The magical run run for Illinois State is not done just yet. The unseeded Redbirds have now won four straight road games in these playoffs, the most recent being Saturday night’s __ win at Villanova in the semifinals,
to secure its spot in the championship game down in Nashville in two weeks. The victory over the Wildcats, while maybe not being all that improbable on its own, comes on the heels of what has been a postseason gauntlet the likes of which the FCS has never seen before. ISU has been an underdog in every game its played over the last four weeks and it has won them all.
It has been big plays from quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse to receiver Daniel Sobkowicz that has gotten the Redbirds this far and such was the case again in this one. Illinois State opened the scoring with a 53-yard pitch and catch from Rittenhouse to Sobkowicz in the first quarter to make it 7-0 and quiet down the Villanova crowd. But the other thing that ISU has ridden is its stifling defense and that, too, showed up in a big way against the Wildcats.
After forcing a rare interception from QB Pat McQuaide in the first quarter, the Redbirds defense flexed its muscles in the second, allowing just a pair of Jack Barnum field goals. While that was happening on one side of the ball, Rittenhouse and his offense were dicing it up on the other. Running back Victor Dawson bowled his way in from one-yard out and then it was Rittenhouse finding senior Seth Glatz for a long 68-yard bomb shortly after that set up Sobcowicz for his second TD of the night. In what felt like a blink, ‘Nova watched the game run away from them as they trailed 21-6 heading into halftime.
Things went from bad to ugly for Villanova coming out of the locker room. Not only did the Wildcats get just one possession in the third quarter, but Illinois State scored two more times with field goals from Michael Cosentino to balloon their lead to 27-6. As the fourth quarter began, the Wildcats could only look on in shock and dejection as they watched the celebration begin for the visitors.
Villanova would score late with a touchdown pass from McQuaide to tight end Antonio Johnson but, even with the successful two-point try, it was far too little and much too late. The Redbirds recovered the last-gasp onside kick and proceeded to burn up the rest of the clock.
Rittenhouse and Sobcowicz were again the stars of the show, hooking up for 97 yards and two of the team’s three touchdowns. Dawson also delivered once more and did so in the face of an immense workload, rumbling for 154 yards on a whopping 34 carries. That makes three straight games that he’s set a new career high in rushing yards and the machine just keeps rolling.
For Villanova, the season ends in unceremonious fashion with a 12-3 overall record. The Wildcats, in their own right, had a very impressive run in these playoffs and prior, winning 11 straight before Saturday night. McQuaide threw for 199 yards and a score in his last collegiate game while running back Ja’Briel Mace, who has been known to go off, was held to just 59 yards on the ground.
Illinois State becomes the first road team since 2016 to win in the semifinals and will make their first appearance in the national championship game in 11 years where they will face 2-seed Montana State. Redbirds head coach Brock Spack is seeking his first championship in his 17-year career as ISU’s head man. Their task will be a mighty one as they look to cap their miraculous run on January 5 at FirstBank Stadium.
