Illinois State running back Victor Dawson (5) rushed for a season-high 101 yards and a touchdown Saturday as the Redbirds won their second straight game. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Dan Verdun
NORMAL – Over the last few weeks, Illinois State has lost three key players to injuries. Yet, it was players who have battled back from such setbacks that shone in Saturday’s win against Northern Iowa.
Running back Victor Dawson, wide receiver Dylan Lord and defensive tackle Garret Steffen all played crucial roles in No. 17/18 ISU’s 31-16 victory at Hancock Stadium.
The win lifted the Redbirds to 6-3 overall and 3-2 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and provided another building block toward the FCS playoffs. Northern Iowa dropped to 2-7, 0-5.
“You’ve just got to be ready for your opportunity when it comes,” said Dawson, who rushed for a season-high 101 yards on 17 carries.
Dawson arrived at ISU via FBS Cincinnati, where he suffered an ACL injury. The senior took the bulk of the workload Saturday when starter Wenkers Wright, the team’s leading rusher, left the game with a shoulder injury in the first quarter.
“We needed him today,” ISU head coach Brock Spack said.
Lord, who broke his ankle three games into last season, grabbed a career-best 10 catches for 50 yards against UNI.
Lord, a redshirt freshman, stepped up with senior Daniel Sobkowicz, ISU’s leading receiver, sitting out for his second straight game after being injured Oct. 18 against Youngstown State.
“Obviously, Dan’s a great receiver, but we, as the other guys, all know we can go out there and make the plays that need to be made,” Lord said.
Steffen, who missed last season with a pectoral muscle injury sustained in fall camp, recorded two of ISU’s three sacks. The redshirt senior was one of five Redbirds with seven tackles.
“The pass rush has been good all year. We just got home today,” Steffen said. “The game plan was really good this week. The calls complimented by play style.”
First MVFC home win for the Redbirds
Spack called Saturday’s outcome “a good win for us.”
“The last time we stepped on our home field, we didn’t play well,” Spack said of a 40-35 loss to Youngstown State.
Illinois State jumped out to a 14-0 lead, scoring on its first two possessions. Quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse faked a handoff to Dawson and outraced the UNI defense for a 4-yard touchdown run. Reserve running back Seth Glatz capped the second drive with a 2-yard TD run.
Northern Iowa showed signs of life with a field goal just before halftime followed by seven-play, 58-yard touchdown drive after ISU turned the ball over on downs in the third quarter.
“It got a little weird, but that’s kind of how games are with us this year,” Spack said. “But we were able to separate ourselves at the end of the game and win it.”
After UNI scored to slice ISU’s lead to 21-10, the Redbirds put together a 12-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a 9-yard touchdown run by Dawson.
“Shout out to the offensive line,” Dawson said, singling out left tackle Jake Pope. “He got hands on one defender and got another. That’s how things opened up.”
Illinois State showed balance on offense, passing for 228 yards while running for 202. The Redbirds outpaced the Panthers, 430-240, in total yardage.
ISU converted on nine of 13 third downs. Lord accounted for five conversions. The Redbirds scored on five of six red zone trips.
Game changers
1:55, 1st quarter: Using a play-action fake, Rittenhouse found receiver Luke Mailander for a 42-yard completion to the UNI 2-yard line. Glatz blasted up the middle for his TD on the next play.
7:20, 2nd quarter: Rittenhouse dumped a short pass off to tight end Javon Charles, who picked up a solid block from Pope and ran for a 19-yard touchdown that pushed ISU’s lead to 21-0.
4:30, 3rd quarter: Dawson broke loose and evaded a tackle on a 9-yard touchdown run off the left side. After UNI had scored, Dawson’s TD lifted ISU’s lead to 18 points.
Best ‘Birds
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the the top three Illinois State players in the game:
Dawson, RB: The senior led ISU with 101 yards on 17 carries. He scored a touchdown and caught four passes for 16 yards.
Lord, WR: The Arizona native caught a career-best 10 passes for 50 yards. He reeled in all 10 passes for which he was targeted.
Steffen, DT: The senior, who began his career at Western Illinois, collected two sacks and seven tackles. He was also credited with a quarterback hurry.
What it means
Illinois State won its second straight game and moved over the .500 mark in MVFC games.
What’s next
ISU travels to Terre Haute to take on Indiana State at noon on Nov. 8. The Sycamores scored a road upset against No. 4 South Dakota State, 24-12, Saturday.
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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