UND football primer: How to watch, injuries to know and matchups for Illinois State
Nov. 12—When UND coach Bubba Schweigert and players talked about Illinois State this week, one word continually surfaced.
Physical.
"This is a physical team and one of the more physical and better defenses in our league," Schweigert said.
Said UND left tackle Matt Waletzko: "They're a team that plays really physical and hard-nosed football."
The Fighting Hawks (4-5 overall, 2-4 Missouri Valley) will close out the regular-season home schedule Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Alerus Center against the Redbirds (4-5, 2-4) in a game that could be a defensive struggle.
Last week, Illinois State earned an upset win over Northern Iowa despite not scoring an offensive touchdown in regulation. The game was tied 10-10 leading into overtime as the Redbirds scored on an interception return (ISU's third defensive score of the season). Illinois State then won in overtime on a 27-yard pass.
Illinois State ranks 10th in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in scoring offense, so the Redbirds win with their defense, a unit that picked up six quarterback sacks against Northern Iowa.
Offensively, Illinois State has made a late-season change at quarterback. Bryce Jefferson had started games each of the past two seasons for the Redbirds but ISU has now turned to Jackson Waring.
Waring's best performance came against Missouri State, where he had 318 passing yards with three touchdowns but also three interceptions.
Waring was 9-for-22 for 87 yards against Northern Iowa last week. Unlike the quarterbacks UND has seen the past two weeks for Missouri State and Youngstown State, Waring doesn't have a runner's reputation. He has carried 35 times for minus-2 yards this season.
Illinois State will feed freshman running back Cole Mueller, who has had at least 25 carries each of the last three weeks.
Mueller ran for 178 yards three weeks ago against South Dakota, followed by 159 yards and three touchdowns against Western Illinois and 51 yards last week against Northern Iowa.
"That's the way we have to play right now ... we're not a scoring machine and dynamic offense, so we have to play really good defense," Illinois State coach Brock Spack said. "That'll change in the offseason, hopefully, but right now that's who we are."
Spack knows the Redbirds will need to bottle up UND running back Otis Weah.
"He's not a big guy but he's really compact," Spack said. "James Robinson-ish build. He's powerful. He's a very physical runner. He's sudden. You better bring your shoulder pads and everything you've got to get him to the ground. He bounces off defenders. We're going to have to be very good tacklers Saturday."
UND and Illinois State were scheduled to play last spring but the game was canceled. The two teams met once before — a 20-0 UND victory in 1979 at Memorial Stadium.
Illinois State at UND
Kickoff: 2 p.m., Saturday.
Where: Alerus Center.
TV: Midco Sports 2 (Alex Heinert play-by-play, Ryan Kasowski analyst).
Radio: 96.1 FM (Jack Michaels on play-by-play, Tom Dosch analyst, Paul Ralston sidelines).
Streaming: ESPN-Plus.
Betting line: UND -10.5.
Injuries: UND's biggest injury to note remains at kicker, where Adam Stage has missed much of the season. Stage has been in pads at practice the past few weeks but kicking duties have gone to Brady Stevens. The Fighting Hawks might receive a boost at outside linebacker, where previously injured Josh Navratil and Quinton Urwiler were back practicing this week. Wide receiver Jake Richter, who didn't play last week against Youngstown State, was back practicing again this week, as well. Defensive end Jaelen Johnson and safeties Jayson Coley and Kadon Kauppinen remain out.
The Fighting Hawks will win if they can show some offensive balance. Illinois State is fueled by its defense and the Redbirds can stop the run. Expect Illinois State to load up to stop UND running back Otis Weah — much like Youngstown State did (and well for the three-plus quarters). UND will need to hit on its passing opportunities but not take too many chances, as the Redbirds had six quarterback sacks last week in an overtime win against Northern Iowa and the team's only touchdown in regulation was on an interception return. Illinois State is limited offensively, so it could be a quick game in which field position and special teams play a major role. One of the Redbirds' longest plays last week against Northern Iowa was on a fake punt. Defensively, it all starts with stopping the run and putting an unproven quarterback for ISU in passing situations.
The Redbirds will win if UND struggles in the kicking game, short-yardage situations and red-zone offense. The Fighting Hawks will likely be with a backup kicker again this week, meaning a low-scoring game like Illinois State likes to play might come down to special teams and that could be scary for Fighting Hawks fans. UND's offense typically goes as Otis Weah goes and the Redbirds are stout at stopping the run.
