NORMAL, Ill. – The game between No. 4 Illinois State and visiting North Alabama had a little bit of everything Saturday, including a pair of hour-plus long weather delays, turnovers, missed kicks and missed opportunities by both teams. However, it was the Redbirds (3-1) who came up big in the second overtime period to come away with a two-point victory over the Lions (1-3) on wild Family Weekend game on Jay and Lori Bergman Field at Hancock Stadium.
How It Happened:
•   The Redbirds got on the board first, thanks to a 42-yard field goal from Matt Maldonado that made the score 3-0 with 5:18 left in the first quarter.
•   Illinois State extended the lead to 10-0 just seconds into the second quarter, as Wenkers Wright barreled his way into the endzone from 38 yards out to cap off a 6-play, 80-yard scoring drive with 14:21 left on the clock.
•   ISU extended the lead to 17-0, as Tommy Rittenhouse found Luke Mailander for a 40-yard gain which then set up a 10-yard touchdown connection between the two with 9:42 left before halftime.
•   North Alabama trimmed the Illinois State advantage to 17-7 just nine seconds before halftime, when quarterback Ari Patu connected with Noah Gregg on a 5-yard touchdown pass.
•   The Lions then cut the ISU lead to just a field goal at 17-14 with 9:24 left in the third quarter, as Jayvian Allen bowled his way into the endzone from one yard out for the touchdown.
•   The Redbirds got some breathing room late in the third quarter, as Rittenhouse connected with Daniel Sobkowicz on a 6-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the endzone to make the score 24-14 in favor of ISU with 1:54 left in stanza.
•   UNA later made it a one-score game at 24-21 with 5:42 left to play on a 39-yard touchdown pass from Patu to Justin Pegues.
•   A career-long 51-yard field goal by Matt Maldonado with 2:36 left to play in the game gave the Redbirds a 27-21 lead over the Lions.
•   The Lions then tied the game 27-27 with 33 seconds left on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Patu to KJ Fields and had a chance to take the lead, but extra point attempt doinked off the left upright to keep the game tied.
•   The Redbirds had a final chance to win the game with 11 seconds remaining, but Maldonado's extra point attempt was blocked and the game headed to overtime.
•   In the first OT, the Lions connected on a 42-yard field goal to take a 30-27 lead, but Maldonado answered with a 38-yarder of his own to tie the game at 30-30 and send it to a second OT period.Â
•   ISU had the ball first in the second overtime and made the most of it, as Rittenhouse connected on a 25-yard pass to Sobkowicz and the two then connected on a two-point conversion to make the score 38-30.Â
•   North Alabama would score on their possession in the second OT period on an 18-yard pass from Patu to Pegues, but the two-point conversion attempt failed, and the Redbirds came away with the thrilling victory.
Game Notes: Â Â
•   The game was delayed for one hour and 14 minutes late in the second quarter due to lightning in the area and then had a second weather delay in the fourth quarter of the exact same time of one hour and 14 minutes for a combined delay time of two hours and 28 minutes.
•   Shadwel Nkuba II recorded his fourth interception in as many games to start the year for the Redbirds. He now has as many interceptions as the 2024 team leader in that category, Tye Niekamp.
•   With his 10 receptions and 150 yards, Sobkowicz moved into fourth place on the career receiving yards list (2,747) passing Rickey Garrett (2,719). The 100-plus yard effort was the sixth for Sobkowicz in his career with the Redbirds.
•   Rittenhouse led the Redbirds in rushing with 89 yards on the ground, while Wright added 79 yards and a score for the Redbirds.
•   Mailander's touchdown was his third in as many contests, as the redshirt freshman finished with 77 yards and a touchdown on three receptions.
•   After a career-high 14 tackles in last week's win at Eastern Illinois, Niekamp once again led the Redbird defense with 13 stops on the day. Nkuba II was right behind with a career-high 10 stops, to go along with a sack, 1.5 TFLs and the interception.
•   Maldonado's three field goal makes were the most by a Redbird kicker since 2022, when Ian Wagner hit three at UNI.
Next Up:
The Redbirds will have a bye week, before welcoming in No. 1 ranked North Dakota State on Oct. 4 for a 6 p.m. kickoff to open Missouri Valley Football Conference action.
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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