Published: August 28, 2008 11:22 pm         

Blow to return from injury vs. Marshall

When Illinois State’s top running back was lost for the season with a broken hand, it was a “Blow” to the team.

Geno Blow was on a roll last year for the Redbirds. He got off to a slow start — a combined 52 yards on 16 carries through the first three games — before catching fire.

He went over 100 yards in five straight games. The streak started against Missouri — the same Division I, nationally ranked Tigers led by Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Chase Daniel.

Blow ran for 116 yards on 21 carries to lead Illinois State, and the march was on.

However, Blow broke his left hand against Western Illinois in the ninth game of the season and didn’t return.

Blow, now a junior, is slated to make his return Saturday at Marshall.

“I can’t wait,” Blow said Tuesday. “It has been a long wait. But I’m 100 percent now and I can’t wait to get down there and play Marshall.”

Blow (5-foot-11, 195 pounds) had 776 yards and eight touchdowns before his injury. That earned him honorable mention All-Missouri Valley Football Conference accolades.

He said it took him a while to get into the flow of things last year.

“At the beginning of the season, I didn’t have a feel for the game,” he said. “I was just going through the motions. But once I got some carries under my belt, my ability started to show. I worked very, very hard each day.”

Going into the home stadium of a Division I team is nothing new for the Redbirds. After playing at Missouri, Blow knows the team simply has to go out and execute.

“We just want to compete,” he said. “I think we have no doubts in our minds that we can play.”

They will have to be ready Saturday, Blow added.

“They are a very competitive team,” he said of the Herd. “We will have to play our ‘A’ game to be able to compete.”