SETTING THE SCENE
Date: November 5, 2022
Time: 2 p.m. CT
Site: Normal, Illinois
Stadium: Hancock Stadium
Capacity: 13,391
Series: ILS leads 15-14
Last: YSU won 21-3 (Nov. 23, 2019)
Watch: Marquee Sports Network
Stream: ESPN+
Listen: WJBC 1230 AM / 102.1 FM / 93.7 FM / The Varsity Network
THE GAME
As the calendar moves to the final month of the regular season, the importance of games only intensifies and this weekend's matchup between Illinois State and Youngstown State proves that statement. The Redbirds (5-3, 3-2 MVFC) and the Penguins (5-3, 3-2 MVFC) share identical records and are in a log jam in the middle of the conference standings that features five teams with five wins each that are all vying for a potential spot in the FCS playoffs.
THE SERIES
Illinois State and Youngstown State will face off for the 30th time on the gridiron this weekend, with the Redbirds holding 15-14 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to 1979. ISU has won four out of the last six games overall against YSU, but the Penguins own a win in the most recent match up from the regular season finale in 2019. Overall, the Redbirds are 6-5 against the Penguins and 4-1 against them at Hancock Stadium with Brock Spack at the helm.
THE COACHES
Illinois State: Brock Spack (Purdue, 1983) is in his 14th season as the head coach at Illinois State (94-63). Spack guided the Redbirds to back-to-back shares of the MVFC title in 2014-15 and an appearance in the 2014 FCS Championship game. He has led the ISU to five playoff appearances overall and became the program's all-time wins leader in 2021.
Youngstown State: Doug Phillips (Toledo, 1991) is in his 3rd season as head coach at Youngstown State (9-16). Phillips previously coached at Youngstown State as a graduate assistant from 1991-92 for current YSU President Jim Tressel and is just the eighth coach in school history dating back to 1938.
THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT
- Youngstown State University is located in Youngstown, Ohio, and has an enrollment of 11,298. The Penguins are members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference and play their home games at Stambaugh Stadium (20,630).
- The Penguins are tied with the Redbirds in the league standings at 5-3 overall and 3-2 in league play. They head into the game as winners of three straight against Indiana State, Western Illinois and South Dakota, following three-straight losses prior to that.
- Second-ranked South Dakota State scored 16 unanswered points and held NDSU to five first downs after halftime to claim a 23-21 victory, their third straight over the Bison.
- NDSU is sticking to its tried and true formula of a strong defense and rushing attack to pile up wins and stay in the hunt for another national championship run in 2022. The Bison rank No. 5 in the FCS in rushing offense at 246 yards per game and are No. 10 in total defense allowing just 292.6 yards of offense to its opponents.
- Youngstown State used a 28-point second quarter to catapult the Penguins to a 45-24 win over South Dakota last Saturday afternoon at Stambaugh Stadium. The YSU offense was prolific once again, as quarterback Mitch Davidson passed for 242 yards on 14-of-21 passing with a career-high three touchdown passes and running back Jaleel McLaughlin ran for 119 yards on 19 carries and with two touchdown runs.
- McLaughlin is arguably the best running back in the FCS, as he currently ranks No. 1 in the country in all purpose yards per game (175.0), No. 2 in rush yards per game (147.8) and No. 8 in total touchdowns (12). His career numbers are even more impressive, as he now ranks fourth in NCAA history in career rushing yards with 7,760 yards on 1,179 carries (6.6 per rush) and 75 touchdowns in 53 games. He is now just 35 yards from moving into third place all-time.
- Defensive end Dylan Wudke was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference's Defensive Player of the Week following his impressive performance in the Penguins' 45-24 win over the Coyotes. Wudke had five solo stops and two sacks in the victory as the defensive unit limited South Dakota to just 56 yards rushing on 30 carries. This season, Wudke has 31 total tackles, including team-leading totals in TFLs (11) and sacks (five). He also leads the Penguins in forced fumbles with two.
LAST TIME VS. THE PENGUINS (11/23/2019)
No. 6 Illinois State was not able to muster any consistency on the offensive side of the ball against Youngstown State, as the Penguins stifled the Redbird offense to come away with a 21-3 victory at Stambaugh Stadium in the regular season finale. With quarterback Brady Davis out due to injury, the Penguin defense limited the Redbirds to just 142 yards of total offense and held a 33 minute to 27 minute advantage in time of possession in the game. Christian Uphoff led the way for the Redbird defense, recording a career-high nine tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss in the contest, while DeMarco Washington and Ty DeForest each added interceptions for ISU.
DAN THE MAN
For a receiver who headed into the 2022 season as a walkon, Daniel Sobkowicz has certainly opened some eyes with his performance this season. Sobkowicz scored the lone touchdown of the game for the Redbirds, giving ISU the lead early in the contest against the Bison after a 13-yard pass connection from Zack Annexstad in the first quarter. With that touchdown, he took over the team lead in that category and now ranks third on the squad with 21 receptions and 249 yards receiving.Â
TAKING OVER IN CONFERENCE PLAY
When quarterback Zack Annexstad took the reins of the Illinois State offense prior to the season beginning, he did so having been out of game action for quite a long time. With that came the expectation that he would have to knock off some rust in-game during the non-conference season to get ready for Valley Football play. That certainly seems to be what has happened for the Minnesota transfer, who threw just four touchdowns as compared to five interceptions in the first three games of the season. However, he's rallied in conference play to complete 63 percent of his passes for nearly 1,100 yards with just two interceptions and seven touchdown passes.
LOCKDOWN SECONDARYÂ
The Redbird defensive secondary was one of the question marks headed into the season, with losses from graduation, the transfer portal and young players coming back in key roles. With addition of three key transfers in the secondary and another year of experience for returning, the Redbird secondary has become one of the best in the MVFC and country. The Redbirds rank No. 10 in the country in passing yards allowed with 176.5, which also ranks second in the MVFC behind North Dakota State. That group has also aided in ISU ranking No. 16 in the country in total defense, allowing just 313.5 yards per game, and No. 18 in scoring defense at just over 20 points per game to opponents so far on the season.
THE WRIGHT STUFF
Running back Wenkers Wright has gutted through injuries the past several weeks while trying to find his way back to form in the Redbird backfield. Still not at 100 percent, Wright knew his production was going to be necessary for the Redbirds to pick up a win at Indiana State. The redshirt freshman rose to the occasion against the Sycamores, rushing for a career-high 180 yards as he picked up crucial first downs throughout the contest. His 48-yard run set up the final score of the game by Zack Annexstad and he also chipped in four catches for 23 yards in the contest.Â
JUST LIKE THE BACKYARD
Ever since Zack Annexstad and his older brother, Brock, both transferred to Illinois State they have been waiting for an opportunity to connect for a touchdown. Late in the first quarter against Indiana State, the Annexstad brothers hooked up for an 18-yard score to give the Redbirds a 20-0 lead over the Sycamores at the time. Following the contest, Zack commented "it was just like being in the backyard again" and it certainly seemed like the two brothers were enjoying the moment, with a big hug in the endzone following the score. The 2022 season will be the final time the Annexstad brothers suit up on the same team together, and they are certainly hoping for more backyard moments in the final three games of the regular season.Â
FIRST QUARTER OUTBURST
The Illinois State offense had found first quarter points hard to come by through the first six games of the season, with just 27 in the first 15 minutes of play. Getting off to a great start at Indiana State was going to be crucial for the Redbirds to come away with a win, and that's exactly what they did. Illinois State scored on its first three possessions of the game scoring 20 points on way to a 27-21 win over the Sycamores. It featured a 9-yard touchdown run by quarterback Zack Annexstad and a pair of touchdown passes from Annexstad to Jalen Carr and Brock Annexstad, respectively, as the Redbirds finally broke out early and never looked back in the victory.
ANNEXSTAD DOES IT AGAIN
Illinois State quarterback Zack Annexstad put together his best performance in a Redbird uniform against Indiana State and for his efforts, the transfer from Minnesota was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Newcomer of the Week for the second time this season. Annexstad completed 24-of-38 pass attempts for a career-best 274 yards and accounted for four touchdowns in the Redbirds' 27-21 victory over the Sycamores. The Norseland, Minnesota, native scored twice on the ground on runs of nine and three yards, respectively, and threw a pair of touchdowns passes in the win for Illinois State. His first touchdown pass of the day was a 56-yarder to Jalen Carr and his second was an 18-yarder to his older brother, Brock.Â
SAVING HIS BEST FOR LAST
Senior Tanner Taula has been playing the best football of his career in his final season of eligibility with the Redbirds. The senior tight end has already surpassed his career-high outputs in receptions (26) and receiving yards (284) and in the past four games, he's accounted for 17 catches for 182 yards for the 'Birds. Not only has Taula been active in the passing game, he's also been a big part of the Redbirds' protection unit that has helped them control the clock and grind out wins in the second half.
Â
