FALL CAMP REPORT 3: Offense Explosive In First Scrimmage

NORMAL, Ill. – When the Illinois State football team took the field on Saturday morning, it did so just three weeks away from its season opener against Dayton at Hancock Stadium on September 2. The Redbirds took the turf for their first scrimmage of Fall Camp 2023 on a beautiful day for football with a great group of fans in the stands, and the Redbird offense gave them plenty to watch and get excited about.

Scoring Summary:
•    The scoring got started early in the scrimmage, when Tommy Rittenhouse backed up deep on the offense's 4-yard line took advantage of a free play thanks to the defense jumping offsides and found Scotty Presson Jr. wide open in the middle of the field and he took off for a 96-yard touchdown reception.
•    Running back Wenkers Wright then bowled his way in from three yards out for his first touchdown of the day.
•    Placekicker Josh Jasek then connected on the first of his three field goals on the day, the first being the longest at 43 yards … he would later add makes of 22 and 26 yards, respectively, during the red zone period that capped off the scrimmage.
•    A 3-yard touchdown pass from Jimmy Makuh to Brad Gothelf then put six points on the board and Coach Spack decided to go for two, as Makuh found freshman tight end Brady Probst for the conversion.
•    A perfect 28-yard touchdown pass from Zack Annexstad to his favorite receiver from last season Daniel Sobkowicz kept the momentum going for the guys in red jerseys.
•    Back-to-back field goals by Ian Wagner of 44 and 29 yards followed to increase the scoring, before Rittenhouse and Presson connected for another touchdown pass this one an 18-yard connection.
•    Wright recorded the final touchdown of the day on another tough 3-yard run during the red zone period to bring the scrimmage to an end.

Passing Leaders:
•    Tommy Rittenhouse: 13-for-21, 185 yards, 2 TD
•    Zack Annexstad: 14-for-19, 110 yards, 1 TD

Rushing Leaders:
•    Wenkers Wright: 15 att., 78 yards, 2 TD
•    Cal Martine: 11 att., 50 yards
•    Josh Robinson: 13 att., 37 yards

Receiving Leaders:
•    Camo Nelson: 5 rec., 22 yards
•    Eddie Kasper: 4 rec., 17 yards
•    Scotty Presson Jr.: 3 rec., 113 yards, 2 TD
•    Tommy Donovan: 3 rec., 26 yards
•    Jalen Carr: 3 rec., 21 yards

Defensive Leaders:
•    Keondre Jackson: 9 tackles, 4 solo, 1 INT
•    Tye Niekamp: 8 tackles, 6 solo, 2.0 sacks, 3.0 TFL
•    Cade Campos: 6 tackles, 5 solo, 1.0 sack, 2.0 TFL
•    CJ Hodgdon: 6 tackles, 4 solo, 1 PBU
•    Amir Abdullah: 4 tackles, 3 solo, 1.0 sack

Up Next: 
The Redbirds return to the field Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. for practice No. 10 of Fall Camp 2023. For updates, photos, and video from 2023 Redbird Football Fall Camp, follow the team's official X (@RedbirdFB) and Instagram (isuredbirdfb) accounts and log onto GoRedbirds.com.

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