Redbirds Roll Past Panthers 31–16 to Earn Sixth Win of the Season

Image Courtesy of Redbird Athletics

NORMAL, Ill. –  In their return to Jay and Lori Bergman Field at Hancock Stadium, the 17th-ranked Illinois State Redbirds dealt the Northern Iowa Panthers a 31–16 loss. Illinois State’s offense looked in rhythm hm, and their defense remained solid throughout the entire game, delivering the Redbirds their 6th win of the season as they look for a strong surge before the FCS playoffs.

Illinois’ defense held out of the opening kickoff and allowed the offense to take the field early. Quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse took the Redbirds downfield 80 yards for their first score of the game, which came off a quarterback draw. ISU jumped to a 14-0 lead following a 42-yard pass to Luke Mailander that ended the exhilarating drive with a rushing touchdown for Seth Glatz. The Redbird defense came up big again with a La’Shavion Brown interception early in the second quarter.  Javon Charles found the endzone on a 19-yard pass, and the Redbirds sailed quickly to a 21-0 lead. Northern Iowa would respond with a field goal to put themselves on the board 21- 3 just before halftime, with Illinois State losing running back Wenkers to a shoulder Injury.

Coming out of the half, the Panthers continued with a 2-yard touchdown run by Harrison Bey-Buie. The Redbird offence would respond with a 9-yard touchdown by running back Victor Dawson to make the score 28-9. In the fourth quarter, the Panthers would score again with a 41-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jaxon Dailey to receiver JC Roque Jr. UNI would miss the extra point, and the Redbirds would finish the game comfortably with a Matt Maldonado field goal and an interception by Cam Wilson, leaving the final score 31-16.

The ISU rushing attack came out in full force Saturday afternoon, with 202 yards of rushing coming off Victor Dawson’s 101 yards and a touchdown, and Seth Glatz’s 49 yards and his first touchdown of the year. Quarterback Tommy Rittenhousee had two touchdowns on the afternoon and passed for 228 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, Garret Steffen had two sacks and seven tackles, and the Niekamp brothers both had great days, with Tye and Dexter both having 1.5 tackles for a loss and Dexter having a sack.

Running back Victor Dawson spoke postgame about his 100-yard performance and gave the offensive line their flowers for their gameday performance.  “Shout out to the [offensive] line. I got to give them a shout-out. Without them, I don’t think I could get 100 yards. …shout out [Jake] Pope too. Uh, he did a good job of putting hands on one person and then getting the other person, and that’s how it opened up. So, shout out to him.”

Dawson also touched on coming into the game for Wenkers Wright, “Um, but also, you just got to be ready for your opportunity when it comes. Uh, whether, uh, [Wenkers] is in or not, just got to stay ready. But we need him back, too.”

Following the win Missouri Valley Football Conference named Landon Woodard the Offensive Lineman of the week. Woodard graded at 90 percent on the day. He and the rest of the ISU offensive line were large parts of the Redbird rushing success. Looking at the receiver room,  the Redbirds were without standout receiver Daniel Sobkowicz. The receivers had stepped up last week against South Dakota, but a high distribution of targets and no receivers with a touchdown against UNI was disappointing, and the team surely awaits Sobkowicz’s return as they look to continue their push for the playoffs.

The Redbirds will face the Indiana State Sycamores in Terre Haute, Indiana  Saturday at noon.

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