Illinois States offense prevailed over the defense in Saturdays annual Red-White football game at Hancock Stadium, but not in the conventional fashion.
Injuries thinned the team over its first 14 spring workouts to the point that the coaching staff was forced to scrap plans for a two-team intrasquad contest just hours before the game was to begin. Instead, a special scoring system was devised and the offense was pitted against the defense. Points were given for various plays and the offense prevailed, 51-37.
It looked like we competed well and I liked that, said ISU head coach Denver Johnson. Once we changed the scoring set-up, it probably added some significance for our players. They livened up and had some fun.
The offense punched in three touchdowns, all of which were set up by long passes, over the course of the game, which was comprised of four, 15-minute quarters and a continuously running clock.
The first score came with just 14 seconds remaining in the first half when Willie Watts, whose plays were limited by a nagging ankle injury, scored from two yards out to cap a seven-play, 75-yard drive. Jason Sproull added the extra point.
Watts run was set up by a 44-yard throw from Dusty Burk to Vito Golson, who caught four passes for 150 yards.
It was good to see Vito step up, Johnson said. Hes been bothered by some knee tendinitis.
A 28-yard pass from Burk to Wayne Riley set the stage for the second touchdown, a one-yard run by Quincy Washington with 4:11 left in the third frame. The offense covered 75 yards in 12 plays. Troy Maskels extra point try was wide right.
Washington was the games top gound gainer wtih 64 yards on 16 carries.
The final score came with 13:26 left in the game when tight end Mark Schaeve made a diving grab over the middle to haul in a 14-yard toss from Yance Vaughan and end a n eight-play 75-yard drive. Sproull added the point to cap the scoring.
Vaughan, a redshirt freshman, was 4-of-4 on the drive for 57 yards, including a 23-yard strike to Nolan Gatewood just two plays before Schaeve scored.
Burk was 9-of-22 passing for 209 yards with one interception.
The defense dogged ISUs quarterbacks all afternoon and posted 11 sacks including three and one-half by end Ray Robinson. Robinson and safety Edgar Biddles both ahd nine tackles to lead the defense, while end Jonathan Friend had four tackles for loss.
