NORMAL, Ill. — Freshmen Nigel White and Pha’leak Brown combined for 220 yards rushing to lead Illinois State to a 26-18 victory over Western Illinois on Saturday.
The Redbirds (1-3, 1-3 Missouri Valley) have won 10 of the last 11 against Western Illinois (0-4, 0-4).
White carried it 14 times for a career-high 112 yards, and Brown had 21 carries for a season-best 108 yards and one touchdown. Kevin Brown added 42 yards rushing and a score, and the trio each had a run of over 20 yards.
The Redbirds’ Bryce Jefferson was 17-of-23 passing for 167 yards with a touchdown.
Pha’leak Brown scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter, and Kevin Brown broke loose and ran untouched for a 25-yard score that stretched the Redbirds’ lead to 23-3 late in the third quarter.
Tony Tate scored on a 9-yard run and Connor Sampson threw a 17-yard TD pass to Dennis Houston in the fourth for the Leathernecks. Sampson completed 22 of 42 passes for 193 yards.
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