Illinois State tops Western Illinois with McCoy’s 58-yard return

On Saturday, Illinois State faced Western Illinois in a high-scoring football game that ended with a 51-34 victory for the Redbirds. The game began with Tommy Rittenhouse quickly putting Illinois State on the scoreboard with a 59-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Loyd, followed by a rushing touchdown that extended their lead to 14-0. Western Illinois responded with a rally led by Nathan Lamb, who scored a touchdown through both rushing and passing plays, tying the game at 14-14 early in the second quarter. As the game progressed, Illinois State managed to regain the lead with a field goal, ending the first half at 24-21. A pivotal moment came when LaVoise-Deontae McCoy returned a blocked field goal attempt for a 58-yard touchdown, increasing the Redbirds' lead to 31-21. Despite Lamb's efforts to keep the game competitive with his third rushing touchdown, Illinois State's offense, featuring Rittenhouse's passing and the running game of Wenkers Wright and Matt Lawson, ultimately secured the win. Rittenhouse completed 16 of 22 passes for 201 yards, showcasing his effectiveness as a quarterback. Wright contributed significantly with 106 rushing yards, while Lamb led the Leathernecks with 269 passing yards and three rushing touchdowns. This game marked the third consecutive loss for Western Illinois, who struggled to find their footing after starting the season with three road games. Looking ahead, Western Illinois will seek to turn their season around in their upcoming home opener against McKendree, followed by another road game against Charleston Southern. The Redbirds, now with a 2-1 record, will aim to build on this momentum in their future matchups.