Illinois State senior Daniel Sobkowicz grabbed a 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse during Saturday’s game at Hancock Stadium. Sobkowicz moved into fourth place on the ISU career receiving yardage list. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Dan Verdun
NORMAL – Brock Spack began his coaching career in 1984 as a Purdue graduate assistant. Yet, he’s never seen anything quite like Saturday’s 38-36 double overtime victory against North Alabama at Hancock Stadium.
“I’ve never been part of (two weather delays),” said Spack, who took over as Illinois State head coach in 2009. “It was a tale of two halves I guess.”
The game featured plenty of drama for both teams. There were turnovers, missed kicks, costly penalties and big plays galore.
The non-conference game took over six hours to complete because of a combined two hours and 28 minutes of delay caused by lightning in the area.
ISU (3-1) built a 17-0 lead and appeared well on its way to victory.
“Then (we) proceeded to look like we were sleepwalking when we came back out (after the first delay). Give them credit to get themselves back in the game,” Spack said of North Alabama (1-3).
The first delay came near the end of the first half and lasted one hour and 14 minutes. The second delay came following a UNA touchdown that cut the ISU lead to 24-21 with 5:42 remaining in the game. It also lasted a symmetrical one hour and 14 minutes.
Flirting with disaster
The Redbirds, ranked No. 4 in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 poll and No. 6 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 rankings, were twice on the verge of disaster in the game’s waning moments.
North Alabama quarterback Ari Patu found a wide-open K.J. Fields for an 18-yard touchdown pass with 33 seconds left in regulation. The TD tied the game at 27-27.
However, kicker Ian Vachon’s extra point struck the left upright. That miss meant the game went to overtime.
Each team kicked a field goal on its OT possession – a 42-yarder by Vachon and then a 38-yarder by ISU’s Matt Maldonado.
Illinois State wasted no time scoring to open the second overtime. Quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse connected with receiver Daniel Sobkowicz for a 25-yard touchdown.
“They were playing man across the board, so I went on my route and knew the ball was probably coming to me,” Sobkowicz said.
Per overtime rules, teams must go for a two-point conversion if the game goes more than one extra period. Thus, ISU grabbed a 38-30 lead when Sobkowicz made a sliding catch of a Rittenhouse pass.
But North Alabama wasn’t done. Faced with a fourth down-and-3, Patu fired an 18-yard touchdown pass to receiver Justin Pegues.
Then came Illinois State’s second piece of good fortune. North Alabama appeared to tie the game by converting its two-point attempt. However, a blocking below the waist penalty nullified the play. The personal foul pushed the Lions back to the 18-yard line.
The game then ended when Illinois State cornerback Cam Wilson intercepted Patu’s throw into the end zone.
Game changers
0:33 UNA kicker Ian Vachon missed an extra point that could have won the game for the Lions.
“Oh, my God,” ISU cornerback Shadwel Nkuba Jr. said, shaking his head afterward.
“I wasn’t watching,” said Rittenhouse, adding that he was preparing for a final offensive possession to potentially pull out a win.
Second OT: Given time by his offensive line, Rittenhouse looked through his progressions and found Sobkowicz, who caught the pass, broke free from his defender and jogged into the end zone for a 25-yard TD. Sobkowicz added the two-point conversion with a sliding catch.
Second OT: Wilson, who had earlier remained in the game after a review of a potential targeting hit, ended the game by intercepting Patu’s final pass in the end zone.
Best ‘Birds
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the the top three Illinois State players in the game:
Sobkowicz, WR: Sobkowicz caught a team-high 10 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns. His first TD moved him ahead of Rickey Garrett and into fourth place on the all-time receiving yards list. He now has 2,747 career receiving yards.
Rittenhouse, QB: The senior passed for 250 yards and three touchdowns. He led ISU with 89 net rushing yards on nine attempts.
Nkuba II, CB: The Louisiana transfer grabbed his fourth interception in four games. The senior from Texas registered 10 tackles, 1.5 for loss. He recorded the lone ISU sack.
Maldonado, K: The Murray State transfer kicked three field goals, including a career-long 51-yarder. His 38-yarder sent the game to its second overtime.
What it means
Illinois State has won three straight games after losing at FBS Oklahoma to start the season.
What’s next
Illinois State enters its bye week. The Redbirds begin their Missouri Valley Football Conference schedule Oct. 4 hosting defending national champion and No. 1-ranked North Dakota State at Hancock Stadium. Kickoff is set for 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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