NORMAL, Ill. -- Luther Kirk returned an interception 39 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter and Illinois State pulled away for a 33-16 victory over Western Illinois in Missouri Valley Football Conference play on Saturday.
Kirk's interception return was sandwiched around two James Robinson TD runs in the final quarter as the Redbirds (4-1, 1-1), ranked 14th in the FCS coaches' poll, erased a 16-12 deficit.
Sean McGuire had two TD passes in the first half for the Leathernecks (2-3, 1-1) -- a 16-yarder to Tony Tate and a 35-yarder to Steve McShane with 60 seconds left in the second quarter for a 13-12 halftime lead.