As I alluded to on another message board, we have won 6 of our last 7 MVFC road games. The lone loss in that span coming on a last second field goal to UNI last year, a game we all know we should have won.
In addition, the last 2 meetings in Normal ended on a sour note. In Wolf's first year we lost on a Hail Mary pass with .7 seconds remaining to the Redbirds 41-39. I remember sitting in a parking lot waiting to leave my car thinking we were going to win and that happened. It was the story of our season that year. Then two years ago we led 28-7 and led into the 4th quarter 28-21, before losing 35-28. That was a game where we went ultra conservative in the 2nd half and it cost us as we could not get a stop on defense.
I expect a similar type affair this year, but the X factor is the fact our defense has played very well this year. I like how our defense sets up against their QB, Indiana transfer Tre Robinson, a dual threat QB. Robinson is completing just 53% of his passes this year and he has 8 interceptions as well. He is quicker and better than MSU's Kierra Harris, but he is a similar type QB. If we can have a game plan like we had against Harris, which is to stop the QB from rushing and forcing him into passing, I think we will be successful.
This has the makings to be a great one.
YSU 28
ILSU 24