Mason Blakemore rushed for three touchdowns Saturday during a big offensive performance for Illinois State in its 44-7 victory in Normal against Murray State. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Barry Bottino
Illinois State running back Mason Blakemore ran for 169 yards Saturday. He scored three touchdowns, and he helped the Redbirds guarantee a winning season.
But, Blakemore took none of the credit for the Redbirds’ 44-7 Missouri Valley Football Conference victory against Murray State.
“I don’t go unless the O-line goes,” he said in a postgame press conference. “They opened it up for me and all I had to do was run.”
Thanks to Blakemore’s best buddies up front, the Redbirds roared to a 14-0 lead and never looked back, rushing for 345 yards and putting up 510 yards of total offense. The victory guaranteed ISU (6-4 overall, 4-3 MVFC) a winning season and kept the hopes alive for an FCS playoff berth.
The Redbirds are in a four-way tie for fourth place in the Missouri Valley standings and face off against one of those teams next weekend in their regular-season finale with a trip to North Dakota (6-4, 4-3).
“We have one more game guaranteed, and we need to win it,” said senior defensive lineman Josh Dinga, who had two of ISU’s three sacks, along with seven tackles. “That will take care of itself.”
Meanwhile, the offense more than took care of business Saturday with sophomore Tommy Rittenhouse running the show in place of senior Zack Annexstad, who missed the game after sustaining a knee injury late in the Missouri State game last weekend.
“Just coming out with great confidence and trusting the guys in front of me and all the guys around me,” Rittenhouse said. “I knew they had trust in me and had my back.”
Rittenhouse finished 14-for-23 passing for 165 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 29 yards and another score.
ISU head coach Brock Spack said he could not confirm if Annexstad would miss the Redbirds’ season finale at North Dakota and the coach declined to share specifics about the injury, citing “privacy” concerns.
After a collision with two defenders against Missouri State, video showed Annexstad immediately grabbing his right knee. He was helped off the field by two trainers. Last week, Spack said the injury looked “serious.”
Game changers
6:59, 1st quarter: Blakemore rumbled off the left side for a 35-yard touchdown to give ISU a 14-0 lead.
6:44, 3rd quarter: Linebacker Lavoise-Deontae McCoy intercepted a pass that led to a Blakemore TD run a minute later.
1:30, 3rd quarter: Sophomore WR Daniel Sobkowicz caught his 10th touchdown pass of the season to become the first ISU player with double-digit receiving TDs since Anthony Warrum’s 11 in 2016.
What it means
By reaching six wins, Illinois State guaranteed a winning season and kept its playoff hopes alive heading into next weekend’s regular-season finale at North Dakota.
Best ‘Birds
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Illinois State players in the game:
Blakemore, RB: The beat goes on for the transfer running back from Northern Illinois, who rushed for over 100 yards for the fourth time this season and third time in the last four weeks.
Amir Abdullah, LB: Along with nine tackles, Abdullah had one of ISU’s three interceptions, which he returned 30 yards.
Rittenhouse, QB: Playing in place of injured starter Zack Annexstad, Rittenhouse threw for 165 yards and a TD and rushed for 29 yards and a score.
What’s next?
The Redbirds complete their 2023 regular season with a trip to North Dakota for a 1 p.m. kickoff Nov. 18.
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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