Stout run by Rocket League ends in NACE Fall 2024 Rocket League National Round of 8 in tight three-game match to Illinois State

Throughout the regular season and during its playoff run to the national quarterfinals, the play -- and heart -- of Shawnee State Rocket League talents Dyllan DeBruyne, Sean Downard and Blade Taylor have never disappointed.

The chemistry of the trio showed yet again Saturday evening as the No. 11-seeded Shawnee State Rocket League unit gave No. 3-seeded Illinois State everything it wanted and then some in a tight three-set affair that saw SSU drop three one-goal decisions (1-0, 4-3, 2-1) in a National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) Fall 2024 Rocket League Quarterfinal matchup.

DeBruyne (Gamertag: Duckworth) led the charge with 1,225 points, two goals and six saves between the three games, notching two goals and three saves in the second game and three additional stops in the third game to keep Shawnee State in the hunt at each stop.

Downard (Gamertag: Tacostash84) posted two goals, an assist and four saves to amass 1,007 points while Taylor added in an assist and four saves to boot en route to a 948-point effort. Downard posted a goal, an assist and a save in the second game as well as a goal and a save in the third affair to lead Shawnee State's effort.

Despite the loss, Shawnee State's showing in the NACE National Tournament assures SSU of a spot in the NACE's top Rocket League conference nationally in the spring, as the Bears will be matched up with the additional seven teams that made it to the national quarterfinals in the fall. The top six overall in the super conference automatically make the national tournament.