NORMAL, Ill. (AP) - Steve LaFalce completed 15 of 23 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns Saturday to lead Western Illinois over Illinois State 31-17.

LaFalce also ran 2 yards for a touchdown on the game's first drive. Western Illinois (3-6, 1-4 Gateway) padded its lead as LaFalce connected with Marco Thomas on a 98-yard touchdown pass. Travis Glasford caught LaFalce's second touchdown pass with just 33 seconds remaining in the second quarter, giving the Leathernecks a 21-3 halftime lead.

Luke Drone led Illinois State (5-4, 2-3 Gateway), completing 24 of 41 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns. Pierre Jackson caught both scores and finished with 5 receptions for 71 yards. But the Redbirds had a one-sided attack; they only managed 40 yards rushing on 36 carries in the loss. Drone was sacked six times by the Western Illinois defense.