Redbirds Look For First Conference Win Against Murray State

Image Courtesy of The Vidette

NORMAL, Ill. — Illinois State football looks to bounce back against Murray State after their 33-16 loss to No. 1-ranked North Dakota State this past Saturday. The Racers host the No. 10 ranked Redbirds in Kentucky on Saturday as both teams aim to get their first win in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. ISU got the best of Murray State last season, beating the Racers 40-32 for the second season in a row.

The Racers go into the game with a record of 0-5 but ISU head coach Brock Spack says that the team is “physical and will get after you up front”. The ISU defense will need to step up its attack as they recorded 60 tackles against NDSU, their lowest of the season. ISU senior defensive back Shadwell Nkuba II recorded four solo tackles for the Redbirds in their loss against the No. 1 team in the country and is expected to be a key component for the ISU defense heading into their second conference game.

ISU wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz will be a difference-maker for the Redbirds in this game. The senior is coming off a “really good performance”, said Spack, as he and senior quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse will need to keep their connection going heading into Week 7. Rittenhouse threw for 191 yards against the Bison and coach Spack said the senior had an “NFL-level throw” to fullback Scotty Pearson Jr. in the first quarter.

Murray State is coming off a 49-24 loss to No. 21 ranked South Dakota. The Racers are led by quarterback Jim Ogle, who is the son of the team’s offensive coordinator. The redshirt freshman had a completion percentage of 53.3%, his lowest of the season. Ogle threw for 183 yards and connected with fifth-year wide receiver and former Redbird JK Carter for a touchdown early in the first quarter. Keep an eye out for Carter to make a statement against his former team.

The Racers defense will need to step up in order to come out on top of the Redbirds. Murray State is second to last in the MVFC, allowing a total of 568 yards on the season. The team trails ISU offensively, averaging 19.2 points per game compared to the Redbirds’ 28. Racers wide-receiver Darius Cannon will need to lead the charge, leading the team in receiving yards per game, receiving touchdowns and receiving receptions for the team. Senior running back Jawaun Northington has three touchdowns on the season and will need to continue to be productive to top the No. 4 defense in the conference.

The Redbirds cannot overlook the Racers as both teams are desperate to secure a conference win. With both teams coming off tough losses, redemption will be sought on both sides of the ball. Saturday will be a test for both ISU and Murray State, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. at Roy Stewart Stadium in Kentucky.

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