really impressed with QB & Rucker. The Drake loss is a puzzler, and no disrespect, but that swings my prediction in favor of the home team...

[Maroons]

I'll be pulling for the Panthers!

[TheBisonator]

Gotta pull for my fellow Gateway members, the Redbirds!!:D

[REALBird]

Ahhhh the never ending battles of the Illinois directionals.....

WHO YOU CALLING A DIRECTIONAL? I'm sure it was an honest mistake, but as our esteemed Athletic Director so often says, you don't need a compass to find ILLINOIS STATE on the map!

We have and never will be a directional school.

[appfan2008]

should be a good game between ranked teams

[Panthers_Blue]

Where have all the ISU fans gone? There used to be a lot more who would post on thread like this one.

Anyway Saturday is going to be a very good game.

[birdsflyhigh]

Some Redbird fans are predicting an EIU victory in Charleston, but I'm NOT one of them. I've got the Birds winning 21-17. After ISU's unexpected opening loss to Drake, the Redbirds have to play their top game each and every game the rest of the way this season. There really is NO room for error with the type of ultra-tough schedule ISU faces.

EIU looks to again be the top OVC team, and the annual ISU-EIU game seems to usually go right down to the wire. I expect the same and almost wouldn't have it any other way.

Go get 'em Birds!!!! xnodx

[purduecrum]

WHO YOU CALLING A DIRECTIONAL? I'm sure it was an honest mistake, but as our esteemed Athletic Director so often says, you don't need a compass to find ILLINOIS STATE on the map!

We have and never will be a directional school.

Illinois State has directional envy. Maybe they should have been Central Illinois?

At any rate... make the EIU QB think he is under pressure from a superior defense and he will throw the ball in less time than it takes to receive the ball from under center.

While sacked only once last week Stinson was only 15 of 32 passing against one of the more questionable pass defenses (and pass rushes) in FBS. Either EIU had a poor plan going into last Saturday or they just failed to execute. Much of the first half appeared to be EIU failing to adapt to the speed (or at least the expected speed) of the Purdue defense. Maybe a change in mental mindset will produce a different team this weekend?

[Panthers_Blue]

EIU Women's Rugby are playing in the FIRST EVER NCAA RUGBY GAME! Today history will be made on the Panther Rugby Field and then tonight EIU will change history and beat ISU!

Go Panthers

[ISUMatt]

EIU is bad vs the pass and ISU hasnt shown they can pass so far this season...This is an important game for ISU...1 unexpected loss already, and mizzou next weekend...the way it looks, ISU will not be contending for the GFC crown, so this game right here may have playoff inplications for ISU...ISU defeated EIU in the playoffs last yr 24-13 in Charleston in a game that ISU brought more fans than EIU...

[ISUMatt]

Word from O'Brien Stadium is that the tailgate has been taken over by REDBIRD fans...more red than blue on the grills!!!

As always you can listen to the game at www.wjbc.com

Livestats here: http://livestats.internetconsult.com/eiu/football

[skinny_uncle]

WHO YOU CALLING A DIRECTIONAL? I'm sure it was an honest mistake, but as our esteemed Athletic Director so often says, you don't need a compass to find ILLINOIS STATE on the map!

We have and never will be a directional school.
Easy.
Southern Cal is a directional school and they haven't done too bad.

[ISUMatt]

7 minutes till Kickoff in Charleston, IL

[skinny_uncle]

7 minutes till Kickoff in Charleston, IL
Good luck today, Matt.
xthumbsupx

[ISUMatt]

Good luck today, Matt.
xthumbsupx

Thanks Skinny, We are going to need it!!!

[ISUMatt]

ISU wins the toss and defers...EIU will receive

[ISUMatt]

EIU returns it to the EIU 28

[ISUMatt]

FUMBLE...REDBIRDS RECOVER at the EIU 47...Jarek Thomas on the recovery!!

[ISUMatt]

3rs and 5 and Drone runs a draw for an ISU 1st Down

[ISUMatt]

Redbirds in the Redzone...

[ISUMatt]

1st and goal Redbirds!!!

[ISUMatt]

TOUCHDOWN ILLINOIS STATE!!!

Luke Drone to Garin Harcar 6 yards (Funk Kick)

Illinois St 7
Eastern Illinois 0
-1st Quarter 10:23

[ISUMatt]

EIU tries a reverse on the return and it backfires...EIU to start at their own 13

[ISUMatt]

TD EIU

Adeniji 8 yd TD run

Illinois St 7
Eastern Illinois 7
-1st Quarter 5:40

[ISUMatt]

ISU forced to punt

[ISUMatt]

EIU to punt

[ISUMatt]

23 yard FG Tyler Funk

Illinois State 10
Eastern Illinois 7
-2nd Quarter 13:22

[ISUMatt]

Stinson to Rucker TD EIU

Eastern Illinois 14
Illinois St 10
-2nd 8:54

[ISUMatt]

ISU punts it away...EIU to start at the 4

[ISUMatt]

EIU to punt...bad news for ISU...DT Jarek Thomas has a broken ankle

[ISUMatt]

TOUCHDOWN ILLINOIS STATE!!!

Luke Drone to Kedric Meredith 22 yards (Funk Kick)

Illinois St 17
Eastern Illinois 14
-2nd Quarter 0:14

[ISUMatt]

Illinois State 17
Eastern Illinois 14
-Halftime

[ISUMatt]

2nd half underway!!!

[ISUMatt]

both teams trade punts to start the 2nd half

[ISUMatt]

Drone picked off at the EIU 5....17-14 ISU

[ISUMatt]

EIU to punt...defense has adjusted so far

[ISUMatt]

Drone picked off again oin a real bad call...the EIU radio guys are laughing about the bad call

[ISUMatt]

EIU changes QBs

[ISUMatt]

EIU Scored!!

Eastern Illinois 21
Illinois St 17
-4th Quarter 13:05

[ISUMatt]

TOUCHDOWN ILLINOIS STATE!!!

Rafael Rice 2 yd Run (Funk Kick)

Illinois St 24
Eastern Illinois 21
-4th Qtr 6:52

[ISUMatt]

EIU 4th down...decision time for the Panthers

[ISUMatt]

Punted down at the ISU 12 4:47 remains

[ISUMatt]

1st Down Redbirds!!!!

[crunifan]

Come on ISU! Win it for the Gateway!!!

[Zoo]

Seems like a darn good game, wish I could watch it.

[ISUMatt]

ISU forced to punt

[ISUMatt]

1 minute left EIU in ISU territory

[ISUMatt]

EIU fumbles the ball while trying to spike the ball...ISU wins!!!

Illinois State 24
Eastern Illinois 21
-Final

[crunifan]

Congrats Redbirds. Good win!

[skinny_uncle]

Congrats, Redbirds. It looks like you are back on track.

[Panthers_Blue]

Well i jut got back to my place after the game.... and well I learned a lot tonight, for both teams. Ill State doesn't seem like they were last year. Drone isn't Drone. He missed a lot of passes but did make a few of them for big first downs. When they get into Gateway play they might have a few issues. ISU's D didn't have much luck stoping the run. They did make some key plays but for most of the game EIU could run the ball where ever.

EIU well.......... very intresting to see Stinson pulled for Reeder. I kind of understand why they did since Reeder has some legs and he really gave ISU some fits when he come as for when Stinson was in the game, he didn't seem to be picking up much of his reads in the pocket. EIU established the run very well tonight they pounded the ball up and down the field most of the night.

Overall a great game there is a reason these two teams are ranked in the nation. In the end Reeder couldn't handle the ball on the attempted spike. EIU will go one into to next weeks game against In. St and shouldn't have to much trouble then in the OVC play they should be fine. ISU will have harder time in the Gateway. In the end I think EIU is the better team this year, they just made a costly mistake at the end.

I hope we get to see this matchup in the playoffs on down the road.

[birdsflyhigh]

WOW!!!! Yet another gangbuster game in the ISU-EIU series. Congrats Birds on a great win on the road! That was one important game to pull out considering now the Birds travel to Columbia, MO to take on the 0 the Missouri Tigers. And ISU will be going in at 2-1 instead of the other option.

As always EIU comes to play and the game was a battle all the way. I have no doubt that the Panthers will do some serious damage in the OVC.

The downside to the victory tonight is that ISU lost one of their key defensive players for the season...broken ankle. That's a tough loss because now the Birds travel to Columbia, MO to take on undefeated and top 20 FBS ranked Missouri. The Tigers are picked to win the Big 12 North. But ISU has suprised just about everyone the past couple of seasons by throwing scares into both Kansas St. and Iowa St. IMHO MIssouri (when the season all shakes out) just might be THE toughest FBS opponent that any FCS takes on.

The sting of the that season opening loss to Drake is a bit less now that ISU demolished Murray St. last week and takes out EIU on the road this week. If the Redbirds play Missouri competitive, then they'll be in good shape to begin doing weekly battle in the ultra-tough Gateway.

Go get 'em Birds!! xrotatehx

[Golden Eagle]

EIU fumbles the ball while trying to spike the ball...

I'm having trouble picturing that. All he has to do is slam his arm downwards really quickly when he senses he's not going to have the ball. The refs won't notice.

[strike00]

yeah, how exactly do you fumble a spike? Or did he just mishandle the snap and it just happened to be on a spike play?

Good win ISU!

[PantherRob82]

I would guess a mishandle. Tough break for the Panthers, good win for the Gateway. Still curious on how Illinois State will finish out. Tough injury.

[ISUMatt]

ILLINOIS ST EASTRN ILLINOIS
First downs 21 21
Rushed-yards 37-143 44-212
Passing yards 267 195
Sacked-yards lost 0-0 0-0
Return yards 2 9
Passes 20-31-2 20-28-0
Punts 4-40.8 5-40.4
Fumbles-lost 1-0 3-2
Penalties-yards 5-52 7-37
Time of possession 30:04 29:56

The stats say this was a close game and it was...EIU ran the ball at will and ISU finally got its passing game going...ISU won the battle of turnovers and it cost EIU at the end of the game...The stats are right down the middle here, and I would have NEVER in my life bet ISU won by a FG since our STs are so bad...anyway a win is a win and a win over a ranked opponent at their place is huge...On to Columbia next weekend to take some lumos, then time to focus on the GFC...ISU needs to be better in order to knock off some teams and qualify for the playoffs