Illinois State sophomore Daniel Sobkowicz snags one of his six receptions. He led the team with 90 yards, including a 47-yard TD catch. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Barry Bottino
Injuries left Illinois State and head coach Brock Spack with a sour feeling about the 2022 season.
The Redbirds put those memories behind quickly Saturday with a strong offensive showing, breezing to a 41-0 season-opening win at Hancock Stadium in Normal against Dayton.
“They controlled the tempo of the game and really wore them down,” said Spack, who watched his offense pile up 473 yards of total offense led by redshirt senior quarterback Zack Annexstad and a powerful rushing attack, in his WJBC radio postgame comments. “I was very happy with the offense. They scored quickly and very often.”
Cole Mueller, who lost last season to injury in the first quarter against Wisconsin, broke off a 6-yard scoring run less than two minutes into the game. He posted 29 yards on five carries.
Mueller combined with Northern Illinois transfer Mason Blakemore (75 yards, one TD) and redshirt sophomore Wenkers Wright (59 yards, one TD) to pile up a team rushing total of 193 yards. ISU’s starting offensive line Saturday averaged 302 pounds per man, while Dayton – from the non-scholarship Pioneer League – averaged 257 pounds along the defensive front.
“This is an offense where you to have to make a decision of what you want to defend,” Spack said. “It puts a lot of stress on the defense.”
Annexstad finished 23-for-30 passing for 255 yards. His 47-yard, first-quarter connection with Daniel Sobkowicz produced a touchdown less than 9 minutes into the game.
“It’s important to have different layers to your game,” Annexstad said of the offense, citing more familiarity with offensive coordinator Tony Petersen and his offensive teammates. “That has made a huge difference.”
ISU’s defense limited the Flyers to 203 total yards, and Dayton never advanced into the ISU red zone, with its deepest penetration the Redbirds’ 22-yard line.
Game changers
13:10, 1st quarter: Mueller rushed for a 6-yard score to open the scoring less than 2 minutes into the season.
0:53, 1st quarter: A botched snap by Dayton sailed over the punter’s head. Linebacker Lavoise-Deontae McCoy pounced on the ball in the end zone.
7:34, 2nd quarter: Blakemore zipped to a 71-yard score to push ISU’s lead to 28-0.
What it means
The Redbirds won their 14th consecutive fall season home opener.
Best ‘Birds
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Illinois State players in the game:
Annexstad, QB: Healthy again after a shoulder injury late in the 2022 season, the ISU quarterback was 23-for-30 for 255 yards and a touchdown.
Sobkowicz, WR: Along with his TD catch, the sophomore wideout caught a game-high six passes for 90 yards.
Tye Niekamp, LB: In his first collegiate start, the redshirt freshman led ISU with nine tackles to go with two tackles for loss and half a sack.
What’s next?
The Redbirds make their final trip to Macomb as a Missouri Valley Football Conference opponent when ISU visits Western Illinois for a 3 p.m. kickoff.
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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