April 22, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -
Final Stats
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Three offensive turnovers and three sacks by defensive end Alex Filin proved to be the difference as Red (defense) defeated White (offense) 50-43, in Illinois State's annual Red-White Scrimmage at Hancock Stadium on Saturday.
Playing with an offense versus defense format, the White team jumped out early with a quick first down before Kevin Brockway hit Laurént Robinson in stride on a 62-yard touchdown pass. Kevin Mazur added the extra point and quickly the ISU offense was out in front 8-0.
Later in the first half, the Red team jumped out to a 13-11 lead when Kyle Siskowic recovered a botched hand-off. The Redbird defense remained in control until Brockway found Robinson again for a 55-yard gain and Bobby Kelsey followed with a 34-yard field goal to give White a 23-17 edge.
However, a fumbled snap, recovered by Jarek Thomas, and a pair of Filin sacks gave Red a 33-25 lead at the half. Filin opened up the second half with his third and final sack and pushed Red's lead to 35-28. The Redbird defense took a 48-30 advantage after Lamont Lagrone hauled in a tipped Brockway pass for an interception and the third forced turnover on the day.
White rallied with back-to-back first downs and a 22-yard touchdown run by Graham Corcoran to close the gap to 48-39, but Red never surrendered the lead.
"I really wish we had another healthy quarterback to play, so Brockway wouldn't have had to take it all," head coach Denver Johnson said. "Brockway has been our government mule all spring, he's taken the majority of the reps, but he has benefited greatly from that.
We wanted to get everybody in the game and let everyone have some fun out here on a beautiful spring afternoon in front of their family and friends. We were able to do that and wrapped up a really good spring practice. We wrapped it up on an awesome note."
Filin finished with four tackles to go along with his three sacks and three tackles for loss. Nick Passarelli led all defensive players with eight tackles, while Niall Campbell and Mitchell Matthews each registered five.
Robinson, the reigning Gateway Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year, led the White team with three catches for 123 yards. Brockway finished the day with 349 yards on 26-for-45 passing. Rafael Rice led the Redbird rushing attack with 15 carries for 44 yards.
The intra-squad scrimmage concluded spring camp for the Redbirds. ISU will open the 2006 season on Sept. 2, at Kansas State.
