Illinois State (2-1) features a defense that has limited two of three opponents to fewer than 100 rushing yards. St. Xavier of Chicago netted minus-55 yards and Eastern Illinois rushed for 94 yards. ISU opponents have converted only 14 of 52 third-down plays, or 26.9 percent.
Division I-AA All-America linebacker Boomer Grigsby leads this defense. He has averaged 10 tackles a game, leads the Gateway Conference with three sacks and is tied for the league lead with four tackles for loss. . . .
Redbirds quarterback Yance Vaughn was named Gateway offensive player of the week for completing 19 of 30 passes for 219 yards and three TDs in a 35-31 comeback victory over the Panthers. Vaughan, leading the conference with 275 passing yards per game, also scored the winning touchdown on a late 3-yard run. . . .
ISU punter Ryan Hoffman leads the league with a 43.4-yard average.