NORMAL, Ill. — In an impressive display of offense, Jacob Clark led the Missouri State Bears to a convincing 41-7 victory over the Illinois State Redbirds in a Missouri Valley Conference matchup on Saturday.

Clark’s standout performance included three touchdown passes, notably a stunning 62-yard connection with DVontae Key during the opening drive, setting the tone for the rest of the game.

Missouri State took charge early, as Michael Teason recovered a fumble from the Redbirds and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown, contributing to a quick 17 points scored in their first three possessions.

By the third quarter, Clark extended the Bears’ lead to 31-0 with an eight-yard touchdown pass to James BlackStrain. However, Illinois State finally responded with a nine-play drive that covered 68 yards, culminating in a nine-yard touchdown run by Wenkers Wright.

Clark’s performance was notable as he completed 24 of his 31 pass attempts for a total of 343 yards, although he did throw one interception. His teammates Dash Luke and Key also made significant contributions, with Luke catching six passes for 88 yards and Key adding two receptions for 81 yards. Jacardia Wright was a key player on the ground, rushing the ball 18 times for 58 yards.

On the other side, Illinois State’s Jake Rubley managed to complete 14 out of 28 pass attempts for 167 yards and an interception. Tommy Rittenhouse also saw action, finishing 9 of 17 for 79 yards with another interception. Wright led the Redbirds’ rushing efforts with 58 yards on 13 carries, while Xavier Loyd was the top receiver with six catches totaling 99 yards.

Overall, Missouri State improved their record to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the conference, while Illinois State moved to 4-3 and 1-2 in conference play.