Illinois State linebacker Mason Kaplan celebrates one of his two interceptions Saturday in the Redbirds’ 21-3 first-round playoff victory at Southeastern Louisiana. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Barry Bottino
Turnovers in first-round playoff games are becoming an annual recipe for success for Illinois State.
On Saturday, the Redbirds used four interceptions to forge a 21-3 victory at No. 16 seed Southeastern Louisiana. ISU (9-4) won the turnover battle, 4-1, against the Lions (9-4) and nearly matched a five-interception performance in a 2024 first-round game against Southeast Missouri.
“Massive,” linebacker Tye Niekamp said of the turnovers. “I thought we could get them in opportunities to get interceptions. But the main thing for us is being able to stop the run. That was going to give us the opportunity to get them to throw the ball around. We felt comfortable against their pass game.
“We played great today,” he said. “That was really fun to watch.”
The Redbirds hit the road again next weekend for a noon second-round kickoff at No. 1 seed North Dakota State (12-0).
SLU managed just 107 yards against the ground Saturday, more than 70 yards below its season average.
When the Lions did throw the ball, ISU responded.
Linebacker Mason Kaplan grabbed a pair of interceptions, which both came on tipped balls.
“We always prepare by running to the ball,” Kaplan said. “Guys were working up front, putting pressure on the quarterback. Those ones happened to come my way.”
In the second quarter, ISU cornerback Cam Wilson put a timely hit on SLU wide receiver Brandon Hayes that popped the ball into the air. Kaplan grabbed it to end the Lions’ drive at their own 26-yard line.
With less than 7 minutes remaining in the game, Kaplan secured a ball that was tipped at the line of scrimmage by defensive lineman Wyatt Boals.
Quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse, who started the scoring with a rushing touchdown on ISU’s opening drive, shared his admiration for the defense.
“Our defense played one of the best games I’ve ever seen out of them,” he said. “They gave us plenty of opportunities. We just have to capitalize a little more on them. Our defense just kept playing their butts off. We kept getting the ball back.”
The Redbirds led, 7-3, after Rittenhouse scored on a 6-yard run on the opening drive of the game. ISU then had six consecutive scoreless drives before extending their advantage to 14-3 on a unique fourth-and-goal play midway through the third quarter. Rittenhouse handed off to running back Wenkers Wright, who handed the ball to wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz. Under immediate pressure, Sobkowicz lofted a pass high into the end zone, where Rittenhouse ran under it for a 1-yard TD.
Seth Glatz scored on a 1-yard run with 2:30 left in the game to set the final score.
Along with the four interceptions, SLU punted four times and turned the ball over on downs twice. In the second half, the Lions advanced the ball inside ISU’s 40-yard line only once.
Illinois State is 6-1 on the road this season and shook off last week’s 37-7 loss to Southern Illinois at home.
“I’m proud of our team,” head coach Brock Spack said. “We bounced back from a really disappointing game a week ago.”
After the game, Illinois State’s athletic department announced that the team was staying in Louisiana on Saturday night to avoid traveling back to Illinois amid a day-long winter storm.
Game changers
8:48, 3rd quarter: Rittenhouse caught a TD pass from Sobkowicz on a unique fourth-and-goal play.
5:49, 3rd quarter: With SLU driving, Niekamp picked off Lions QB Carson Camp – a fellow Normal West graduate — and returned the ball 18 yards.
6:58, 4th quarter: Kaplan grabbed his second interception of the day near midfield to halt an SLU drive.
What it means
The Redbirds improved to 6-1 in first-round playoff games under Spack, who is in his 17th season at the helm of ISU’s program.
Best Birds
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Illinois State players in the game:
Kaplan, LB: The senior linebacker grabbed two interceptions in the victory.
Niekamp, LB: The All-American had a team-high 13 tackles to go with a sack and an interception.
Rittenhouse, QB: The senior scored on a 6-yard run on ISU’s opening drive then caught his first career TD pass in the third quarter.
What’s next?
The Redbirds hit the road for a noon kickoff on Saturday, Dec. 6 against top playoff seed North Dakota State (12-0).
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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