Spack Wins No. 100; Redbirds Get Thrilling 36-35 Win At Missouri State

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – As has been the case for Illinois State for the majority of the 2023 season, Saturday's result at Missouri State came down to the final seconds of the contest. However, this time the outcome fell in favor of the Redbirds (5-4, 3-3 MVFC) who converted a two-point conversion late in the contest to pick up a 36-35 road win against the Bears (3-6, 2-4 MVFC) at Plaster Stadium to give head coach Brock Spack his 100th victory at Illinois State.

How It Happened:
•    The Redbirds won the coin toss and took the opening drive 75 yards in 12 plays to find the endzone, as Zack Annexstad connected with a crossing route to Daniel Sobkowicz who drug a Missouri State defender nearly 20 yards for the 26-yard score to make it 7-0 in favor of ISU with just over 5 minutes off the clock in the first quarter.
•    The Bears immediately answered with a touchdown of their own to tie the game at 7-7 with 4:48 left in the first, as Jordan Pachot connected on a 7-yard touchdown pass to Raylen Sharpe to cap off a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive.
•    Back-and-forth it went, as the tie game didn't last long as the Redbirds put together an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive that capped off by a 7-yard touchdown run by Mason Blakemore to make it a 14-7 lead for ISU.
•    Following an Illinois State punt that pinned the Bears at their own 10-yard line, Jacardia Wright scored from one yard out with 7:31 left before halftime to tie the game at 14-14 for Missouri State.
•    With just 32 seconds left before the break, Ian Wagner connected on a 27-yard field goal to cap a 12-play drive and make the score 17-14 in favor of the Redbirds.
•    The Bears took their first lead of the game with 11:39 left in the third quarter on a 1-yard run by Wright to make the score 21-17.
•    A 22-yard field goal by Wagner then cut the Missouri State lead to 21-20 over Illinois State with 2:31 left in the third quarter.
•    Pachot then connected with Sharpe again for a touchdown, this one from 11 yards out, to extend the Missouri State margin to 28-20 with 13:11 left in the fourth quarter. 
•    A 7-yard touchdown run by Blakemore then cut the Missouri State advantage to 28-26 and a two-point conversion end-around run by Sobkowicz then knotted the game at 28-28 with 5:55 left in the contest.
•    Missouri State would then re-take the lead with 3:03 left in the game on a 28-yard touchdown run by Celdon Manning to make the score 35-28.
•    Illinois State took advantage of a key 4th-and-5 pickup on a connection from Annexstad to Camo Nelson to extend the drive, before Wenkers Wright busted loose for a 40-yard gain down to the Missouri State three-yard line which set up his 1-yard score with 38 seconds left to cut the lead to 35-34 and set up a big two-point conversion attempt.
•    On the try, quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse found Wright for a would-be score however it was initially called incomplete. However, after reviewing the officials said Wright crossed the plane of the goal line and the conversion was good to give the Redbirds a 36-35 lead.
•    Missouri State had one more chance, but a sack by Jalan Gaines gave the ball back to the Birds who took a knee to seal the victory.

Game Notes:    
•    Already Illinois State's program wins leader, Spack picked up win No. 100 at Illinois State (100-69 overall) making him just the fourth coach in Missouri Valley Football Conference history with at least 100 wins at a member school.
•    Illinois State had three receivers with over 80 yards (Daniel Sobkowicz 98, Eddie Kasper 84, Cam Grandy 80) in the same game for the first time since September 15, 2012, against Eastern Illinois (Tyrone Walker 142, Lechein Neblett 132, Donovan Harden 94).
•    Kasper recorded a career-high 10 receptions for a career-best 84 yards in the win for the Redbirds over the Bears.
•    Blakemore had his third 100-plus yard rushing effort of the season, finishing the game with 125 yards on 25 carries with a pair of touchdowns.
•    Lavoise-Deontae McCoy's interception in the first quarter was the first of his career at Illinois State.
•    Mark Cannon's interception in the third quarter was his second of the season and his second in as many weeks for the Redbirds … he also finished the game with a career-best three pass breakups.
•    Gaines led the way for the Redbird defense with 2.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss and eight tackles along with a pass breakup in the contest.

Next Up:
Illinois State returns home next Saturday for Senior Day, as the Redbirds host Murray State with kickoff slated for a special time of 11 a.m. at Hancock Stadium.

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