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12/06 16:10 CST Illinois State scores 2 late TDs to knock out top-ranked North
Dakota State 29-28 in FCS playoff
Illinois State scores 2 late TDs to knock out top-ranked North Dakota State
29-28 in FCS playoff
FARGO, N.D. (AP) --- Tommy Rittenhouse connected with Daniel Sobkowicz for two
touchdown passes inside the final two minutes and overcame five interceptions
to help No. 17 Illinois State upset top-ranked and previously unbeaten North
Dakota State 29-28 on Saturday in the second round of the FCS playoffs.
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 2-point pass to 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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