FLORENCE, Ala. – In the second of two road games to start the 2024 season, No. 21 ranked Illinois State (1-1) jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as the Redbirds held on late for a tough 24-17 win over the North Alabama Lions (0-3) Saturday night at Braly Stadium.
How It Happened:
• The Redbirds took an early lead, as they took the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards down the field in eight plays to find the end zone on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Tommy Rittenhouse to Mitch Bartol to make the score 7-0 after the extra point kick was good by Ian Wagner.
• UNA answered on its first possession with a score of its own, as Scott Payne connected on a 25-yard field goal to cut the ISU lead to 7-3 with 7:27 left in the first quarter.
• With 11:42 left in the second quarter, Rittenhouse called his own number and ran it in from three yards out for the touchdown to cap off a 9-play scoring drive to make the score 14-3 in favor of the Redbirds.
• A 15-yard touchdown pass from Ari Patu to Kobe Warden with 6:17 left in the third quarter gave the Lions their first touchdown of the game to trim the Redbird lead to 14-10.
• ISU would immediately respond, as Rittenhouse once again called his own number and dashed for a 71-yard touchdown run to extend the Redbird lead to 21-10 with six minutes left in the third quarter.
• Just before the end of the third quarter, Ian Wagner widened the Redbird lead to 24-10 with a 21-yard field goal that capped off a 13-play scoring drive.
• The Lions trimmed it to a one-score lead for the Redbirds when Patu ran it in from seven yards out to make the score 24-17 with 10:57 left in the contest.
• Both teams had chances to score late in the game, but neither converted and the Redbirds held on for the road victory to improve to 1-1 on the season.
Game Notes:
• Rittenhouse rushed for a career-high 94 yards and accounted for 236 yards of total offense with three total touchdowns (two rushing, one passing).
• The touchdown catch for Bartol was the first of his career with the Redbirds … he finished the game with two catches for 26 yards.
• Lord set a career high with 6 catches for 52 yards to lead the way for the Redbird receivers.
• Wenkers Wright led the way rushing for the Redbirds with 153 yards on the ground, with a long run of 54 yards late in the fourth quarter.
• Mark Cannon Jr. led the Redbird defense with 10 stops, six of which were solo stops, and recorded 1.5 TFLs and an interception in the victory for the Redbirds.
• Keondre Jackson was right behind with nine tackles and added a half sack and 1.5 TFLs.
• Lavoise-Deontae McCoy also had a solid game, with seven tackles, a half TFL and a fumble recovery.
Next Up:
Illinois State will return home next Saturday for the first of three-straight contests at Hancock Stadium. The Redbirds will welcome in longtime rival Western Illinois (0-2) for a noon non-conference kickoff on Family Weekend at ISU.
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