| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EIU | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| ILST | 14 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 31 |
Rittenhouse throws for 3 TDs to lead Illinois State to 31-7 win over Eastern Illinois.
NORMAL, Ill. -- — Tommy Rittenhouse threw three touchdown passes and Wenkers Wright ran for 150 yards as Illinois State defeated rival Eastern Illinois 31-7 on Saturday.
The Redbirds (3-1) regained the trophy with a dominating defense in the 112th Mid-America Classic that dates back to 1901. Illinois State leads the series 60-43-9.
The Panthers (1-3) took the opening drive 73 yards before losing a fumble on the ISU 2. Rittenhouse capped a 12-play, 98-yard drive with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Sobkowicz.
Pierce Holley threw an interception two plays later and Rittenhouse turned that into a 12-yard scoring pass to Xavier Loyd.
Sobkowicz scored on a 5-yard reception to end a long drive for a 21-0 lead.
Rittenhouse finished 17 of 22 for 228 yards with Sobkowicz and Loyd both having seven receptions for 93 and 75 yards, respectively. Wright had a touchdown on his 25th and last carry early in the fourth quarter.
MJ Flowers had a 4-yard TD run in the second quarter for the Panthers and finished with 117 yards on 19 carries.
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Game Information
2024 Big South-OVC Association Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast Missouri State | 6-2 | 9-4 |
| Tennessee Tech | 6-2 | 7-5 |
| UT Martin | 6-2 | 9-5 |
| Tennessee State | 6-2 | 9-4 |
| Lindenwood | 4-4 | 5-7 |
| Western Illinois | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Gardner-Webb | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Eastern Illinois | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| Charleston Southern | 0-8 | 1-11 |
2024 Missouri Valley Football Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota State | 7-1 | 13-2 |
| South Dakota State | 7-1 | 12-3 |
| South Dakota | 7-1 | 11-3 |
| Missouri State | 6-2 | 8-4 |
| Illinois State | 6-2 | 10-4 |
| Youngstown State | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Indiana State | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| North Dakota | 2-6 | 5-7 |
| Southern Illinois | 2-6 | 4-8 |
| Northern Iowa | 1-7 | 3-9 |
| Murray State | 0-8 | 1-11 |
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