Oct. 18, 2014 Recap | Final Stats
Head Coach Terry Allen
Opening statement
"It was a fun day. I thought we played really well in the first half. A lot goes into Homecoming, and fortunately, the football team held up their end of it. I thought it was a great day to be in Springfield. Everything about it was first class and fun. It obviously starts at the top with President [Clif] Smart. Give [Director of Athletics] Kyle [Moats] a lot of credit. Give [Senior Director of Athletics Development] Kevin Greim a lot of credit - the atmosphere in the BearFest Village was great. There were over 100 groups out there, our guys were fired up - it was like a powder keg waiting to go off. Fortunately, Malik [Earl] ignited it and we did some really good things.
In the first half, we had 13 first downs; we had no interceptions, no fumbles, no penalties. Being able to take the final possession of the first half and scoring with it after what happened last week I think was probably the difference in the ballgame. South Dakota will win some games. That's a pretty good football team in there."
Was the offensive line highly motivated this week?
"Yes, and that's important. You saw the push. The pile was going our way, especially in the second half. ... Kierra [Harris] was pretty good today, too. Three touchdown passes, and I think he rushed for 90 yards and scored a touchdown, but he's going to go as that offensive line goes. If we want to give a group hug to a group, it's the offensive line."
On the touchdown pass to Earl?
"As I said, it was a powder keg waiting to go off. The whole BearFest Village and students and everybody ... that play got everybody going."
How big was the win?
"Huge. As a coach you hasten to say, `this is the most important game that you play, but it definitely was huge for us. It was a year ago at Homecoming that we beat South Dakota State, and then went on and won three more in a row. We would sure like to be able to do that again, because it's a crazy league ... South Dakota will beat some teams, no doubt in my mind."
On Harris picking his spots ...
"We threw it 15 times in the first and completed seven of them, three of them were touchdowns. But when you can rush it, it makes the play-action passes that much better. That's the script we like to have every week, sometimes we can't follow it."
On the upcoming road trip to Illinois State and Indiana State ...
"Those were two teams we beat a year ago obviously, we played them at home. We've played some of our best football on the road. So, there's been an emphasis on being away from home. I don't feel that way with this team. We've had success over in Bloomington-Normal before, so let's go 1-0 this week and comeback in a couple of weeks with a couple more victories. That would be awesome because its Southern [Illinois] then."
Senior Guard Richard Galbierz
Did the offensive line have a point to prove today?
"More than anything, we wanted to come out for our Homecoming and just send a message that you guys can really lean on us and pound the rock. We worked hard at it, and the rushing game really opened up this week, and we were more than happy with it."
Was there a sense of urgency to win this game today?
"We started off just thinking that we wanted to get into the playoffs and a loss today would just put us really behind the eight ball, and we just wanted to get momentum and get right back on track."
On the upcoming two-game road trip
"We just have to go back to work. Everyday, just put on the hard hat, go to practice. Practice, practice and prepare as well as we can for the next opponent and get another victory."
Senior Quarterback Kierra Harris
On the Offense ...
"As an offense, you always want to establish the run, and we were able to establish the run pretty early in the game, so that was big on our part."
How does a strong rushing attack help the passing game?
"They start to pack the box so you get 1-on-1 on the outside. We have playmakers on the outside, so when the try to pack the box, it gives them an opportunity to make plays on the outside."
How does a big scramble open the offense?
"When you have Julian Burton, Malik, Eric Christophel out running routes, and everybody's worried about them, and they forget about the quarterback, that gives me a lane to just run in. So big ups to the guys on the outside."
Sophomore Linebacker Dylan Cole
On the difference between non-red-zone and red-zone defense Saturday ...
"I think it was just urgency. I think we got a little too comfortable after a while, especially the first drive of the second half they had. I think we don't need to get so comfortable and make sure we stay focused the entire time and just fly around to the football."
On holding the halftime lead ...
"That was definitely a talk at halftime, `We have been in this position before, we've got to come back out at halftime and make sure we do our job and just finish this thing out.'"
What was the game plan against their offense?
"I don't know if it was with them, I think it was with us. We've given up too many bombs, I said it last week. We gave up five bombs last week, and I believe two of them were touchdowns and the other three led to touchdowns. I think we eliminated the bombs, I'm not sure how many bombs they had ... and I think it showed on the scoreboard."
On special teams ...
"We work on punt everyday, so we understand that football is a game of possession and it's a game of field position. When we don't have the ball, we want to pin them as far away from where they can score as possible, and [punter] Chris Sullens did a great job today."
On the two-game road trip coming up ...
"I think we like playing on the road. I like people telling me I'm not very good, it's just motivation. We understand what we need to do, and we'll get it done."
Redshirt-Freshman Calan Crowder
How does it feel to have such a great rushing game as a team?
"It feels great. Everybody can get in and pound the rock, mainly because of the offensive line, open up those holes."
What was different scoring today as opposed to weeks past?
"It was just our sense of urgency. We want to go down and drive and score ball."
