Aug. 9, 2008
Click here to read CAMP REPORT #12 from Saturday morning's practice.
NORMAL, Ill. -
Isn't it amazing what eight hours can do? In that window of time the Illinois State football team was able to rejuvenate and remove the proverbial camp monkey from its back, as the Redbirds brought back the intensity Saturday night for the day's second practice at Hancock Stadium.
The Redbirds worked out in shells for 24, five-minute periods, under near perfect conditions with a cool, summer evening. Practice closed with senior quarterback Kevin Brockway leading the ISU offense during a two-minute drill. Brockway led the offense to four first downs, after starting on its own 17-yard line, before the drive stalled at the defense's 33-yard line.
In the three previous periods, the team scrimmaged with third-down situations. Facing third-and-10, Brockway completed a 36-yard pass down the middle of the field to Garin Harcar on the first snap of the session. Following two defensive stops, the offense posted back-to-back 81-yard touchdown passes with Drew Kiel connecting with Drew Kempe and Brockway completing a toss to Jake Rourke.
After the second touchdown, the defense stifled the ISU offense with three quarterback sacks, one each by Doni Phelps, Babtunde Soyebo and Nick Broome, and Jason Tate added an interception on a Preston Earl pass. The defense limited the Redbird offense to three first downs on 15 snaps.
With the chains moved to a third-and-five situation, the defense maintained its intensity and held the offense to three first downs in nine plays. Eric Brunner collected the defense's fourth quarterback sack of the team period, when he touched Kiel behind the line of scrimmage.
"I've been out here in these drills before where the defense couldn't stop the offense, and the offense couldn't move the ball at all, so it is good to see it go back-and-forth," said head coach Denver Johnson. "It is good to see some plays made on both sides of the ball. That's encouraging, and competition is a wonderful thing. There is a lot of competition out here right now and that has led to the intensity (of the practices)."
The Redbird offense and defense also exchanged big plays during the 7-on-7 drill. On his second attempt, Brockway was intercepted by Tom Nelson, while a few plays later, Earl was intercepted by Austin Davis when the ball was batted around by Marcus King.
Eyad Salem got the offense back on track with a one-handed circus catch off a Kiel pass down the left sideline. On the next play, Kiel found Kedric Meredith down the middle of the field, who wrestled the ball away from Tommie Westbrook for the touchdown. On his next series, Earl tossed a touchdown pass to Kelvin Chandler for another offensive score.
Brockway completed 5-of-8 passes, while Earl was 4-for-7 and Kiel finished 2-for-5 passing during the 7-on-7 drill.
"I was extremely impressed with our defense," said Johnson. "They were flying around and they seemed focused. You keep practicing with and against that kind of intensity; you can't help but get better. I'm really pleased with how our kids are getting after one another."
Near the beginning of practice, the Redbirds worked on extra point and field goal teams. Both Steven Fetzer and Zach Kutch were 2-for-2 on PATs, but Kutch held the edge on field goals. From 36 yards out, Kutch converted all four tries, while Fetzer was 2-for-4. At a distance of 40 yards, Kutch split the uprights on one of his two attempts and Fetzer missed both tries.
The Redbirds take the field again Sunday for the first scrimmage of training camp.
NOTABLE:
Bert Whigham, Reggie Dozier and Mario Bailey remained sidelined with their various injuries.
The hair clippers resurfaced in between practices, as Erik Madsen's hair featured some engraved letters and Dane Zumbahlen's new look was simply indescribable with a thick Mohawk, sideburns and a handlebar mustache.
The Redbird volleyball team was in attendance to watch practice, and served as a cheering section for Eyad Salem's one-handed catch during the 7-on-7 drill.
