CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Illinois State (10-3, 6-2 MVFC) defense was opportunistic all day, as it used eight turnovers from Southeast Missouri State (9-4, 6-2 Big South-OVC) to give the Redbird offense a chance to score 28 points off those takeways in a 35-27 win over the Redhawks in the First Round of the 2024 FCS Playoffs at Houck Field. 

How It Happened:
•    SEMO took the early lead on a 4-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Paxton DeLaurent to Dorian Anderson which made the score 7-0 with 5:20 left in the first quarter.
•    The Redbirds would answer on their next drive after a strong kickoff return by Seth Glatz set up a 10-play, 58-yard scoring drive that was capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by Wenkers Wright that knotted the score at 7-7 with 1:31 left in the opening stanza.
•    Following an interception by Keondre Jackson, the Redbirds went deep as Tommy Rittenhouse connected with Daniel Sobkowicz on a 62-yard touchdown reception to give ISU a 13-7 lead with 5:50 left before halftime.
•    On the next SEMO drive, Jalan Gaines tipped a DeLaurent pass and the deflection fell into the arms of Jake Anderson who rumbled 55 yards for the touchdown … ISU converted the 2-point try when Sobkowicz tossed a pass to Mitch Bartol to bring the score to 21-7 with 2:06 left in the second quarter.
•    After yet another turnover by the Redhawks, Rittenhouse drove the Redbirds down the field for a touchdown as he connected with Xavier Loyd for a 24-yard touchdown to extend the ISU lead to 28-7 with 43 seconds left in the half.
•    SEMO took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched 88 yards on 10 plays to put seven points on the board on a 10-yard pass from DeLaurent to Donnie Cheers to make the score 28-14 with 11:40 left in the third quarter.
•    The Redbird defense would strike again, as Jackson picked off his second pass of the day and returned 30 yards for the pick 6 as the ISU lead grew to 35-14 with 9:45 left in the third quarter. 
•    The Redhawks trimmed the lead to 35-21 on a 9-yard touchdown pass from DeLaurent to Tristan Smith with 6:44 left in the game.
•    SEMO made it a one-score game with 1:31 left in the contest on a 34-yard touchdown pass from DeLaurent to Anderson but the extra point attempt was no good and the score stayed at 35-27 with 1:31 remaining in the contest … a recovered onside kick by Sobkowicz led to the victory formation for the Redbirds and they advanced to the second round with the victory.

Game Notes:    
•    With the win, ISU head coach Brock Spack improves to 8-5 in the playoffs and the Redbirds improve to 11-8 all-time in the postseason.
•    The Illinois State forced eight (5 INT, 3 FR) SEMO turnovers, the most for the Redhawks in their Division I era.
•    The five interceptions by ISU are one short of the school record of six, set on Nov. 28, 1985, against Central Florida.
•    Rittenhouse led the way for the Redbird offense, completing 24-of-36 passes for 277 yards with two passing touchdowns.
•    Sobkowicz recorded his third 100-plus yard performance of the season, with seven receptions for 136 yards against the Redhawks including his 62-yard touchdown.
•    Anderson's pick 6 was the first of his career and the first for the Redbirds this season, until Jackson added one later in the contest.
•    Jackson's interception return for a touchdown was the second of his career, as he also returned one 30 yards for a touchdown in 2023 against Indiana State.
•    Mark Cannon Jr. led the way for the Redbird defense with nine tackles and three pass breakups, while Tye Niekamp finished with seven stops, a half sack, a pass breakup and an interception in the victory.

Next Up:
No. 12 Illinois State will travel to Davis, California, next Saturday to take on No. 5 UC Davis in the second round of the FCS Playoffs, with kickoff slated for 3 p.m. CT.

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