Illinois State Redbirds at North Dakota State Bison
· FCS Championship - Second Round
Illinois State scores 2 late TDs to knock out top-ranked North Dakota State 29-28 in FCS playoff
Rittenhouse’s second 8-yard TD pass to Sobkowicz pulled Illinois State to 28-21 with 2:44 left. On the ensuing possession, Jake Anderson strip-sacked Cole Payton and the Redbirds had the ball back at the 23.
On fourth-and-goal with 51 seconds left, Rittenhouse threw a 6-yard TD pass to Sobkowicz and the Redbirds converted a Scotty Presson Jr.
The Bison then drove near midfield, but Nathan Hayes threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-7 to seal it for the Redbirds, who will move on to face the UC Davis-Rhode Island winner in a quarterfinal.
Payton threw a 73-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Lance on North Dakota State's first play from scrimmage. About 10 minutes later, Jackson Williams scored on a 52-yard punt return for a 14-0 lead. Nathaniel Staehling added a 73-yard pick-6 midway through the second quarter to give the Bison a 21-7 lead.
Rittenhouse threw three interceptions in the first half before throwing an 8-yard touchdown pass to Sobkowicz late in the second quarter to get the Redbirds within 21-14 at the break.
Rittenhouse completed 35 of 52 passes for 249 yards. Victor Dawson scored on a 69-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and finished with 137 yards rushing for Illinois State.
Payton and Hayes combined for 6-of-19 passing for 120 yards. Barika Kpeenu's 4-yard touchdown run gave the Bison the lead at 28-14 with 12:38 left in the fourth quarter.
The Bison entered having won 14 straight in the series with a pair of playoff wins including a 29-27 victory in the 2014 national championship.
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How To Watch
How can I watch Illinois State Redbirds vs. North Dakota State Bison?
- TV Channel: Redbirds at Bison 2021 College Football, week 15, is broadcasted on ESPN+.
- Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
Scoring Summary
 |
TD | 1st Period 12:39 | Bryce Lance 78 Yd pass from Cole Payton (Eli Ozick Kick) |
|
TD | 1st Period 4:40 | Jackson Williams 52 Yd Punt Return (Eli Ozick Kick) |
 |
TD | 2nd Period 11:21 | Victor Dawson 69 Yd Run (Matt Maldonado Kick) |
|
TD | 2nd Period 8:09 | Nathaniel Staehling 73 Yd Interception Return (Eli Ozick Kick) |
|
TD | 2nd Period 0:50 | Daniel Sobkowicz 8 Yd pass from Tommy Rittenhouse (Matt Maldonado Kick) |
|
TD | 4th Period 12:38 | Barika Kpeenu 4 Yd Run (Eli Ozick Kick) |
|
TD | 4th Period 2:44 | Daniel Sobkowicz 8 Yd pass from Tommy Rittenhouse (Matt Maldonado Kick) |
|
TD | 4th Period 1:00 | Daniel Sobkowicz 6 Yd pass from Tommy Rittenhouse (Tommy Rittenhouse Pass to Scotty Presson Jr. for Two-Point Conversion) |
Statistics
 ILST |
 NDSU |
|
|---|---|---|
| 23 | 1st Downs | 6 |
| 6-18 | 3rd down efficiency | 2-13 |
| 4-6 | 4th down efficiency | 1-2 |
| 422 | Total Yards | 179 |
| 249 | Passing | 120 |
| 35/52 | Comp/Att | 6/19 |
| 4.8 | Yards per pass | 6.3 |
| 173 | Rushing | 59 |
| 39 | Rushing Attempts | 27 |
| 4.4 | Yards per rush | 2.2 |
| 4-21 | Penalties | 5-54 |
| 5 | Turnovers | 2 |
| 0 | Fumbles lost | 2 |
| 5 | Interceptions thrown | 0 |
| 42:01 | Possession | 17:59 |
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