NORMAL — A hard-hitting Illinois State defense that produced four turnovers and limited Saint Xavier to minus 30 net yards rushing carried the Redbirds to a 46-0 victory in the season opener Saturday at Hancock Stadium.
ISU took an early 7-0 lead when Cougars punter Kyle Hassert dropped an on-target snap and was mowed under by Malachi Broadnax at the 13.
A Ty DeForest interception made possible by a crunching hit by Zack Mathews on Saint Xavier quarterback Alex Martinez set the Redbirds up at the Cougars' 9-yard line.
After a loss, Brady Davis' first touchdown pass as a Redbird was a 15-yard strike to tight end Tylor Petkovich for a 14-0 lead.