Bobcats Make History Winning First National Championship Since 1984

Nashville - It may only be January and the culmination of another FCS college football season, but for Illinois State fans it feels like March with this Cinderella story of a season in the FCS playoff tournament. ISU (12-5) came into the postseason unseeded in the 24-team field. On the other hand, Montana State (14-2) came in as a heavy favorite as the No. 2 team in the nation, and the champions of the highly competitive Big Sky Conference. 

Montana State got off to a hot start with quarterback Justin Lamson rushing for two touchdowns in the first half and connecting through the air for another score giving the Bobcats a 21-7 halftime advantage. 

Coming out of the break the Redbird defense forced a key turnover with Logan Brasfield recovering a Victor Dawson fumble for a scoop and score and just like that it was a ballgame again. Taco Dowler responded for the Bobcats with a 22-yard rushing touchdown to make it 28-14.

However, senior quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse playing in his final game for the Redbirds would not go down without a fight and played out of his mind. He found Daniel Sobkowicz on 4th-and-1 and later connected with breakout sophomore receiver Dylan Lord for a 25-yard touchdown to tie the game 28–28 with about five minutes left in regulation. 

ISU had a chance to pull it out in regulation but kicker Michael Cosentino who was kicking in just his second career start had his field goal blocked. This gave MSU good field position, but Lamson took a big sack putting them out of field goal range and bringing us to overtime.

Illinois State received the ball first and scored a quick touchdown behind an excellent pitch and catch from Rittenhouse to Lord to put the Redbirds up 34-28. However more trouble ensued for ISU as they had yet another kick blocked giving the Bobcats life. 

Facing a critical 4th-and-10 Lamson saw broken coverage and found Dowler for six, tying up the game. Unlike their counterparts the Bobcats’ special teams were unflappable, icing their first national championship since 1984 with the extra point. 

This was an outstanding football game for both teams especially by the veteran quarterbacks with Rittenhouse going 33-46 for 311 yards and 4 TD’s giving his all in the loss. On the other side Lamson also played a very clean game throwing for over 280 yards and 2 TD’s in the victory. It was a great season for both teams but in the end of this battle between two teams looking for their first FCS national championship in decades the Bobcats had more of a flair for the dramatic finishing the deal. 

On a side note, this game was special for me because I know the guy who did play-by-play for the radio call. He is Liam Lyons, a fellow Brother Rice Crusader like me. Liam got his start in the same broadcasting club, BRTV, that I am a member of as a current high school student. BRTV has been a launch board for numerous Crusaders to get their feet wet and gain experience so that they can be successful in the field of broadcast journalism.