Illinois State receiver Xavier Loyd celebrates his first-quarter touchdown, a 59-yard reception from quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Dan Verdun
NORMAL – Prior to fielding questions in the postgame media conference, Illinois State offensive stars Tommy Rittenhouse and Wenkers Wright were engaged in a conversation about food.
Having not eaten anything substantial since breakfast and enduring a 3-hour, 36-minute shootout with rival Western Illinois on an upper 80-degree day, each was more than ready to eat.
Both played a key role in 18th-ranked Illinois State’s 51-34 win in front of a sellout Family Day crowd at Hancock Stadium.
The duo definitely earned their postgame meal after combining for 324 of Illinois State’s 390 total yards (83%).
Making his third straight start this season, Rittenhouse completed 16-of-22 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns.
“I just trust myself (and) trust my abilities to sit in the pocket and make the plays that I need to,” Rittenhouse said.
Wright rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. It was his second consecutive game over 100 yards.
Fast start, strong finish
Illinois State (2-1) scored two touchdowns on its first 10 offensive plays. The Redbirds grabbed a 14-0 lead on WIU (0-3) just 3 minutes, 20 seconds into the game.
The Leathernecks, however, fought back to tie the game twice. WIU quarterback Nate Lamb completed his first 11 passes and proved elusive on scrambles.
“He was just a tough guy in general,” ISU linebacker Lavoise-Deontae McCoy said. “He would take hits and then he’d be the first guy up, before the guy who delivered the hit.”
Illinois State appeared to have taken control of the game when Donovan McBride, a Murray State transfer, blocked a 49-yard field goal attempt by WIU’s Antonio Chadha.
“Looking at the iPad, he just kicked it low,” first-year WIU head coach Joe Davis said.
McCoy scooped up the block and raced 58 yards for a touchdown. Following Ian Wagner’s extra point, ISU held a 31-21 lead early in the third quarter.
“When I heard a second thud after the ball was kicked, I knew it was probably something good for the defense,” McCoy said. “From there I just looked for the ball, and I had no intentions of falling on it.”
Spack said, “That ball bounced perfect for him. He seemed to be in the right place at the right time. He did a good job of scooping it.”
Western answered with a 10-play, 60-yard touchdown drive, again cutting ISU’s lead to three points.
But the Redbirds regrouped and outscored the Leathernecks 17-6 in the game’s final 19 minutes.
“It’s good for us to experience this pressure early and to take it on as a challenge,” Rittenhouse said.
Wright added, “One thing that our coaches always instill in us is (that) this week’s opponent is the game of our lives. It doesn’t matter who we play in two or three weeks. It doesn’t matter. This week is the game.”
Game changers
11:55, 3rd quarter: McCoy returned a blocked field goal attempt 58 yards for a touchdown.
0:34, 3rd quarter: Linebacker Tye Niekamp forced a fumble that teammate Reese Edwards recovered at the ISU 46-yard line. Nine plays later, the Redbirds cashed in with a touchdown.
12:28, 4th quarter: Rittenhouse fired a quick pass to receiver Daniel Sobkowicz, who evaded a WIU defensive back and broke free for a 23-yard touchdown. Sobkowicz’s first TD of the season and extra point boosted ISU into a 44-28 lead.
Best ‘Birds
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Illinois State players in the game:
Wright, RB: The Haiti native who prepped in Indiana led ISU with 106 rushing yards, including a 27-yard run.
Rittenhouse, QB: The Geneva native passed for 178 yards and a 59-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Loyd to open the scoring. Rittenhouse added 17 yards and a TD on three rushes.
McCoy, LB: The Homewood-Flossmoor High School graduate registered a game-high 11 tackles and returned a blocked field goal attempt for a touchdown.
What’s next?
The Redbirds host Eastern Illinois for a Sept. 21 non-conference contest. Kickoff is 6 p.m.
Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.
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