Issue date: 11/10/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jim Moldenhauer /Daily Vidette Photo Editor The Redbirds fell to 2-4 in the MVFC with their 52-21 loss to conference foe South Dakota State Saturday. The 'Birds have two games remaining.

The ISU football team dropped to conference rival South Dakota State 52-21 on what proved to be a record-setting day. The game-time temperature was 25 degrees, the coldest the Redbirds have played a game in 38 years, and winds gusting as high as 30 miles per hour.

Jackrabbits' quarterback Ryan Berry passed for 237 yards and seven touchdowns, setting the Missouri Valley Football Conference record for touchdown passes in a game.

Three of Berry's touchdown passes came within the first nine minutes of the game as South Dakota State (6-4, 5-1 in MVFC) jumped out to a 24-0 lead after the first quarter.

"There's no question about it, the first quarter was rugged - the wind was howling," ISU head coach Denver Johnson said on WJBC after the game. "They won the toss and elected to defend. That's exactly what we would have done had we won the toss."

Going into the teeth of the wind, the Redbirds (3-6, 2-4 MVFC) came out flat on their first drive as senior quarterback Kevin Brockway threw an interception on the third play of the game as wide receiver Marcus King slipped on the play. A couple plays later, Berry threw the first of his seven touchdown passes.

The first quarter proved to be the main difference as the Redbirds and Jackrabbits matched each other with 14 points in the second quarter and seven in the third quarter. The Jackrabbits also added a fourth-quarter touchdown while blanking the Redbirds in the last frame.

Junior wide receiver Eyad Salem scored the first touchdown for the Redbirds on a six-yard pass from Brockway. Salem finished the day with 71 yards on seven receptions.

Senior running back Walter Mendenhall scored on a one-yard touchdown sprint later in the quarter. Mendenhall totaled just 73 rushing yards on 22 carries a week after rushing for three touchdowns and 225 yards on 35 carries against Youngstown State.

With five minutes left in the third quarter, wide receiver Warren McCarty caught a Brockway pass and ran 70 yards for the 'Birds' third score. The reception was McCarty's first as a Redbird.

Continued...

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