Redbirds Head into Final Road Test with a Full Head of Steam

Image Courtesy of Redbird Athletics 

NORMAL, Ill. – Coming off a big road victory over the UNI Panthers 31-9, Coach Spack approached the microphone with some confidence. The Redbirds are 4-1 in their last 5 games and are currently on a 3-game winning streak heading into the second to last week of the regular season. The Redbird rush attack has been a crucial factor in their success recently, with both Wenkers Wright and Tommy Rittenhouse having games of rushing over 100 yards in the last 3 weeks (Wright, last 2 weeks; Rittenhouse, 3 weeks ago). They will take on the Sycamores from Indiana State in this Week 12 matchup.

Running Quarterbacks have been the key factor to the last 2 ISU opponents, with this week being no different. Coach Spack compared Redshirt Freshman Quarterback Elijah Owens to Youngstown’s QB, saying, “He and the Youngstown kid (Elijah Owens) really play a similar style.” Owens currently is the team’s leading passer and rusher, throwing for 1,334 yards and rushing for 461 yards. Also, he has 14 touchdowns this year, 9 through the air and 5 on the ground. The Sycamores also rely heavily on Sophomore Running Back Plez Lawrence, who has 409 rushing yards and 3 rushing touchdowns.

Coach Spack made sure to praise his Quarterback, Tommy Rittenhouse, for his effort and toughness over the last few weeks, saying, “He isn’t the biggest kid, but man is he tough.” Rittenhouse had been dealing with some injuries the last few weeks, but he seemed unbothered by these injuries as over the last 3 games, he is averaging around 308 total yards per game. Rittenhouse has been one to find the endzone a lot as well, as he has scored a touchdown this year in all but 3 games (Iowa, NDSU, Missouri State).

Coach Spack was asked how he would prepare his young players for an environment such as Terre Haute, IN, and he said, “We can only focus on our performance and not on our surroundings; we can’t change that.” The Redbirds will be going up an Indiana State defense that is extremely “salty,” says Spack. A team that the numbers may not tell the entire story for them, playing in a lot of close games and only having 1 loss this year at home.

Illinois State heads into this week 12 matchup with a 7-3 overall record and a 4-2 MVFC record, with Indiana State sitting at 4-6 overall and 3-3 in the MVFC. The Redbirds have won the last two matchups between these two teams, winning a close one the last time they traveled to Terre Haute two years ago. This MVFC matchup is set for a Noon start at Memorial Stadium in Terre Haute, IN.