NORMAL, Ill. (AP) — 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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