Illinois State quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse (16) prepares to hand off to running back Wenkers Wright (32) during the Redbirds’ 45-10 win at Southern Illinois. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
By Dan Verdun
While statistics can often be skewed by multiple factors, Illinois State’s offense appears to feature more balanced end zone threats than a season ago.
Fifteen different Redbirds scored touchdowns in 2023. Through six games this season, there have already been 14 different players who have found the end zone.
ISU head coach Brock Spack, a former defensive coordinator at Wyoming and Purdue, was asked to assess the Redbird offense from an opposing DC perspective.
“They put a lot of stress on you on the perimeter,” Spack said. “They get you spread out sometimes, and they put a lot of stress on one-on-one matchups in space (with both) run and pass.
“They can run the ball inside and get really physical.”
The 2023 Redbirds finished with a 6-5 overall record, 4-4 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, and did not make the 24-team FCS playoff field.
This year’s Redbirds are 4-2 overall, 1-1 in the MVFC.
Illinois State, which rose two spots to No. 16 in this week’s Stats Perform poll after a convincing win at No. 19 Southern Illinois, hosts Missouri State (3-2, 1-0) at noon Saturday in Normal.
Dual-threat quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse has thrown seven touchdowns while running for four this season.
In last week’s 45-10 victory at SIU, Rittenhouse ran and threw for touchdowns. The redshirt junior and backup Jake Rubley combined to connect with seven different receivers in the game.
“It helps (by) getting guys involved and getting their confidence up, so when we’ve got a big game I know I can count on them and they can count on me,” Rittenhouse said.
Receiver Daniel Sobkowicz also got into the act with an early fourth-quarter 28-yard TD pass to Xavier Loyd.
“(Tight end) Mitch (Bartol) had a really good block for me. I didn’t have anyone in my face, so it was a nice and easy throw,” Sobkowicz said.
Last fall, running back Mason King scored 14 of Illinois State’s 26 rushing touchdowns (54%). However, he was injured in the 2024 season opener at Iowa and is out for the year.
Thus far, ISU’s 11 rushing touchdowns have been spread among five different players.
The opponent
Missouri State debuted in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll at No. 25 this week.
The Bears are coming off their bye week, following a 38-31 conference win Sept. 28 against Youngstown State.
Missouri State ranks 26th in FCS scoring offense, averaging 31 points per game.
Quarterback Jacob Clark is tied for 15th nationally with 10 touchdown passes. Clark, who began his collegiate career at the University of Minnesota, is completing passes at a 70% clip.
The Bears feature three receivers who have caught at least 22 passes this season. In addition, tight end Lance Mason has four touchdown receptions.
“They run him down the pipe,” Spack said. “You have to be very disciplined with your eyes.”
Senior Jacardia Wright, a Decatur St. Teresa High School graduate who began his career at Kansas State, is the top Bears’ rusher.
Linebacker Tajh Chambers leads the team with 45 tackles, while defensive lineman Jalen Williams has four sacks.
Kickoff: Noon; TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: WJBC.com
Key matchup
Illinois State defense vs. Missouri State pass offense
The Bears bring the top statistical MVFC passing offense into Saturday’s game. Meanwhile, the Redbirds are ranked ninth out of 11 teams in pass defense.
Missouri State’s Clark has only been intercepted twice in 166 attempts this season.
“They’re balanced and can throw it,” Spack said.
An effective Illinois State pass rush would certainly aid the Redbird secondary.
Spack said that “it’s possible” that All-American linebacker Amir Abdullah would be in the lineup.
Abdullah, who has not played since leaving the Aug. 31 season opener at Iowa with a knee injury, tied for the MVFC lead with 9.5 sacks last season while leading the league with 14 tackles for loss.
What’s at stake
A win gives Illinois State a 2-1 record in the MVFC heading into an Oct. 19 league game at last-place Murray State.
Quick hits
Illinois State leads the all-time series with Missouri State, 23-18-1. … Loyd (25 catches for 375 yards, 3 TDs) and Sobkowicz (24 receptions for 308 yards, 4 TDs) are the only pair of receivers from the same school to be ranked in the top 10 in the MVFC in yards and touchdowns. …The Redbirds rank 28th out of the 123 FCS teams in red zone defense this season. “It takes concentration and mental toughness, that’s one thing,” Spack said. “You have to understand who the touchdown makers are for the opponent. All quarterbacks become runners in the red zone. (You have to know) the (pass) route concepts that people run in the red zone. Then, set your hair on fire and go make a play.” … Dwight (Ill.) native and former Missouri State tight end Clay Harbor is the analyst for Saturday’s TV broadcast, while ISU graduate Kurt Pegler handles play-by-play duties.
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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