NORMAL, Ill. – Kurtis Wilderman scored a pair of rushing touchdowns and the Sycamores defense limited the Illinois State offense after the opening drive as Indiana State closed out the 2021 season, 15-10.
 
Wilderman put the Sycamores (5-6, 3-5 MVFC) ahead for good with a one-yard quarterback keeper with 3:58 remaining in the fourth quarter for his second touchdown plunge of the day to put Indiana State ahead of the Redbirds late. Rylan Cole came through on the ensuing Illinois State (4-7, 2-6 MVFC) possession as the freshman safety forced a fumble late and Jalen Moss came up with the loose ball to set off the celebration on the Indiana State sidelines.
 
The win marked Indiana State's first win in Normal, Ill. since the 1997 season and eighth road win in the series overall dating back to the inaugural opener back in 1936. The victory came in large part due to the defensive effort following the opening possession.
 
The Indiana State defense limited the Redbirds to just 280 total yards and 15 first downs in the contest, while the Sycamores took advantage of a key turnover in the third quarter to get the offense rolling in the second half.
 
JJ Henderson stepped in front of a Redbird pass midway through the third quarter for his third interception of the season and set up the Sycamores' first touchdown drive. The Sycamores limited the Redbirds to a 28.6 (4-of-14) conversion on third downs and held Illinois State to 28:45 in the time of possession battle.
 
Wilderman went 21-of-38 through the air for a career-high 243 yards, while adding 11 carries for 36 yards and a pair of touchdown in the win. Peterson Kerlegrand added 19 carries for 61 yards, while Dante Hendrix paced 11 players in the receiving column with five catches for 55 yards.
 
Geoffrey Brown paced the Sycamores defensive efforts with a career-high 12 tackles (nine solo), while Kris Reid Jr. and Henrik Barndt each posted sacks. Henderson's interception and Cole's forced fumble were key to a big effort by the ISU secondary that limited the Redbirds to 194 passing yards in the contest.
 
Jackson Waring helmed the Redbirds' passing game going 17-of-31 through the air for 194 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Cole Mueller finished with 20 carries for 99 yards, while Tanner Taula paced the receiving efforts with six catches for 58 yards.
 
Dillon Gearhart was the Illinois State defensive leader with 10 tackles, while Keondre Jackson added a sack in the backfield. Jacob Powell added 2.5 tackles for loss for the Redbirds.
 
How They Scored

• Illinois State struck first as Jackson Waring found Austin Nagel for a 40-yard touchdown pass on the Redbirds' opening play from scrimmage to give the hosts the 7-0 lead with 13:49 remaining in the first quarter.
• The Redbirds added a late score just before the halftime break as JT Bohlken connected on a 34-yard field goal to cap off a 10-play, 63-yard drive that spanned the final 2:41 of the second quarter and put Illinois State ahead 10-0.
• Kurtis Wilderman called his own number with a six-yard touchdown run at the 3:50 mark in the third quarter to cap a six-play, 37-yard drive set up by a JJ Henderson interception. The Sycamores successfully converted the two-point conversion with Travis Reiner finding Wyatt Harwood for the catch to put the score at 10-8 in the contest.
• Wilderman was back in the end zone with 3:58 remaining in the fourth quarter as the senior quarterback went up the middle for the one-yard quarterback keeper to cap the 12-play, 67-yard drive and put Indiana State ahead 15-10.

 
Inside the Statistics

• Indiana State held the 342-280 advantage in total yards and the Sycamores posted 18 first downs in the win.
• The Sycamores held onto the ball for 31:15 in the contest, their third game with at least 31 minutes of total possession on the year.
• The Sycamores aired the ball out averaging 11.6 yards per completion in the game.
• Indiana State held the 99-86 rushing advantage in the contest as well.
• Key to the Sycamores' success on the day was their ability to sustain drives as ISU went 7-of-17 on third downs and converted their lone fourth-down attempt.

News & Notes

• Travis Reiner tied a career-high with a 59-yard punt midway through the second quarter as the redshirt junior put the ball down to the Illinois State 15-yard line. It equaled the longest punt of his career after connecting on a 59-yarder back on November 17, 2018 at Western Illinois.
• Zach Larkin (16) and Rontrez Morgan (14) both extended their receiving streak in the first half as the duo both wrapped up their Indiana State careers with double-digit games with a reception.
• Dante Hendrix continued his own receiving streak in the second quarter as the redshirt junior wide receiver closed out the 2021 season with catches in each of the last 27 games he's lined up on the field.
• JJ Henderson hauled in his team-leading third interception of the season in the third quarter against the Redbirds.
• Kris Reid Jr. and Henrik Barndt snapped the Sycamores sack-less streak as Indiana State had gone the previous three games without a quarterback takedown.
• Indiana State improved to 32-38-2 in the all-time series and picked up their third win the last five meetings between the two teams.
• Kurtis Wilderman had career-highs in completions (21), attempts (38), yards (243), and rushing touchdowns (2) in the win.
• Peterson Kerlegrand finished the 2021 regular season with a career-high 830 rushing yards, eclipsing his previous mark of 746 set back in the 2019 season.
• Travis Reiner also hit a career mark with 22 punts downed inside the 20-yard line, eclipsing his mark of 19 set in 2019. His 10 punts of 50-or-more yards were also a career mark.

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