Shocker! Slattery's 33-yard FG leads ISU over Northwestern

Posted September 10, 2016 1:00 am

Associated Press

Illinois State kicker Sean Slattery (97) celebrates with quarterback Koty Thelen (17) after scoring the game-winning field goal as Northwestern running back Justin Jackson, left, reacts during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Evanston, Ill., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016. Illinois State won 9-7. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

EVANSTON, - Sean Slattery connected on a 33-yard field goal as time expired to give Illinois State a 9-7 upset of Northwestern on Saturday.

Slattery had missed a field goal and an extra point earlier.

Jake Kolbe completed 30 of his 41 passes for 287 yards and two interceptions, Anthony Warrum had nine receptions for 116 yards and George Moreira had 57 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown for Illinois State (2-0).

Clayton Thorson was 17 of 41 for 191 yards for Northwestern, which fell to 0-2.

Justin Jackson had 39 yards on 11 carries for the Wildcats before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter with an apparent injury.

Thorson connected with Austin Carr on a 10-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-down play early in the fourth quarter that gave the Wildcats a 7-6 edge with 9:04 remaining. That appeared to be the winning score before Kolbe led the Redbirds on an 11-play, 77-yard drive in the final 3:11 for the winning score.

Slattery missed the extra point following Moreira's 6-yard touchdown run just before halftime and missed a 49-yard attempt in the first quarter.

TAKE-AWAY

Illinois State: The Redbirds suffered a 37-3 loss in their previous visit to Ryan Field in 2010. That was coach Brock Spack's second season and Saturday's result shows how far the program has come since then. With Kolbe and Warrum leading a high-powered offensive attack, the Redbirds should again be one of the better teams in FCS.

Northwestern: The struggles against Western Michigan in the opener weren't an aberration. Once again, the offense could not find any consistency and Jackson could not bail them out because the Illinois State defense was keying on him. Thorson cannot seem to get on the same page with his receivers and completions over 10 yards were rare. Defensively, the Wildcats struggled to get off the field and continue to get pushed around in short-yardage situations.

UP NEXT

Illinois State: The Redbirds host Eastern Illinois on Saturday.

Northwestern: The Wildcats season-opening four-game home stand continues Saturday night against Duke.

Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson (18) is tackled by Illinois State defensive end James Graham during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Evanston, Ill., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Illinois State quarterback Jake Kolbe looks to pass against Northwestern during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Evanston, Ill., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Northwestern wide receiver Solomon Vault (4) runs with the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois State in Evanston, Ill., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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