Illinois State receiver Mar’Quan Gary recorded career highs in catches (6) and yards (101) for the Redbirds Saturday in Grand Forks, N.D. (Photo by GoRedbirds. com)
By Dan Verdun
Illinois State fell flat on the first step of a three-game November stretch against three straight nationally ranked teams.
No. 11/15 North Dakota used big plays to throttle the No. 8/10 Redbirds, 49-21, in Grand Forks, N.D.
While the Fighting Hawks improved to 7-4 overall and 4-3 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, the Redbirds slipped to 7-3 overall and 3-3 in the league.
“I didn’t expect this kind of performance today,” ISU head coach Brock said in a postgame radio interview. “We weren’t competitive. We got frustrated really, really easily.”
Conventional wisdom – and national analysts – says Illinois State needs one more win to secure a spot in the FCS playoffs. The Redbirds face No. 4 Youngstown State on the road and No. 8 South Dakota in Normal in the remaining weeks of the regular season.
“We’ve got to win one more game,” Spack said. “If an eight-win team out of the (Missouri) Valley doesn’t get in, that would be criminal.”
“We’ve got to understand that we’re in prime position to make the playoffs,” said Redbird quarterback Beckham Pellant, who passed for 239 yards and two touchdowns.
UND is 5-0 at home this season. The Fighting Hawks haven’t lost a regular season home game to a non-Dakota school since October 2018.
With the game tied, 14-14, North Dakota reeled off 28 straight points over the course of the second and third quarters to pull away from ISU.
North Dakota amassed 437 yards of offense. Quarterback Jerry Kaminski threw for 293 yards and five touchdowns. He also ran for a score.
“They beat us up on the perimeter,” Spack said. “We didn’t do what we were supposed to do.”
Former ISU running back Matt Lawson and Charles Langama each rushed for 63 yards to lead the Fighting Hawks.
Game changers
12:59, 2nd quarter: North Dakota began a run of 28 straight points when Kaminsky threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Korey Tai.
7:56, 2nd quarter: The snap from center went over the head of ISU punter Hayden Futch, who chased the ball down and kicked it out of the end zone for an illegal touching penalty. The result set UND up at the ISU 3-yard. The Fighting Hawks scored one play later to take a 35-14 lead.
3:50, 3rd quarter: ISU running back Victor Dawson fumbled just before the goal line. North Dakota recovered and maintained its 42-14 lead.
Best ‘Birds
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Illinois State players in the game:
Pellant, QB: The junior threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns on 24-for-42 passing.
Mar’Quan Gary, WR: The sophomore caught a team-high six passes for 101 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown.
Tye Niekamp, LB: The senior recorded eight tackles, six were solo and one for loss. He also was credited with one quarterback hurry.
What it means
Illinois State suffers a blow in its bid for a post-season invitation.
What’s next
ISU plays at No. 4 Youngstown State Nov. 14 and ends the regular season Nov. 21 hosting No. 8 South Dakota.
The 24-team FCS playoff bracket will be released at 11 a.m. Nov. 22 on ESPNU.
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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