The Illinois State football team practiced in full pads for the last time Thursday at Hancock Stadium, until the Annual Red/White Scrimmage on Saturday.
The 15-period practice featured some goaline situations and a short scrimmage session to end practice. Head coach Denver Johnson was pleased with his teams effort.
We wanted to have a short, abbreviated practice with a little live work, Johnson said. I asked (our guys) for a short, crisp, competitive practice and think they gave it to us. We put a couple guys in some different
situations and scripted some things that we wanted to see on film.
During the scrimmage portion, running backs Demetrus Johnson, LaShawn Bullock and Harry Lattimore all legged substantial runs, including a 50-plus yard gain by Lattimore. Quarterback Mike Souza completed some big gains to receiver Joe Walkins and tight end Steve Statz. Walkins ended the practice with an elusive 25-yard run on a reverse.
The offense executed pretty well today, but we were looking at a lot of different guys on defense Johnson said. We were just kind of throwing some guys around and mixing and matching. So that probably had a little bit to do with it, but thats not to take anything away from the offense. (The offense) continues to get better and they looked pretty good again today.
The Redbirds will return to practice Friday for the 14th of 15 spring practices. The Birds will take the field at Hancock Stadium at 3:30 p.m., for a light practice suited in shorts.
