Box Score Nov. 15, 2014
Box Score
VERMILLION, S.D.—Illinois State running back Marshaun Coprich rushed for 221 yards and two scores to lead the seventh-ranked Redbirds to a 45-26 win against South Dakota Saturday inside the DakotaDome.
Illinois State improved to 9-1 overall and can win at least a share of its first Valley title since 1999 with a win at home against Southern Illinois next weekend. The Coyotes (2-9, 0-7 MVFC) wrap up their season at South Dakota State next Saturday.
Coprich carried 12 times for 157 yards and two scores in the first half and helped the Redbirds fly out to a 21-0 lead four minutes into the second quarter. His 56-yard burst on Illinois State's third play from scrimmage made it 7-0 less than three minutes into the contest.
South Dakota quarterback Kevin Earl passed for a season-high 295 yards and accounted for all four Coyote touchdowns. He threw touchdown passes to Kayl Barkley (2 yards) and Eric Shufford (43 yards) less than 70 seconds apart near the end of the first half that cut the Redbirds' deficit to 21-12. He also scored on two short quarterback sneaks in the fourth quarter.
Miles Bergner, the Coyotes' punter, kickoff man and placekicker this season, was injured in the first half and did not return. South Dakota attempted three two-point conversions and came up empty on each.
Ethan James, a first-year walkon from Vermillion, had an extra point blocked, but right into the hands of teammate Drew Potter, a fullback, who ran in for two points. The conversion made it a one-score game, 28-20, with 14:53 left in the fourth quarter.
Tevin Allen took the ensuing kickoff across midfield. Coprich took the first play 20 yards to the USD 28. The Redbirds later had 1st-and-goal from the 7, but settled for a Nick Aussieker 19-yard field goal and a 31-20 lead with 10:49 to go.
The Coyotes went three plays and out on their next possession and punted back to Illinois State. The Redbirds drained six minutes off the clock and sealed the win when quarterback Tre Roberson ran in from nine yards out to make it 38-20 with 3:19 to go.
Roberson passed for 226 yards and ran for 71. He threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Meredith with 19 seconds left in the first half that gave Illinois State a 28-12 advantage heading into the break. He had a 12-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter that made it 14-0.
Meredith had six catches for 105 yards. South Dakota's Eric Shufford caught six passes for a season-high 138 yards. Teammate Riley Donovan had seven catches for 91 yards.
