NORMAL - Noticing defensive coordinator Phil Elmassian's return to the field from the press box late in Saturday's Missouri Valley Football Conference game, beaming safety Kelvyn Hemphill applied a hearty embrace to his equally contented coach.

After a rough first half of the season, the Illinois State defense is suddenly worthy of celebration.

The Redbirds stretched their scoreless streak beyond five quarters and place-kicker Zach Kutch booted a school and Valley record six field goals as ISU handled Western Illinois, 25-7, before a season-best crowd of 12,074 on Family Day at Hancock Stadium.

"It feels real good to go back-to-back performances of very well-played football," said outside linebacker Austin Davis, who led the Redbirds with 11 tackles.

ISU held the Leathernecks to 22 net yards rushing while improving to 5-4 overall and 4-2 in the Valley. A third straight victory puts the Redbirds over .500 after nine games for the first time since 2006.

"I'm very proud of our team. We hung in there against a real physical team and won the game," ISU coach Brock Spack said. "It wasn't a real pretty game for us, but our defense seems to be getting better every week."

Western slipped to 1-8 and 0-6 in league play with its eighth straight loss and first at Hancock Stadium since 1999.

"Illinois State played very well. They deserved to win as everybody saw," said Leathernecks' coach Mark Hendrickson. "Our defense kept us close. We didn't play well enough, especially on offense, to stay in the game."

The Redbirds opened the scoring with their lone touchdown. A 1-yard Cliffton Gordon plunge capped an eight-play, 75-yard drive with 11:27 left in the opening half.

ISU outgained Western, 405 to 210, in total offense but was thwarted by converting just 4 of 17 third downs. That put the Redbirds' fate in the hands, or more accurately on the feet, of Kutch.

The senior, who entered the game 10 of 15 on field goal attempts, nailed his first kick from 32 yards. After Western's Patrick Stoudamire got enough of a 42-yard try to cause it to land short, Kutch added a 48-yarder with nine seconds on the second-quarter clock for a 13-0 margin.

With a favorable wind at ISU's back in the third quarter, Kutch taught the children on hand to count by threes while connecting on field goals of 40, 45, 39 and 19 yards.

"It's a good feeling," said Kutch, who also set a school record for points in a game by a kicker with 19. "It's well-waited for. After five years of trying to have a standout day, working hard paid off."

Western broke through on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Wil Lunt to Lito Senatus in the third quarter. But with a lead, ISU pressured Lunt repeatedly in the second half and finished with six sacks.

"That makes it a lot easier for everyone on defense," Davis said. "They (the ISU coaches) emphasize playing fast and being physical. I think we're getting a lot more physical."

ISU quarterback Matt Brown completed 18 of 37 for 223 yards and even caught an 18-yard pass from Seth Hood. Eyad Salem had eight receptions for 127 yards.

With leading rusher Geno Blow nursing a sore ankle, Gordon finished with 124 yards on 28 carries. Dre Gibbs, Western's standout tailback who was averaging 112 yards, was held to 32 on nine attempts.

Doni Phelps recovered a fumble and E.J. Jones and Chris Garrett intercepted passes as ISU won the turnover battle, 3-0.