FALL CAMP REPORT #5: Offense Shines In Red-White Scrimmage

NORMAL, Ill. – For the first time since last March, the Illinois State football team took the turf at Hancock Stadium in front of an excited crowd of fans for its annual Red-White Scrimmage Saturday afternoon on a beautiful day in the Twin Cities.

Scrimmage Notes:
•    The scrimmage went 110 plays, with all three units getting equal reps and opportunities in the various scenarios.
•    Situations practiced including coming off the goal line, driving the field, red zone work and a two-minute scenario.
•    The Redbird offense was efficient on the day, averaging 3.9 yards per play and 10.9 yards per completion.
•    The defense racked up seven sacks total and 17 tackles-for-loss, with two interceptions and four pass breakups on the day.

Scoring Summary:
•    Notre Dame transfer Micah Jones got things started with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Waring to open the scoring.
•    A 28-yard field goal by Aidan Bresnahan tacked on three more points for the offense, before newcomer Bryson Deming increased the advantage on an 11-yard touchdown reception from Bryce Jefferson.
•    Britton Morris did not want to be left out of the TD pass club and found Kacper Rutkiewicz for a 3-yard score to make it 24-0 at the time.
•    JT Bohlken then connected on a 24-yard field goal, before true freshman Wenkers Wright plowed his way in from one yard out for a touchdown.
•    The Redbird tight ends continued to have a strong day, as Tanner Taula found the end zone as he dove for the pilon for a 16-yard score from Jefferson to move the score to 41.
•    Bohlken would then connect on his second field goal of the day, this one from 41 yards out, and Deming capped things off with his second score of the day from 17 yards out from Jefferson to bring the scrimmage scoring to an end.

Passing Leaders:
•    Bryce Jefferson: 15-for-22, 205 yds., 3 TD
•    Jackson Waring: 11-for-15, 77 yds., 1 TD
•    Britton Morris: 5-for-9, 43 yds., 1 TD

Rushing Leaders:
•    Cole Mueller: 9 att., 22 yds.
•    Nigel White: 6 att., 20 yds.
•    Kevin Brown: 4 att., 19 yds.

Receiving Leaders:
•    Kacper Rutkiewicz: 7 rec., 126 yds., 1 TD
•    Mitchell Lewis: 3 rec., 39 yds.
•    Bryson Deming: 2 rec., 28 yds., 2 TD
•    Tanner Taula: 2 rec., 27 yds., 1 TD

Defensive Leaders:
•    Jeremiah Jordan: 9 tackles, 1 sack, 3.0 TFL
•    Max Sobkowicz: 6 tackles, 1.0 TFL
•    Zeke Vandenburgh: 5 tackles, 1 sack, 0.5 TFL
•    Cade Campos: 5 tackles, 1.0 TFL
•    Iverson Brown: 4 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 1 INT
•    Blake Fehrmann: 3 tackles, 2.0 TFL

Up Next: 
The Redbirds return to the field Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. for practice No. 9. For updates, photos, and video from 2021 Redbird Football Fall Camp, follow the team's official Twitter (@RedbirdFB), Instagram (isuredbirdfb) and Facebook (isuredbirdfootball) accounts and log onto GoRedbirds.com.

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