Blaine Kinsey

GoSycamores.com

The ISU football team evened its record to 2-2 on the season and got revenge on the Quincy Hawks with a 56-22 win at Memorial Stadium Saturday. Quincy had down the Sycamores by the score of 26-20 in overtime during last year's season opener.

The Sycamores scored early and often in the first half and never shut down the Hawks for the majority of the half.

Senior running back Darrius Gates got things started for the Sycamores scoring on a 31 yard rush to make it 7-0 and then followed up with a 10 yard rushing touchdown to give the Sycamores a 14-0 lead with 6:50 remaining in the first quarter.

The Hawks then got on the board with an 18-yard touchdown pass. However, the ensuing PAT was missed wide right to cut the Sycamore lead to 14-6.

The Sycamores continued their dominance into the second quarter when Gates scored his third touchdown of the game on a three-yard run to give the Sycamores a 21-6 lead.

The Sycamores then began showing off their aerial attack as four of their last five touchdowns of the game came in the air from junior quarterback Ronnie Fouch.

Junior wide receiver Justin Hilton caught two touchdowns for the Sycamores and finished the game with four receptions for 131 yards. Justin Hilton paced ISU with four catches for 131 yards, which was the first time since Carl Berman hauled in 130 yards of receiving yards against Western Illinois in 2006 that a Sycamore receiver eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark.

Junior quarterback Coy Glass replaced Fouch for the majority of the fourth quarter. Glass is the first player other than Fouch to attempt a pass for the Sycamores this season.

Quincy found the end zone twice in the fourth quarter, converting the 2-point conversion after both scores to cut the Sycamore lead to 56-22.

The Sycamores then ran out the clock en route to their second win of the 2010 campaign. With the loss, the Hawks fell to 0-5 on the season. ISU's 2-2 record is the best for the Sycamores through four games since starting the 2004 season with a 3-1 record.

The Sycamores finished the game with 562 yards of total offense with four rushing and passing touchdowns. The Hawks were held to 302 yards of total offense and were held to only 47 yards on the ground.

Fouch led the Sycamores, going 15-17 for 231 yards and four touchdowns. Fouch's four touchdowns marked the first time since the 2006 season that a Sycamore quarterback threw that many touchdown strikes in a contest. Blayne Baggett had four at Western Illinois in 2006.

Gates and freshman running back Shakir Bell both had over 100 yards on the ground for the Sycamores. Gates finished the game with 17 rushes for 139 yards and three touchdowns while Bell had 16 carries for 158 yards. It was the second time this season that Gates and Bell combined for dual 100-yard rushing performances as both also eclipsed the century mark on the ground in the season opener against St. Joseph's (Ind.).

Senior wide receiver Bryant Kent and sophomore wide receiver Tanner Riley both added a touchdown reception for the Sycamores. 

ISU's 42 first half points is the most for a Sycamore team in a half since a 49-point first half as part of a 63-0 victory in 1994.

The Sycamores will return home next Saturday when they play host to the Redbirds of Illinois State on Homecoming Weekend. Kickoff is set for 3:05 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. ISU will be looking to win its conference home opener for the first time since downing the 'Birds by the score of 41-38 in double overtime in 2004.