Redbirds Fall in Regular Season Finale To The Salukis, 37-7

NORMAL, Ill. – It was a disappointing end to the regular season for Illinois State on Saturday against in-state rival Southern Illinois, as the No. 24 ranked Salukis (7-5, 4-4 MVFC) controlled the game from start to finish and handed the No. 11 ranked Redbirds (8-4, 5-3 MVFC) a 37-7 loss on Senior Day on Jay and Lori Bergman Field at Hancock Stadium.

How It Happened:
•    The Salukis took an early lead, as quarterback DJ Williams ran it in for a 12-yard touchdown to cap off a 13-play, 85-yard scoring drive that made the score 7-0 in favor of SIU with 8:42 remaining in the first quarter.
•    On its ensuing drive, Illinois State would tie the game at 7-7 as quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse called his own number and scored from one yard out on the ground to cap off a 9-play, 75-yard scoring drive with 4:43 left in the opening stanza.
•    SIU would get the lead back just four seconds into the second quarter, as Williams scored his second rushing touchdown of the game from one yard out to make the score 14-7 in favor of the Salukis. 
•    A 32-yard field goal by Paul Geelen would extend SIU's lead to 10 at 17-7 with 29 seconds left before halftime, and his second field goal of the day with 5:07 left in the third quarter would make the score 20-7 for the Salukis.
•    Williams would score his third rushing touchdown of the day, this one from three yards out, to extend the Salukis' lead to 27-7 with 12:08 left to play in the game.
•    Geelen later drilled a 48-yard field goal to push the SIU lead to 30-7 with 6:25 left in the game, before Williams scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the contest to widen the lead to 37-7 with 4:22 left in the game to put an end to the contest.

Game Notes:    
•    Rittenhouse scored on the ground for the fifth straight game and now has six rushing touchdowns on the season to go along with 28 passing touchdowns.
•    Tye Niekamp recorded 16 tackles to tie his career-high, which he set last week in a win at South Dakota State … the junior middle linebacker was also credited with a sack and three tackles-for-loss to lead the way for the Redbird defense.

Next Up:
The Redbirds will have to wait until Sunday morning at 11 a.m. to find out their playoff fate, when the 24-team field is announced on the NCAA FCS Championship Selection Show live on ESPNU.

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