Illinois State running back Mason Blakemore helped revive the Redbirds’ ground attack Saturday with two rushing touchdowns in a 36-35 victory at Missouri State. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Barry Bottino
The 100th win of Brock Spack’s Illinois State coaching career didn’t come easily Saturday in Springfield, Mo.
The Redbirds snapped a two-game losing streak by scoring 16 fourth-quarter points – including a video reversal on a two-point conversion with 38 seconds left – to nip Missouri State, 36-35, and keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
The Redbirds (5-4 overall, 3-3 Missouri Valley Football Conference) are in a three-way tie for sixth place in the league standings with games against Murray State (2-7, 1-5) and North Dakota (6-3, 4-2) to go.
“It wasn’t pretty, but a win’s a win,” ISU linebacker Jalan Gaines told WJBC radio. “The last few games, we haven’t been ourselves. Toward the end, (the defense) bowed up and did what we had to do to win the game.”
The offense came through on the final drive when trailing, 35-28, by putting together a 12-play, 76-yard drive capped by running back Wenkers Wright’s 1-yard scoring run with 38 seconds remaining in the game. The drive included a fourth-down conversion with the ball at ISU’s 42.
On the ensuing two-point conversion attempt after the TD, Wright caught a pass from backup quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse near the goal line, turned into the end zone and lost the ball out of bounds.
Officials ruled an incomplete pass and Wright reacted by putting his hands on his helmet in frustration. A replay review reversed the call, giving ISU the lead.
“Thank goodness,” Spack said. “That would’ve been awful to lose on that. That would not have sat well with me.”
The Illinois State offense piled up 508 total yards, including 208 on the ground. Junior running back Mason Blakemore rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns a week after Northern Iowa limited ISU to 45 yards on the ground.
“The whole running back room and the O-line took it personal,” Blakemore said. “That was not acceptable for us. This picks our heads back up, and I think we’re going to finish strong.”
The victory came at a steep price, however, as quarterback Zack Annexstad sustained a right knee injury in the final minute. With just under a minute remaining in the game, Annexstad ran for seven yards to the MSU 1.
After colliding simultaneously with Bears safeties P.J. Hall and Todric McGee, Annexstad fell to the turf and immediately grabbed his knee. He was helped off the field, and he was unable to put much weight on his right leg.
“It looks like it’s pretty serious,” Spack said. “You never know. But right now, I don’t like what I see.”
Annexstad was replaced by Rittenhouse, who also played last season when Annexstad missed time with a shoulder injury.
Game changers
1:17, 4th quarter: Wright’s 40-yard run gave ISU a first-and-goal from the Missouri State 4-yard line.
0:38, 4th quarter: Wright plunged in from 1 yard out for his third rushing TD of the season.
0:38, 4th quarter: After originally being ruled an incompletion, video review reversed the call and awarded ISU with a successful two-point conversion on Wright’s reception from Rittenhouse.
What it means
The Redbirds kept their playoff hopes alive and are part of a three-way tie for sixth place in the MVFC at 3-3.
Best Birds
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Illinois State players in the game:
Blakemore, RB: The Northern Illinois transfer posted his third 100-yard game of the season, rushing for 125 yards and two TDs.
Wright, RB: Despite carrying the ball only five times in the game, he made his playing time count, rushing for a late touchdown before catching the game-winning two-point conversion pass.
Gaines, LB: The junior had two sacks on Missouri State’s final drive, eight total tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss.
What’s next?
The Redbirds play their regular-season home finale at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 against MVFC newcomer Murray State.
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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