NORMAL, Ill. – It was close game at halftime between No. 13 Illinois State and North Dakota, with ISU holding a slim 14-10 advantage over UND. However, the Redbirds (9-3, 6-2 MVFC) buckled down in the second half thanks to a strong running attack and stingy defense to run away from the Fighting Hawks (5-7, 2-6 MVFC) for a 35-13 victory at Hancock Stadium on Senior Day.
How It Happened:
• After the Fighting Hawks returned the opening kickoff 68 yards deep into Redbird territory, the ISU defense forced a 47-yard field goal that was missed wide left as the Redbirds took over on downs.
• ISU wasted little time taking advantage of the miscue and went on a 7-play, 70-yard scoring drive that was capped off by 30-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Eddie Kasper to Xavier Loyd to make the score 7-0 with 10:19 left in the first quarter.
• On the ensuing North Dakota drive, Simon Romfo connected with Nate DeMontagnac on a 20-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 7-7 with 7:02 left in the opening stanza.
• After a strong kickoff return set up the Redbirds at the UND 40 yard line, the Redbirds led another methodical drive going 60 yards in eight plays and scored when Wenkers Wright broke free on 4th-and-2 for a 10-yard touchdown run to make it 14-7 in favor of ISU with 3:52 left in the first quarter.
• The Fighting Hawks then trimmed the Redbird lead to 14-10, following a 20-yard field goal make by C.J. Elrichs with 7:45 left in the second quarter.
• Following a forced fumble and recovery by Keondre Jackson, the Redbirds drove 54 yards in nine plays and found the endzone when Wright broke free for his second touchdown run of the day, this one from 18 yards out, to extend the ISU lead to 21-10 with 6:58 left in the third quarter.
• The Redbirds widened the lead to 28-10 with 58 seconds left in the third quarter, as Wright picked up several strong runs to get ISU in scoring position for Tommy Rittenhouse, who found Mitch Bartol on a roll out for a 5-yard touchdown pass.
• The ISU lead later grew to 35-10 when Seth Glatz scored from 13 yards out to cap off a 10-play, 71-yard scoring drive with 10:11 left in the contest.
• Elrichs would cut into the ISU lead with his second field goal make of the day, as his 27-yard kick split the uprights to make the score 35-13 in favor of Illinois State with 8:00 left to play in the game.
Game Notes:
• Prior to the contest, Illinois State honored 26 seniors during a pre-game ceremony in their final regular-season game at Hancock Stadium.
• Illinois State ends the regular season as winners of five-straight games and six out of its last seven contests.
• Kasper's touchdown pass was the second of the season for a Redbird wide receiver, as Daniel Sobkowicz threw for one earlier in the year in a win at Southern Illinois.
• Wright tallied his sixth 100-plus yard rushing performance of the year with 118 yards on 21 carries and surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark on the year moving his season total to 1,035.
• Loyd, last week's MVFC Newcomer of the Week, recorded his second 100-yard effort of the year with 121 yards on eight receptions including the first-quarter touchdown catch from Kasper.
• Bartol's touchdown reception in the third quarter was his second of the season and Glatz's touchdown run early in the fourth quarter was also his second of the year.
• Jackson finished the game with nine tackles to go along with his two forced fumble in the contest, while Tye Niekamp led the Redbird defense with 10 stops, a sack and three pass breakups.
• Redshirt freshman hybrid defensive back Paul Omodia recorded his first career interception in the contest.
Next Up:
Illinois State will find out where it is headed in the 2024 FCS Playoffs, when the 24-team FCS Championship bracket is announced on Sunday, Nov. 24, at 11:30 a.m. on ESPN.
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