Redbirds kicker Stephen Carroll needed only nine minutes of the 2004 season to kick two extra points in Illinois State’s 44-14 victory over St. Xavier. These kicks were Carroll’s 85th and 86th straight PATs and broke Paul Politi’s 18-year-old school record.
Carroll missed his next PAT try, however, before making four more. Saturday he will try to extend his new streak against nationally ranked Minnesota in the Metrodome.
ISU will be playing a Big Ten opponent on the road for the third straight season. Purdue beat Illinois State 51-10 in 2002. Illinois won 49-22 last year. . . .
Antwan Oliver, Evan Allen-Gessesse and Alex Filin each intercepted a pass against St. Xavier. Illinois State also was tough against the run. St. Xavier netted minus-55 yards, averaging minus-1.4 yards in its 39 carries against star linebacker Boomer Grigsby and his fellow defenders.