McLean County Times

No. 18 Illinois State Hosts Western Illinois in Home Opener

Illinois State University, ranked No. 18/19, will host its home opener against Western Illinois on Saturday. This marks the first time since 1985 that the two teams will not be playing as conference rivals, following Western Illinois' departure from the Missouri Valley Football Conference to join the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference.

The Redbirds and Fighting Leathernecks have a long-standing rivalry dating back to 1904, with Western Illinois leading the series 52-51-3. However, under head coach Brock Spack, Illinois State has dominated recent encounters, winning 13 of the last 16 matchups.

Brock Spack is in his 16th season as head coach at Illinois State and holds a record of 102-71. He has led the team to five playoff appearances and became the program's all-time wins leader in 2021. Joe Davis is in his first season as head coach of Western Illinois after serving as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterback Coach at Eastern Illinois.

Illinois State boasts a strong football program with eight FCS playoff appearances and multiple quarterfinal and semifinal finishes. The team has been particularly successful at home under Spack's guidance.

Western Illinois, located in Macomb, Illinois, has an enrollment of 6,290 students. The Fighting Leathernecks are off to an 0-2 start this season after losses to Northern Illinois and Indiana.

In their last encounter on September 9, 2023, Illinois State defeated Western Illinois with a score of 34-18. Running back Mason King had a standout performance with three rushing touchdowns.

Despite King's injury this season, the Redbirds showcased a balanced rushing attack in their recent win against North Alabama. Senior Wenkers Wright led the effort with 153 yards on the ground.

The Redbird defense also excelled by limiting North Alabama to just 83 rushing yards. Defensive backs Mark Cannon Jr. and Keondre Jackson were instrumental in this defensive effort.

Quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse played a pivotal role in securing the victory against North Alabama by contributing both through the air and on the ground.

Illinois State returns several key players from last year's team and has high expectations for this season. Thirteen Redbirds earned preseason honors from the Missouri Valley Football Conference, including First-Team selections Mason King and Amir Abdullah.

Four Redbirds were named Preseason All-Americans by Stats Perform FCS: Amir Abdullah (First-Team), Mason King (Third-Team), Daniel Sobkowicz, and Hunter Zambrano.