In a thrilling Missouri Valley Conference matchup on Saturday night, Illinois State football team triumphed over their in-state rival, Southern Illinois, with a commanding 45-10 victory. Tommy Rittenhouse showcased his dual-threat abilities by scoring a rushing touchdown and throwing another, while Daniel Sobkowicz contributed significantly with a touchdown catch and a touchdown pass of his own.
The game kicked off with Rittenhouse dashing 36 yards for a touchdown to set the tone. Southern Illinois responded strongly with a 93-yard drive culminating in a 10-yard rushing touchdown by Hunter Simmons early in the second quarter. However, Illinois State regained the lead through Rittenhouse’s 38-yard touchdown pass to Sobkowicz and an impressive 47-yard field goal by Ian Wagner, ending the first half with a 17-7 lead.
Sobkowicz made a notable play in the fourth quarter by throwing a 28-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Loyd. Shortly after, Jake Rubley connected with Braden Contreras for a 20-yard touchdown. The Redbirds sealed the victory with Seth Glatz sprinting 26 yards to the end zone with only 3:24 left in the game.
Rittenhouse led the offensive charge for Illinois State, completing 16 of 30 passes for 172 yards with an interception, and rushing for 84 yards on six carries. Loyd stood out with four receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown, while Sobkowicz added five catches for 79 yards.
On the Southern Illinois side, Simmons had a solid performance, completing 16 of 28 passes for 160 yards and adding 71 rushing yards on six carries. Jake Curry also contributed, going 8 of 19 for 133 yards, despite throwing two interceptions.
The impressive win for Illinois State improved their season record to 4-2, including 1-1 in conference play, while Southern Illinois now stands at 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the conference. This victory adds to the intense rivalry between the two teams and gives Illinois State a boost as they continue their season.
