TE Clay Harbor
On the loss:
"We started off slow, and the past few games we have done the same thing and have been able to overcome it. But it just seemed that we could not get on track, we had some minor mistakes that ended drives. You have to give a lot of credit to Illinois State. They played really physical. They play hard and are a tough football team. They outplayed us today. "
On setting the MSU all-time receptions record during the loss:
"That doesn't mean anything to me right now. I really felt we had a chance to run the table here. At least we had two good opportunities to win here at home, in front of our home crowd and set up a chance to play for the playoffs. It is just real disappointing and disheartening."
QB Cody Kirby
On the ISU physical play:
"They brought it, and we didn't step up to the challenge like we should have."
On the team atmosphere:
"As we go along with this season, I am so thankful I am a part of this team, with these seniors. That is what hurt me the most, that we could not get this win for the seniors. They work extremely hard."
FS Derek Miller
On the ISU Hail Mary touchdown:
I was just trying to run in there and make a play, but I was not able to get my hands on the ball. I am not really sure what happened, it was just one of those fluke plays that went their way."
On the rest of the season:
"We've just got to keep playing hard. We need to keep showing teams in the Missouri Valley Football Conference that we are a good team, that we are one of the top teams and that we are here to compete. We have to do that these last two games. We cannot just give up and fall down and let two other teams beat us when we should beat them."
LB Antoine Wilkinson
On how the loss will change playoff hopes:
"It is very frustrating. We really wanted to win this game so we could have a shot at the playoffs.
Head Coach Terry Allen
On the loss:
"I thought physically they won the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. We didn't turn the ball over, except that we missed a punt. I have never seen that happen in my days of coaching that the ball dropped and the punter missed the ball. But we just got beat at the line of scrimmage."
On the ISU Hail Mary touchdown:
"Well, it is never good when they score with 0.5 seconds on the clock from 40 yards, at home. I thought we could overcome that, but we didn't."
On the Redbirds' play:
"You have to give Illinois State credit. They played hard up front on both sides of the ball and I thought they won the game there."
On the offensive struggles:
"Our first three possessions I don't think we got a first down. They took it to us early and we were not able to establish the run. In the second half, we were playing a little field position and wind game, and I thought we were ok when we were down by seven and got the wind in the fourth quarter. But then we get a first and 10 on the 25 going in, but we ended up going backward. To their credit, they kind of punched it away and kicked the field goal."
On the Redbirds' offensive performance:
"In the first half, every third down situation they attempted to throw the ball and when you complete 63 percent of those, move the chains, hold the ball and maintain possession and get a big play at the end of an attempted punt and at the end of the half, it adds up to a loss."
