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NORMAL, Ill. — Zack Annexstad threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, Jalen Carr returned a kickoff 98 yards to the end zone and Illinois State rallied to beat Valparaiso 28-21. Annexstad staked Illinois State (1-1) to a 7-0 first-quarter lead with a 35-yard scoring strike to Nigel White. Mason Kaplan pulled Valparaiso (1-1) even with an 8-yard touchdown toss to Matt Ross. The Beacons grabbed a 14-7 lead in the second quarter when the Redbirds' Franky West muffed a punt and Caleb Rao recovered it in the end zone. The lead lasted until Carr returned the ensuing kickoff for touchdown to knot the score. Annexstad gave the Redbirds a 21-14 halftime lead when he ran 8 yards for a score on a keeper midway through the period.
