NORMAL, Ill. – Thursday's practice at Hancock Stadium was the final full-contact one for the Redbird football team before Saturday's annual Spring Showcase. The Redbirds went through the two-hour practice and put in crucial work before the team breaks for the summer and prepares for finals in three weeks.
Practice Highlights:
• The focus of the day was the RED ZONE, as both 7-on-7 periods and the final team session took place and worked on the all-important scenario
• Quarterbacks Brady Davis and Bryce Jefferson dominated the first 7-on-7 session, combining to throw for six touchdowns … Davis finished the drill 4-for-7 with a TD pass each to Andrew Edgar and Tanner Taula and two TD connections with Taylor Grimes … Two of Jefferson's three completions went for scores to Tristan Bailey and Eric Rogers, however he was credited with an interception when Ty DeForest hauled in a tipped pass for the pick
• Following the perimeter drill and the 9-on-7 session, the focus returned back to the 24 yard line where the offense took over for the second 7-on-7 session
• This time, the defense had all the momentum with three interceptions in the second period … After Davis led off the drill with a 24-yard TD pass to Cole Blackman, defenders Devin Taylor, Mike Gardner and Iverson Brown each recorded interceptions as the quarterbacks found completions hard to come by
• The first and second-team units then each got a pair of chances to work in the red zone during the team period … The defense held strong on each of the four attempts, forcing field goal makes by Sam Fenlason (21, 40), Trevor Bond (21) and Aiden Bresnahan
• A two-minute session wrapped things up and the first-team offense drove into enemy territory after an 18-yard completion from Davis to Edgar, but the drive ultimately came to an end on a sack by Tuvone Clark on fourth down … the second-team unit was also unsuccessful, as an interception by Dylan Draka ended practice on a high note for the guys in white jerseys
Thoughts From Coach Spack:
"We got some good work in today and I was pleased with the effort out there.