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McLean County Times

Monday, November 25, 2024

Illinois State hosts Missouri State at Hancock Stadium for crucial FCS matchup

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Dr. Maria Boerngen Faculty Athletic Representative | Illinois State University Athletics Website

Dr. Maria Boerngen Faculty Athletic Representative | Illinois State University Athletics Website

No. 16 Illinois State is set to host No. 25 Missouri State at Hancock Stadium on October 12, 2024, at noon. The Redbirds are coming off a significant victory over Southern Illinois, while the Bears had a week off. This matchup marks the 43rd meeting between the teams, with Illinois State leading the series 23-18-1.

Illinois State's head coach, Brock Spack, has been with the team for 16 seasons and holds a record of 105-72. He led the Redbirds to five playoff appearances and became the program's all-time wins leader in 2021. Meanwhile, Ryan Beard is in his second season as Missouri State's head coach, having previously served as their defensive coordinator.

Missouri State University is located in Springfield, Missouri, and competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Bears recently entered the FCS Top 25 after winning three consecutive games.

The last encounter between these two teams ended with Illinois State narrowly defeating Missouri State by one point on November 4, 2023. In that game, running back Mason King rushed for over 100 yards and recorded two touchdowns.

Sophomore linebacker Tye Niekamp of Illinois State was named the Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week following his performance against Southern Illinois. He achieved a season-best with eleven tackles and made key plays including an interception.

Illinois State aims to secure another win against an in-state rival after defeating Western Illinois and Eastern Illinois earlier this season. Coach Spack seeks to continue climbing the ranks within MVFC history as he approaches another milestone victory.

The Redbirds' offense has shown its ability to execute big plays throughout recent games with multiple players contributing significantly on both rushing and receiving fronts.

As both teams prepare for this important matchup, fans can anticipate an exciting game given each team's recent performances and standings in their conference.

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