GAME 7 • VS. INDIANA STATE • OCT. 17, 2009 DOUBLE DIGITS
THE REDBIRD RECORD BOOK ISU Career Rushing Yards 1. Toby Davis (1988-92) 5. Larry Spinks (1973-76) 11. Geno Blow (2006-) ISU Career Rushing Attempts 1. Toby Davis (1988-92) 5. Ron Bell (1970-72) 11. Geno Blow (2006-) ISU Career Rushing TDs 1. Toby Davis (1988-92) 4. Ron Bell (1970-72) Bruce Cullen (1968-69) T-9. Geno Blow (2006-)
GENERAL NOTES • PAGE 4
3702 2523 1908 825 543 386 37 24 24 16
ISU Career Average Yards/Rush 1. Demetrus Johnson (2003-04) 3. Aveion Cason (1998-99) 10. Geno Blow (2006-)
5.58 5.41 4.94
ISU Career Average Yards/Game 1. Ron Bell (1970-72) 5. Sha-Ron Edwards (2002-03) 9. Geno Blow (2006-)
134.8 79.9 63.6
ISU Career Receiving Yards 1. Laurént Robinson (2003-06) 4. Vito Golson (1999-02) 5. Eyad Salem (2007-)
3007 2014 1828
ISU Career Receptions 1. Laurént Robinson (2003-06) 3. Clarence Collins (1980-83) 4. Eyad Salem (2007-)
192 147 146
ISU Career Receiving TDs 1. Laurént Robinson (2003-06) 4. Vito Golson (1999-02) 5. Eyad Salem (2007-)
29 17 16
ISU Career Average Yards/Catch 1. Eyad Salem (2007-) 2. Clarence Collins (1980-83) 3. Laurént Robinson (2003-06)
5.21 4.59 4.47
Illinois State had 10 different receivers catch a pass in Saturday’s game with the Salukis from redshirt freshman quarterback Matt Brown, the first time the Redbirds have had double-digit receivers since Sept. 10, 2005. Former Redbird signal caller Luke Drone completed 24 passes to 10 different receivers in the 56-19 win over Drake and passed for 344 yards in the contest. Laurent Robinson led the Redbirds with nine catches for 163 yards and three touchdowns in that game.
PICKED OFF The Redbird secondary has been much improved during the 2009 season, logging an interception in five of Illinois State’s six contests. The secondary has intercepted eight passes, more than double last season’s total (3). Junior cornerback E.J. Jones leads the team with three interceptions and senior cornerback Chris Garrett has two, including one for a touchdown. Junior safety Kelvyn Hemphill joined the fray with an interception on a desperation pass by Chris Dieker, just before halftime of last week’s game at Southern Illinois.
AMONG THE BEST IN THE NATION Illinois State’s passing attack is one of the best in the nation. The Redbirds averaged 266.0 yards passing in the first six games, which ranks as the No. 13 total in the nation. After turning in back-to-back 14 catch performances, Eyad Salem is also near the top of the receptions per game leader board. Salem is second behind Fordham’s Terrell Hudgins (10.83), with 8.67 catches per game. Salem’s 87.5 receiving yards per game is the 16th-best tally in the nation.
CAN YOU SPARE A DIME? Illinois State started six cornerbacks against Southern Illinois on Saturday. The Redbirds have used the nickel, a five defensive back formation in several games, but started six for the first time this season against the Salukis. Chris Garrett and Johntel Franklin started at corner for the Redbirds with Casey Kociuba as the nickel back and Otis Merrill as the dime back. Jermaine Malcolm and Kelvyn Hemphill also started as safeties.
ABOUT MR. BROWN Illinois State quarterback Matt Brown threw for a career-best 321 yards in a personal homecoming game at Southern Illinois last Saturday. The Marion, Ill. native has topped 300 yards in back-to-back games after passing for 320 in the Redbirds road win at North Dakota State (Oct. 3). Brown, a redshirt freshman, has three games with over 300 yards passing in the first five starts of his career. The mark ties Kevin Glenn for the second-most games over 300 yards passing in a single-season. Glenn accomplished the feat twice, first in 1997 and then again in 1998. With five games left in the regular season, its conceivable that Brown could reach Luke Drone’s mark of five games over 300 yards, set in 2005.
GREAT START AND FINISH Illinois State quarterback Matt Brown had quite the opening act during Saturday’s 27-24 win at North Dakota State. Brown completed 20-of-23 passes for 213 yards and two scores before halftime. He continued to perform well after the intermission en route to a career-best 30-of-42 passes completed and a career-high 320 yards. Brown saved his best for the Redbirds’ last drive of the game when he completed 3-of-4 passes and scrambled for 20 yards while leading an eight-play, 68-yard scoring drive to put Illinois State on top for good. Brown’s 320 yards are the most by a Redbird quarterback since Luke Drone threw for 342 against Drake in 2005.
FOR THE RECORD
Eyad Salem
Redbird senior wide receiver Eyad Salem hauled in a career-best and school-record-tying 14 receptions in Illinois State’s 27-24 win over North Dakota State Saturday. Salem tied Laurent Robinson and Dwayne Smith at the top of Illinois State’s single game receptions chart. The mark ties four others for third-most catches in a game in Valley history, and second-most in a MFVC football game behind UNI’s Eddie Galles (16 vs. SIU in 2003). Salem also finished the game with 172 yards receiving. Through five games, Salem is the Redbirds reception leader with 38 grabs on the season.
PUNTING WITH AUTHORITY Senior punter Kevin Mazur has had two of his best games as the ISU punter in his last two. Against Southern Illinois (Oct. 10), Mazur punted four times for an average of 45.2 yards per kick including a career-long 51-yarder. Those numbers bested his previous career marks of 41.8 yards per punt and a long of 49 yards in the victory at North Dakota State (Oct. 3) that earned him MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. On the season, Mazur has punted 27 times and is averaging 38.7 yards per kick.