Northern Illinois captivates college football world with trick plays vs. Arkansas State

David Suggs

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Northern Illinois captivates college football world with trick plays vs. Arkansas State image

Northern Illinois understood its assignment on Saturday. The Huskies were pitted up against a frightening Arkansas State side in the Camellia Bowl, one of the Crown Jewels of the college football calendar.

It was a matchup befitting of gleaming billboards. And Northern Illinois, ever the entertainers, made sure to give those who spilled into Cramton Bowl with a performance seemingly powered by Madden.

The Huskies pulled off a series of trick plays to mystify their central-most U.S. opposition, sparkling a bit of fairy dust over what could have been quite a dour affair.

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Head coach Thomas Hammock cuts a stoic figure on the sideline. But his playbook was filled with joyous hymns on Saturday — wide receiver passes, onside kicks and even a designed kicker run for good measure.

Bowl games can be an afterthought for some, especially after the hustle and bustle of the regular season. Players destined to hear their names called come April may opt to sit the season finale, especially if their team has not reached a prestigious bowl game.

It can create a whole lot of disorder, seeing rosters that don't really resemble the ones that initially got them to this point.

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It's within that context that Hammock decided to get creative. And my, was it glorious.

The Huskies started the game in style, scoring on their opening possession courtesy of an 18-yard pitch-and-catch between Rocky Lombardi and Grayson Barnes. They capped off the drive with a wayward two-point attempt. It was a sign of what was to come.

In the second quarter, with the ball on Arkansas State's 32-yard line, kicker Kanon Woodill lined up for fairly short-range field goal on fourth-and-four.

But Woodill's foot was a decoy. Rather, it was his legs that did the talking on Saturday; he made numerous defenders whiff after fielding a toss from holder Tom Foley. And just when it seemed he couldn't do anymore, he sprinted beyond his markers, scoring one of the most athletic kicker-related TDs we've ever seen.

What better way to follow up that eye-catching score than with a successful two-point conversion, too.

The hits kept on coming for Northern Illinois, which continued to broaden horizons with its ambitious play-calling against the Red Wolves. In the process, it gained a legion of supporters, many of whom will watch with bated breath as Hammock and Co. figure out just what's next.

David Suggs

David Suggs Photo

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.