NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State football team didn't have many good weather days for 2022 spring training camp, but they were greeted with warmer temperatures and sunny skies Saturday for the annual Spring Showcase scrimmage at Hancock Stadium. The red team scored a touchdown in each of the first three quarters and held off a late 13-point comeback from the white team to come away with a 21-20 win in front of a great crowd of Redbird fans and family in attendance.
Scoring Summary:
•   The red team scored first with 8:22 left in the first quarter, as Zack Annexstad found Pha'leak Brown out of the backfield for a 12-yards touchdown pass to give them a 7-0 lead.
•   Just two seconds into the second quarter, the white team tied things up on a 1-yard touchdown run by Brown, who was playing for both squads during the scrimmage.
•   A quick answer by the red team gave put them back up 14-7, after a 38-yard pass from tight end Bryson Deming to wide receiver J'Kalon Carter set up a 1-yard scoring run by Wenkers Wright, who also suited up for both squads.
•   Late in the third quarter, Annexstad tossed his second touchdown pass of the day this one a three-yarder to Deming that made it 21-7 in favor of the red team.
•   The fourth quarter would belong to the white team, who started the quarter with a 68-yard touchdown pass from Timothy Dorsey to Wright on a swing pass out of the backfield that made it 21-14.
•   With just 2:09 remaining the contest, Brown scored his third touchdown of the day on 2-yard dive up the middle to make it 21-20 but the 2-point conversion failed, and the white team was still down a point.
•   The white team had a chance to win the game with a field goal as time expired, but the kick missed wide left from 41 yards and the red team held on for the victory.
Passing Leaders:
•   Zack Annexstad: 18-for-34, 124 yards, 2 TD
•   Timothy Dorsey: 17-for-22, 235 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Leaders:
•   Wenkers Wright: 19 att., 62 yds., 1 TD
•   Pha'leak Brown: 17 att., 64 yds., 2 TD
Receiving Leaders:
•   Javon Charles: 5 rec., 42 yds., long 23
•   Wenkers Wright: 5 rec., 105 yds., 1 TD, long 68
•   Pha'leak Brown: 4 rec., 20 yds., 1 TD, long 12
•   J'Kalon Carter: 3 rec., 52 yds., long 38
•   Joe Dochee: 3 rec., 62 yds., long 27
•   Bryson Deming: 2 rec., 12 yds., 1 TD, long 9
Defensive Leaders:
•   Darius Walker: 8 tackles, 6 solo, 1 sack, 1.0 TFL
•   Cam Wilson: 7 tackles, 4 solo
•   Jack Dwyer: 6 tackles, 4 solo, 2 sacks, 3.0 TFL
•   Damien Jackson: 5 tackles, 4, solo, 2 sacks, 2.0 TFL
•   Zeke Vandenburgh: 4 tackles, 3 solo, 2 sacks, 2.0 TFL
•   Jacob Bellizzi: 5 tackles, 2.0 TFL
•   Cam Wilson: 4 tackles, 1 sack, 1.0 TFL
•   Zeke Vandenburgh: 4 tackles, 1 sack, 1.0 TFL
•   Kylan Stevens: 4 tackles, 3 solo, 2 sacks, 2.0 TFL
Up Next:Â
The Redbirds return to the field in August to being fall training camp in preparation for the 2022 season opener at Wisconsin. For updates on Redbird football during the offseason, follow the team's official Twitter (@RedbirdFB), Instagram (isuredbirdfb) and Facebook (isuredbirdfootball) accounts and log onto GoRedbirds.com.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
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