SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — With redshirt freshmen Cole Anderson at left tackle and Garrett Hirsch at center making their first college starts, that might appear to be a cause for Illinois State's paltry 42 first-half rushing yards Saturday at Plaster Stadium.
Yet Illinois State coach Brock Spack and Redbird quarterback Jake Kolbe were not buying what that theory was selling after the Redbirds' 34-9 victory over Missouri State.
"I thought they played great and the offensive line played great in general," Kolbe said. "We didn't finish drives early, and that led to us not doing very well the first half.