Redbirds Advance following 21-3 win over Southeastern Louisiana; Birds take home MVFC year honors

Image courtesy of Illinois State Athletics

NORMAL, Ill. –The Illinois State Redbirds delivered one of their most complete performances of the 2025 season on Saturday with a 21–3 win over Southeastern Louisiana. A dominant defensive effort and well-timed offensive execution helped the Redbirds secure a first-round FCS playoff victory and improve to 6-0 on the road against FCS opponents. The win extended ISU’s record to 12-1 in its last 13 road games against FCS teams, solidifying the program as one of the best in the country away from Hancock Stadium.

Illinois State set the tone early as quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse led an 80-yard opening drive, highlighted by a 37-yard completion to wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz. Rittenhouse capped the drive with a 6-yard quarterback sneak to put ISU up 7-0 in the first quarter. The defense looked composed despite the momentum shift from the regular-season finale loss to Southern Illinois.

Southeastern Louisiana scored its only points in the second quarter on a 40-yard field goal from kicker Guillermo Garcia Rodriguez. The Redbird defense responded immediately, as defensive back Shadwel Nkuba II recorded his fifth interception of the season, setting up the ISU offense deep in Lions territory. After being stopped on three downs near the goal line, the Redbirds executed a well-designed trick play: running back Wenkers Wright took a handoff and pitched to Sobkowicz, who lofted a pass to a wide-open Rittenhouse for the quarterback’s first career receiving touchdown. The play extended ISU’s lead to 14–3.

The Redbird defense controlled the second half, suffocating the Lions’ offense. Southeastern Louisiana quarterback Mason Kaplan threw two interceptions after halftime, both of which swung momentum back to ISU. The takeaways set up another scoring opportunity, with Wright powering downfield to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Seth Glatz, sealing the 21–3 win and sending Illinois State to the next round of the FCS playoffs to face North Dakota State.

Linebacker Tye Niekamp, a three-time Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week this season, recorded 13 tackles and one sack. It marked his eighth double-digit tackle performance of the year. His season statistics earned him the MVFC Defensive Player of the Year honor—placing him alongside past ISU greats such as Boomer Grigsby and Zeke Vandenburgh. Niekamp finished the regular season with 126 tackles (third in the conference), 12 tackles for loss, one sack, six pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, four quarterback hurries, a safety and seven games with 10 or more tackles. He is also a finalist for the Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the FCS.

Redshirt freshman wide receiver Luke Mailander was named the MVFC Freshman of the Year after playing in every regular-season game. He ranked second on the team in receiving yards (557) and third in receptions (34), averaging 16.4 yards per catch with four touchdowns. He recorded seven games with at least 50 receiving yards, joining past ISU Freshman of the Year winners such as quarterbacks Dusty Burk and Matt Brown, and current teammate Niekamp.

Illinois State was heavily represented on the MVFC All-Conference Teams. ISU placed four players on the First Team: wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz, offensive lineman Jake Pope, linebacker Tye Niekamp and defensive back Shadwel Nkuba II. Sobkowicz’s record-breaking season made him a constant offensive threat, while Pope anchored one of the conference’s most physical offensive lines. Nkuba’s five interceptions solidified him as one of the Valley’s top defensive backs.

Five Redbirds earned Second Team honors: running back Wenkers Wright, fullback Scotty Presson Jr., offensive lineman Landon Woodard, defensive back Lashavion Brown and long snapper Dylan Calabrese. Wright, now sixth on ISU’s all-time rushing list with 2,603 yards, continued to power the offense. Brown’s physical coverage led the secondary, and Woodard and Presson were key components of ISU’s strong offensive front.

Illinois State also earned several Honorable Mention selections: quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse, tight end Javon Charles and defensive lineman Jake Anderson. Rittenhouse’s dual-threat ability—highlighted by both a rushing and receiving touchdown on Saturday—remained essential to the offense. Charles provided reliability in the passing game, while Anderson added consistency along ISU’s aggressive defensive line.

The Redbirds now turn their attention to next Saturday’s matchup at North Dakota State. The nation’s No. 1 team and defending national champion has already beaten ISU once this season. Coming off a first-round bye, the Bison will host Illinois State on Saturday, Dec. 6, inside the Fargodome. Kickoff is set for noon central time.

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