Illinois State cornerback Key Crowell’s interception return for a touchdown last weekend against Indiana State helped the Redbirds to a 17-10 victory. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Barry Bottino
Ask Key Crowell about his last interception, and the Illinois State cornerback delivers a lightning-fast response.
“Seven hundred and twenty-one days ago,” he said. “My last interception was also a pick-six. That was 721 days ago at the University of Indianapolis.”
Crowell’s recall of that play speaks to how he’s impacted the Redbird defense this fall. His most recent interception return for a TD, which came last Saturday in a 17-10 victory against Indiana State, was due to a good memory.
He worked on Indiana State’s out routes in practice, identified one of them during the game then snagged a second-quarter Brandon Allen pass then sprinted 48 yards into the south end zone at Hancock Stadium.
“It was a huge play,” ISU head coach Brock Spack said of Crowell, who has been playing the “field” cornerback position. “That was the difference in the game. With those out routes, you have to fly over a lot of grass. You’ve got to be ready.”
Crowell and the Redbirds (6-2 overall, 2-2 Missouri Valley Football Conference) will continue their quest for a return to the FCS playoffs Saturday with a 1 p.m. home game against Murray State (1-7, 0-4).
The play provided a boost for Crowell, who spent last season in a limited role at FBS East Carolina after earning all-region and all-conference honors as a true freshman at Division II UIndy in 2024.
“It feels amazing just being able to feel proud of myself again,” he said. “But I’m not satisfied.”
Preparation is a hallmark for Crowell. He and fellow cornerback Doreon Dubose, who plays the “boundary” spot, are used to intense study techniques each week. Their work includes knowing the ins and outs of the field and boundary player’s jobs.
“Me and Duke (Dubose) can play both,” Crowell said. “We study the playbook. We study field corner, boundary corner. That way, if it ever comes down to that, we can adjust and play. We’re ready for those moments.”
The preparation among ISU’s cornerbacks, Crowell said, involves knowing the defensive alignment, each other’s job and that of the linebackers. Having that knowledge could help a teammate get lined up correctly if someone is out of position.
“We study it all,” he said. “We try to be the smartest players out there. That could save us. You never know. We walk through it during the week. We take turns where we switch positions.”
The study sessions also include weekly tests from cornerbacks coach Dru Richardson.
“The tests the Coach Rich gives us get us ready,” Crowell said. “He’ll draw a formation out on the board, give us a call and we’ll draw out what everybody’s got. It helps a lot so that it’s fast for us on the field.”
Kickoff: 1 p.m.; TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: WJBC.com
Key matchup to watch
ISU O-line vs. Murray State DE Jayden Walker: A senior from Mississippi, Walker has blossomed as a pass rusher this season with a team-leading five sacks and 11 tackles for loss. He had two sacks last weekend against South Dakota State and three TFLs Oct. 3 against North Dakota.
What’s at stake?
A win would put the Redbirds at 7-2 heading into a rugged November schedule with road trips to North Dakota and Youngstown State, followed by the season finale at home against South Dakota.
Quick hits
Quarterback Beckham Pellant had a tough day against Indiana State, completing 16 of 32 passes for 174 yards and throwing two interceptions. After studying the game film, Spack said Pellant was disrupted by not having a clean pocket most of the day. “There was a lot of talk about the quarterback,” Spack said. “He didn’t have much of a pocket. I didn’t think we played very well up front. The pocket kind of collapsed on him quite a bit. That’s the worst game we’ve played here in a couple of years up front. They picked a bad day to have a bad day.” … After holding Indiana State to 2-for-5 last weekend in the red zone, the Illinois State defense improved its national ranking to No. 2 in red zone defense. The Redbirds are allowing opponents to score only 54.5% of the time inside their own 20-yard line. … ISU ranks eighth in FCS this week in rushing defense, allowing only 104.4 yards per game. The Redbirds have allowed six rushing touchdowns in eight games. Only six teams in the country have allowed fewer TDs on the ground. … Over the last three seasons, ISU is 17-2 in road games against FCS opponents. … On Tuesday, Spack announced that junior wide receiver Luke Mailander has been dismissed from the team. Against Indiana State, Mailander was involved in a sideline incident with two teammates. “I felt that was the best decision for both he and us,” Spack said. “He’s no longer with the program.”
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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