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NORMAL, Ill. -- All-American Marshaun Coprich played only three quarters as No. 4/5 Illinois State posted a 67-14 home-opening blowout victory on Saturday.
 
Coproch ran for 130 yards on 20 carries and scored three touchdowns against Morgan State (0-2), while Tre Roberson, the team's star quarterback, completed 9 of 13 passes for 259 yards and tossed four touchdowns, three of which were to Anthony Warrum (5 rec., 125 yds). 
 
Illinois State (1-1) scored on its first six possessions of the night as the Redbirds extended its home-winning streak to 14 before a record home crowd of 13,391 at Hancock Stadium.
 
The Redbirds led 22-0 at the end of the first quarter, before the Bears finally started having success moving the ball.
 
Lamont Brown III started the drive with the Bears' first big play of the game by breaking off a 17-yard run. Redshirt senior quarterback Moses Skillon followed it up with a 33-yard pass to freshman wideout Brian Gentry (4 rec., 51 yds).  Orlando Johnson scored on an option-pitch from Skillon to put the Bears on the scoreboard. The extra point by junior Chris Moller trimmed the Redbirds' lead to 22-7 with 14:21 remaining in the second quarter.
 
The Redbirds responded on the ensuing kickoff when George Moreira raced 41-yards on the return. On 1^st and 10 from the ISU 43, senior quarterback Tre Roberson dropped back and completed a playaction pass to Anthony Warrum who ran right by safety Peterson Janvier for the score.  The Redbirds scored one more time before the half when Coprich capped a 12 play, 91-yard drive with a 22-yard bolt up the middle, breaking a tackle on his way to his second TD of the night. The Bears trailed 36-7.
 
Morgan State threatened to score toward the end of the half, but a 19-yard field goal attempt by Moller sailed wide left.
 
The Redbirds continued to pour it on in the second half outscoring the Bears 31-7.
 
Morgan State's only other score of the night came when Seth Higgins entered the ballgame late in the third quarter. Higgins, who has not played for the Bears since suffering an injury in 2013, engineered a 10 play, 67-yard drive and completed a 17-yard TD pass to Brian Gentry.  The Bears trailed 57-14, but Redbirds would proceed to finish off the Bears with a field goal make by Sean Slattery and George Moreira scored on a one yard run to put the finishing touches on a 67-14 victory.

Morgan State head coach Lee Hull spoke about the Redbirds' offensive performance. "They [ISU] were in the national championship game last year, and should have won the game. They have their quarterback who's really good, their running back is very good, and they have a very good football team. "
 
"I really like what they do offensively. They play to their strengths."

The Bears offense finished with 256 yards compared to 488 yards put up by Illinois State. Morgan State's defense was led by Joel Scott.  The senior linebacker posted seven tackles, two tackles for loss and a QB hurry, while Peterson Janvier added five stops. Dalonte Jenifer recorded the Bears' first sack of the season.
 
Morgan State will attempt to break into the win column when they host Virginia-Lynchburg next Saturday at 4 p.m. in Hughes Stadium.