Illinois State players, past and present, celebrate following the Redbirds’ 28-24 victory Saturday night at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Dan Verdun
DeKALB – While this season’s Illinois State players celebrated on the turf, many of last year’s FCS national runners-up rejoiced in the southwest corner of the Huskie Stadium stands.
“This game meant a lot to us for a lot of reasons,” ISU linebacker Tye Niekamp said. “It’s cool to win an FBS game anytime.”
Add Saturday’s 28-24 win to the list of four times under 18th-year head coach Brock Spack that ISU has defeated an FBS opponent. The Redbirds’ last such victory prior to Saturday was at Colorado State in 2018.
Illinois State improved to 3-0 on the season. Northern Illinois slipped to 0-2.
Niekamp, who recorded 11 tackles and two sacks, was aware of his former teammates cheering on ISU.
“The coolest moment was just seeing a bunch of the guys from the team last year. We ran over there and saw them at the end. It was really special,” he said.
Many of those ex-Redbirds whipped themselves into a frenzy, waving their shirts in the air after defensive back Doreon Dubose sealed the win with an interception at the ISU 25-yard line with 25 seconds remaining.
“It was like slow motion. You know how you play Madden and it goes in slow motion? That’s just how everything felt,” Dubose said. “The play just before that play they ran the same concept, so I knew it was going right back when they were in the same formation.”
Dubose’s play bookended Illinois State’s first big defensive play when sophomore Jack Oliver jumped a pass route and returned an interception 46 yards for a touchdown early in the first quarter, giving the Redbirds a 7-0 lead.
Early lead disappears
The Redbirds built a 21-0 lead early with quarterbacks Gage Roy and Chase Kwiatkowski running the offense and running back Victor Dawson gaining yardage.
However, Dawson was slowed by an ankle injury and momentum changed when ISU junior quarterback Beckham Pellant entered the game and threw an interception that was returned for a 30-yard touchdown on his first pass.
“The receiver was wide open,” Spack said. “The safety was gaining depth behind him and the receiver fell down and Beckham threw the ball right where he was or was supposed to be.”
That receiver was tight end Alex Herrera, a transfer from Eastern Illinois.
“The pick six was on me,” Herrera said. “I made a bad cut.”
Receiver redemption
Yet, Herrera redeemed himself after the fourth-quarter two-minute timeout. Facing a third-and-1 at the NIU 16, Herrera hauled in what proved to be the winning touchdown.
“Coach (C.J.) Irvin saw the defense was packing the paint in the box and that the run was going to really be contested,” Roy said. “It was a really good call by coaches (offensive coordinator Mickey) Turner and Irvin.
“It was a little pop pass. I just didn’t want to miss him. It was a helluva play by Alex to catch it and run it in.”
“The ball just happened to come to me and when that happened, I just knew I had to go in and score,” Herrera said.
ISU received a $350,000 guarantee from NIU for the game.
Game changers
12:39, 2nd quarter: NIU defender Andruw Ellis intercepted a Pellant pass and returned it 30 yards for the Huskies’ first score and switched momentum.
1:53, 4th quarter: Roy found Herrera open in the right flat and the transfer tight end raced into the end zone giving ISU a 28-24 lead.
0:20, 4th quarter: Dubose grabbed the game-deciding interception, setting off the Redbird celebration.
Best ‘Birds
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Illinois State players in the game:
Roy, QB: The Dallas native completed 20 of 23 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner to Herrera.
Tye Niekamp, LB: The senior middle linebacker piled up 11 tackles, three for loss. He also bagged two sacks.
Dylan Lord, WR: The junior led ISU with eight receptions for 62 yards and a 6-yard touchdown catch.
What it means
Illinois State extended its road winning streak to 11 games. According to Stats Perform FCS, the Redbirds own the longest current road streak in the nation.
What’s next
The Redbirds host Eastern Illinois (1-2) at 2 p.m. Sept. 19 in the annual Mid-America Classic rivalry game. EIU lost its home opener to regional rival Indiana State, 42-35, 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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