St. Charles East alum Isbell comes up big for Illinois State
Illinois State University's football team may have been the last selection into the 16-team NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs but the Redbirds certainly made a lasting impression in the postseason.
After earning a 24-6 first-round victory over No. 12 ranked Southeast Missouri State (9-4) and former Geneva High School quarterback Daniel Santacaterina on Nov. 30, the Redbirds upset No. 8 Central Arkansas 24-14 on the road in the second round of the postseason on Dec. 7.
Former St. Charles East two-way standout Clayton Isbell sealed the Redbirds' victory over Central Arkansas with an interception of Bears quarterback Breylin Smith at the Illinois State 48-yard line in the game's final minute.
"It was a good feeling to make a play there," said Isbell, a redshirt freshman safety.
Although the Redbirds' season came to an end following last Saturday's 9-3 quarterfinal loss to perennial powerhouse North Dakota State in a nationally televised game on ESPN, their defense came up huge.
Isbell, who saw playing time as a nickel back on passing situations, helped the Redbirds hold the Bison (14-0) without a touchdown for the first time since a 23-3 loss to Northern Iowa in November of 2014.
It also marked the first time in 17 years that North Dakota State was held out of the end zone on its home field at the Fargodome.
Prior to the game, Isbell felt the Redbirds had a solid defensive scheme for the Bison, led by redshirt freshman quarterback Trey Lance.
"We know what we have to do," said the 6-foot, 2-inch, 220-pounder. "We'll have to stick to our game plan."
Illinois State did just that, limiting the Bison to just three first-half field goals.
North Dakota State, winners of 35 consecutive games, including 27 on its home field, entered the game averaging 298 rushing yards and having scored 21-plus points in its first 13 contests.
The Bison gained just 128 yards on the ground against the Redbirds (10-5) last weekend.
"The playoffs have been a lot of fun," said Isbell, who saw a lot of action on special teams - punt and kickoff return - during the season. "I just try to make plays and help the team any way I can."
Isbell, who quarterbacked the Saints to an 8-3 record and a first-round playoff victory over Oswego East before a 15-14 second-round loss to eventual state champion Lincoln-Way East in 2017, finished his first collegiate season with 23 tackles - 15 unassisted stops with 8 assists, including 3 tackles for loss (12 yards), 2 sacks, 2 quarterback hurries, 2 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries and a pair of interceptions.
"I've learned a lot," said Isbell, who spent his redshirt season a year ago as a member of the scout team helping prepare the Redbirds' offense for upcoming games. "It was much more fun this year contributing as a player."
Coached by Brock Spack, the Redbirds' defense recorded a school-record 51 sacks and forced 33 turnovers this season.
"Luther Kirk (senior safety) showed us the way in the film room with the defensive backs," said Isbell. "And our defensive line was one of the best in the country this season."
The 19-year-old Isbell, the son of Clayton and Shawanda Isbell, has bigger plans for his sophomore season.
"I hope to be a starter next year," he said.
Special time for Rutter family
You can excuse Rosary athletic director/girls basketball coach John Rutter for not having much spare time in recent weeks.
Rutter, who guided the Royals to a 50-47 overtime victory over St. Edward last week, got to watch his son, Broc, throw 5 touchdown passes during North Central's 45-14 semifinal victory over Muhlenberg last Saturday in Allentown, Pa.
Broc, a senior who starred at Neuqua Valley, earned the CCIW's Art Keller Offensive Player of the Year award for the third time in 4 seasons and was named as a Second Team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association.
This season, Broc has completed 291 of 408 passes for 4,328 yards and 54 TDs with 5 interceptions. The leading active quarterback in all divisions of college football with a school-record 14,002 passing yards, Rutter has 997 career completions and 143 TD passes.
He is one of five finalists for the Gagliardi Trophy, the premier individual award in NCAA Division III football.
This weekend, Rutter will cheer on his son as North Central faces UW-Whitewater in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl - Division III National Championship Friday night (ESPNU) in Shenandoah, Texas.
Time for giving back
Kudos to a pair of local teams for their recent charitable contributions.
Last Thursday, Geneva girls soccer coach Megan Owens dropped off 46 handmade blankets to the Marklund Hyde Center in Geneva for the people with profound disabilities who live there.
Each blanket was individually wrapped by the Vikings' team members.
On Friday night, Harvest Christian's boys basketball team welcomed three Marklund residents who high-fived with players during pregame introductions.
It served as a good-luck charm as the Lions went on to defeat Schaumburg Christian, 57-50, in Elgin.
Several Harvest Christian students recently volunteered at the MarklundWasmond Center in Elgin.
You can reach Craig Brueske at csb4k@hotmail.com