Illinois State routs St. Francis 76-0, sets record

Illinois State, ranked No. 4 in the FCS, dominated St. Francis of Illinois 76-0 in the season opener, setting a Hancock Stadium points record as they scored on its first 10 drives. Quarterback Gage Roy threw three touchdowns while completing all of his second-half attempts, and Tyler Lofton rushed for 119 yards with two scores, contributing to a 353 rushing-yard performance for the Redbirds. Beckham Pellant added 114 yards on six completions and two touchdowns, with the team finishing 21 of 24 passing for 236 yards and six touchdowns without an interception. The offense erupted with four second-quarter TDs, including Lofton’s 85-yard run and Pellant’s 48-yard TD pass to Dylan Lord, to push the halftime lead to 48-0, while the defense held the NAIA opponent to minimal yardage. The lopsided victory extended ISU’s program-record scoring output in a single game and showcased a dominant all-around performance across offense and defense.