Illinois State kicker Michael Cosentino was perfect on three field goals and three PATs in Saturday night’s 30-14 FCS semifinal win at Villanova. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Barry Bottino
Before Saturday night, kicker Michael Cosentino’s four years of college football were thin on highlights.
“I had an onside kick in 2023,” said Cosentino, who is in his third season at Illinois Sate after beginning his career in 2022 at FCS Elon. “I didn’t see the field in 2024.”
What Cosentino did have in his favor was preparation, which paid off in a big way in ISU’s 30-14 playoff semifinal win against Villanova. Taking over kicking duties from Matt Maldonado, Cosentino connected on field goals of 29, 30 and 35 yards and was a perfect 3-for-3 on PATs to help send unseeded ISU (12-4) to the national title game Jan. 5 against Montana State.
“Coach (Brock) Spack told me on Tuesday that he wanted me to start kicking field goals,” said Cosentino, a graduate of Glenbrook North High School in Chicago’s northern suburbs. “I was always ready. Patience really pays off. I got my chance, I was ready in the moment and I did my job.”
Spack said he made the change because Maldonado has had five kicks blocked this season.
“We’ve had a little problem with getting the ball up,” Spack said. “Mike’s very consistent. He’s very accurate, and he gets the ball up fast.”
Spack said Cosentino will continue to kick short- and intermediate-length field goals and PATs. Maldonado will handle kickoffs and field goals over 40 yards because of his leg strength.
Record watch, Sobkowicz edition
Illinois State senior Daniel Sobkowicz already owns the school’s career records in receptions (257) and touchdown catches (40). He’s on the cusp of a triple crown.
Sobkowicz needs 59 yards in the national title game to also take ownership of the career receiving yards records. Tyrone Walker (3,565) currently owns the record, which was set between 2009 and 2012.
Sobkowicz led all receivers Saturday with seven catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns.
Spack said Sobkowicz “turned down a lot of money last off-season” to leave Illinois State via the transfer portal.
“I know the number and it’s staggering that he stayed,” Spack said. “These are his best friends. I looked him in the eyes and said, ‘You have to tell your best friends that they’re not good enough to hang around with.’ He said, ‘I can’t do that.’”
All-American ‘backer
The day before beating Villanova, Illinois State linebacker Tye Niekamp was named a first-team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation.
Niekamp had five tackles and two pass breakups in the national semifinal. For the season, his 155 tackles rank No. 2 in FCS. He also has 14.5 tackles for loss and eight pass breakups this fall.
The Walter Camp recognition is the fifth postseason All-American team Niekamp has been chosen for this fall.
Turnover time
C.J Richard’s interception against Villanova was the Redbirds’ 19th on the season. The school record is 22 in 1984.
Record watch, Rittenhouse edition
With his 251 yards passing Saturday, ISU quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse moved ahead of Tre Roberson into second place for passing yards in a season in the Redbird record book.
Rittenhouse, who has 3,257 yards this fall, needs 114 yards against Montana State on Jan. 5 in Nashville to own the season passing yards record. Matt Brown currently sits atop the record book with his 3,370 yards in 2012.
Roberson threw for 3,221 yards while leading ISU to the national title game in 2014.
Holiday schedule
Redbird players will have most of this week off because of the Christmas holiday. Spack said players will return to campus on Saturday, Dec. 27 to begin preparation for the national title game.
Participation update
Senior running back Wenkers Wright was in uniform Saturday at Villanova but did not carry the ball.
Wright, who has missed time the last two seasons with shoulder and ankle injuries, has not carried the ball in the last three playoff games. He rushed 16 times for 62 yards in ISU’s 21-3 victory in the first round against Southeastern Louisiana.
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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