SIU looks to end their 2 game losing streak on Saturday against Illinois State
Meet the Redbirds:
The Redbirds are coached by Brock Spack in his 16th year as head coach. Illinois State is 104-72 under Spack and has made the FCS playoffs 5 times including the FCS Championship Game in 2014. The Redbirds are still searching for their first playoff appearance since 2019.
Illinois State started the season with a 40-0 loss at Iowa but rattled off 3 wins in a row against North Alabama, Western Illinois, and Eastern Illinois before losing at home against North Dakota State last week.
5-11 Junior Tommy Rittenhouse is the QB for the Redbirds. Rittenhouse in his first full year as starting QB after playing in 13 games over the last 2 years. He has 822 passing yards, 6 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions so far this season and has added 3 rushing touchdowns.
The leading rusher for the Redbirds is 6-1 Junior Wenkers Wright. Wright was named to the MVFC All-Newcomer team in his Freshman year after rushing for 625 yards. So far this season he's rushed 85 times for 469 yards and 3 touchdowns. Wright rushed for 100 yards in 3 of their 5 games this season. Mason King was expected to be their lead back coming into the year but tore his ACL in the Iowa game on his first carry. King rushed for 13 touchdowns last season.
The leading receiver for Illinois State is 6-2 Junior Xavier Loyd. Loyd is a transfer from Kansas State where he was a walk-on. Loyd has caught 21 passes this year for 288 yards and 2 touchdowns. The other WR to watch on the Redbirds is 6-3 Junior Daniel Sobkowicz. Sobkowicz caught 10 touchdowns last year and was named to the All-MVFC Second Team and came into this season on the All-MVFC Preseason Team at WR. Sobkowicz has caught 19 passes this year for 229 yards and 3 touchdowns.
On the defensive side, 6-3 Senior linebacker Amir Abdullah came into the season on numerous awards watch lists but was injured in the loss at Iowa and doesn't seem like he's ready to return this week.
Weather:
Sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming south southeast around 6 mph in the morning.
This is about as must win as it gets if you want to make the playoffs. I think given their strength of schedule, 7 wins gets them a berth. That allows them 2 more losses, which I think comes from NDSU and SDSU given our current defensive issues. ISU red and Mo St I think are the two others that are potential losses. Let’s hope coach James can figure out how to get this defense going again and Hill figures out how to score TDs when we get to the red zone.
I wish I could say I was excited about this game, but it will probably be as enjoyable as shitting a coconut.
I believe I mentioned after last weeks game, that I feel the Dawgs could win 7 games, providing players get healthy very soon. Our latest SOS rating is at 3rd. I like our chances tomorrow!
GO DAWGS!!!
