MURRAY, Ken. – The Illinois State offense was firing on all cylinders on Saturday night at Murray State, as the No. 9 ranked Redbirds (4-2, 1-1 MVFC) scored 21 first-quarter points and never looked back in a 46-32 win over the Racers (0-6, 0-2 MVFC) at Roy Stewart Stadium.
How It Happened:
• After forcing a three-and-out on Murray State's first drive of the game, the Redbirds wasted little time in taking a lead as they drove 61 yards in nine plays to score the game's first touchdown on a 2-yard reverse toss from Tommy Rittenhouse to Daniel Sobkowicz just under five minutes into the contest.
• Following another defensive stop, the Redbirds got the ball back and went 85 yards in seven plays to find the endzone once again on a shovel pass from Rittenhouse to Dylan Lord as ISU's lead grew to 14-0 with 3:44 left in the first quarter.
• Murray State would cut into the Illinois State lead at 14-3 courtesy of a 41-yard field goal by Jack Tannehill with 45 seconds left in the opening quarter, however the Redbirds answered immediately thanks to an 80-yard kickoff return by Wenkers Wright to the Murray State 12 yard line and on the next play from scrimmage Victor Dawson broke free off the left side and scored his first rushing touchdown of the season to make it 21-3 with 27 seconds left.
• The Redbird defense came up big once again, forcing a turnover on downs near midfield at the start of the second quarter and the ISU offense stayed hot as two plays later Rittenhouse connected with Seth Glatz on a wheel route for a 52-yard touchdown pass to make the score 28-3 with 12:06 left before halftime.
• With 5:37 left before the break, the Racers put together an impressive 15-play, 77-yard scoring drive that featured a pair of 4th-and-1 conversions to find the endzone on a 6-yard touchdown run by Jordan Washington that trimmed the ISU lead to 28-10.
• The Racers then trimmed the Redbird advantage to 28-17 with 34 seconds remaining before halftime on a 1-yard quarterback keeper by Jim Ogle that capped off a 13-play, 80-yard drive.
• ISU was able to get into field goal range as time expired in the first half, as Matt Maldonado connected from 37 yards out to make the score 31-17 at the break.
• The Redbirds got the ball to start the third quarter and went on an 8-play, 75-yard scoring drive that was capped off on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Rittenhouse to Javon Charles with made the score 37-17 after the extra point attempt was blocked by the Racers.
• Murray State came right back and trimmed the lead back to 37-24 with 8:09 left in the third quarter on a 4-yard touchdown run by Ogle.
• Illinois State extended its advantage to a three-score lead with 3:23 left to play in the third quarter, as Rittenhouse threw his fourth touchdown pass of the day this one a 24-yard connection to Sobkowicz to make the score 43-24 after the two-point conversion failed.
• The Racers would not go away, as Juwaun Northington caught 5-yard shovel pass from Ogle for a touchdown to make it 43-32 after the two-point conversion try was successful with 14:55 left to play in the game.
• Maldonado connected on his second field goal make of the game with 3:25 left to play in the game, a 26-yarder that extended the Redbirds' lead to 46-32.
• An interception by Doreon Dubose would seal the game for the Redbirds, as they would kneel the game out and come away with the road victory over the Racers.
Game Notes:
• The rushing touchdown by Sobkowicz was the first of his career at Illinois State. He has accounted for 31 combined touchdowns (28 receiving, 2 passing, 1 rushing) in his illustrious career.
• Sobkowicz finished the game with eight catches for 162 yards, just shy of his career high of 170. The 100-plus yard effort was the second of the season and seventh for Sobkowicz in his career with the Redbirds.
• With those 162 yards receiving, Sobkowicz now has 2,984 career receiving yards to put him in third place all-time on the ISU list ahead of Anthony Warrum (2,871). With just 16 more yards, he will become the third receiver in school history to surpass the 3,000 yard plateau and with 24 yards, he will move into second place all-time.
• With his receiving touchdown in the third quarter, Sobkowicz moved into a tie with Laurent Robinson for third on the career receiving touchdowns list at Illinois State with 29, just three shy of the school record of 32 held by Tyrone Walker.
• Lord's receiving touchdown was the first of his career at Illinois State.
• Tommy Rittenhouse started the game 10-for-10 and went on to finish the contest 21-for-25 (.840) with 338 yards and a career-high four passing touchdowns. The 300-yard effort was his first of the season and the third of his career at Illinois State.
• Rittenhouse's .840 completion percentage ranks as the second-best single-game effort in school history with at least 20 attempts.
• The 21 points scored by the Redbirds in the first quarter are a season high and the most points in a quarter for ISU since scoring 21 in the second quarter of the first-round playoff win in 2024 at Southeast Missouri State.
• Glatz's receiving touchdown early in the second quarter was his first in an ISU uniform and his third career overall (2 rushing, 1 receiving).
• The touchdown reception by Charles was his first on the season and third in his career at Illinois State.
• Dubose recorded his first career interception in the contest to seal the win for the Redbirds and he finished the game with four total tackles and a pass breakup.
• Tye Niekamp led the way for the Redbird defense with eight tackles, while Reese Edwards and Patrick Bauer each contributed sacks for the defense.
Next Up:
Illinois State will host Youngstown State (3-3, 0-2 MVFC) next Saturday in the annual Homecoming contest. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. on Jay and Lori Bergman Field at Hancock Stadium, and the 2025 ISU Percy Family Hall of Fame Class will be honored at halftime.
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