Illinois State senior receiver Daniel Sobkowicz caught three touchdowns in Saturday’s 29-28 upset win against No. 1 seed North Dakota State. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Dan Verdun
Illinois State last defeated North Dakota State in Fargo during Brock Spack’s first year as Redbird head coach in 2009.
That victory, however, pales in comparison to Saturday’s stunning 29-28 upset of top-seeded NDSU that sent shockwaves throughout the FCS playoffs.
The win sends ISU into a Dec. 13 quarterfinal game at No. 8 seed UC Davis, which defeated Rhode Island, 47-26, late Saturday night.
The Redbirds erased a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit and ended a 14-game losing streak to the Bison. NDSU had defeated ISU, 33-16, Oct. 4 in Normal.
“I’m proud of the team. They were mentally tough,” Spack said on ISU radio after the game.
Turning points
Down 28-14 early in the fourth quarter, Illinois State’s defense held NDSU at bay. The Redbird offense produced an 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse to receiver Daniel Sobkowicz with 2 minutes, 44 seconds left in the game, pulling ISU within seven points.
Illinois State defensive lineman Jake Anderson then delivered a strip sack of NDSU quarterback Cole Payton, recovering the fumble on the Bison 23-yard line with 1:51 remaining.
Six plays later, on a fourth down at the Bison 6, Rittenhouse found Sobkowicz in the back of the end zone for the duo’s third touchdown connection.
“The defense played a helluva game and got me the ball back,” Rittenhouse said. “I’m not the best rolling to the right. I found that good touch and Dan made the play.”
“We were able to find certain holes in the zones and coverages and were able to execute on those,” Sobkowicz said.
Spack then kept the offense on the field to attempt a two-point conversion.
“I thought to myself early in the week that we’ve got to go for two (in that situation),” Spack said.
Rittenhouse connected with a wide-open Scotty Presson Jr. with a pass that lifted the Redbirds to the 29-28 advantage.
“He’s quiet at times on the field, but when you need him the most, he’s there,” Rittenhouse said of Presson.
The ISU defense sealed the victory by turning NDSU over on downs with 7 seconds remaining.
“We had a great game plan this week,” defensive tackle Garret Steffen said.
The fallout
Illinois State overcame five turnovers — all interceptions – by Rittenhouse.
“I’d do it again if we win by one point. I don’t care,” said Rittenhouse, who fought through a hamstring pull during the game.
The victory marked the first ISU win against NDSU in three postseason games.
Illinois State last beat NDSU in 2010, six years after the Bison moved to Division I and two years after joining the Redbirds in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
The loss was also the first suffered by NDSU in more than a calendar year. The Bison had received votes in the AP Top 25 FBS poll earlier in the week.
Game changers
1:51, 4th quarter: Anderson forced NDSU quarterback Payton to fumble. The ISU defender recovered the loose ball at the Bison 23-yard line.
1:00, 4th quarter: Rittenhouse connected with Sobkowicz on a 6-yard TD, bringing the Redbirds to within a point of the Bison.
1:00, 4th quarter: Presson hauled in the game-winning two-point conversion.
Best ‘Birds
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the the top three Illinois State players in the game:
Sobkowicz, WR: The senior led all receivers with eight catches for 67 yards and three touchdowns.
Victor Dawson, RB: The transfer from FBS Cincinnati topped all rushers with 137 yards and a touchdown.
Steffen, DT: The senior collected five tackles, three for loss. He registered two sacks and a quarterback hurry.
What it means
Illinois State advances to the FCS quarterfinals for the first time since 2019.
What’s next
The Redbirds (10-4) face UC Davis (9-3) in the quarterfinal round of the FCS playoffs. UC Davis ended ISU’s season a year ago with a second-round playoff win against the Redbirds.
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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