NORMAL, Ill. – On the first drive of the game, Eastern Illinois was on the Illinois State one yard line looking to score, but a recovered fumble at the goal line would lead to three-straight scoring drives for the No. 15 ranked Redbirds (3-1), who never looked back in a 31-7 win over the Panthers on Saturday night at Hancock Stadium in the 112th Mid-America Classic.
How It Happened:
•   The Redbirds jumped out to an early lead on a flea flicker pass from Wenkers Wright to Tommy Rittenhouse, who found Daniel Sobkowicz wide open in the end zone for a 7-0 lead with 2:34 left in the first quarter … the play capped off a 98-yard scoring drive after the Redbirds recovered a fumble as EIU was heading into the end zone.
•   Just under two minutes later, ISU extended its lead to 14-0 on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Rittenhouse to Xavier Loyd with just 39 seconds left on the clock in the first quarter.
•   ISU would make it a three-touchdown lead early in the second quarter, as Rittenhouse connected with Sobkowicz again for a score this one from five yards out to cap off an 81-yard scoring drive that made the score 21-0 with 9:07 left in the second quarter.
•   EIU got on the scoreboard with just under two minutes left before halftime, when MJ Flowers bowled his way into the endzone from four yards out to cut the ISU lead to 21-7 at the half.
•   A 28-yard field goal by Ian Wagner then extended the ISU advantage to 24-7 on the Redbirds' first drive of the second half.
•   A 1-yard touchdown run by Wright with 12:28 left to play in the game widened the Redbird lead to 31-7 and that's where the game would stay as the Redbirds closed out the rivalry win over the Panthers.
Game Notes: Â Â
•   With the win, the Redbirds regain ownership of the Mid-America Classic Trophy and have now won six of the last seven contests overall against the Panthers … the victory also moved ISU head coach Brock Spack's record to 10-5 against his former employer.
•   Wright rushed for a game-high 150 yards, his third-consecutive game with over 100 yards on the ground.
•   Sobkowicz had his best game of the season coming back from injury, as he caught seven passes for 93 yards with the two touchdown receptions from Rittenhouse.
•   Loyd caught his second touchdown in as many weeks from Rittenhouse and finished the contest with 75 yards on seven catches.
•   Outside linebacker Patrick Bauer recorded his first career sack in the win over the Panthers, and Steven Curtis recorded his second sack of the year.
•   Keondre Jackson tallied his first interception of the season off a tipped pass, while Mark Cannon Jr. added his second of the year on a diving attempt.
Next Up:
The Redbirds will welcome in No. 2 ranked North Dakota State (3-1) for the Missouri Valley Football Conference opener as part of Homecoming week at Illinois State. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. on Saturday at Hancock Stadium.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Â Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
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