Teon Parks (26) celebrates with teammate Mark Cannon Jr. (7) after snagging his first career interception during Saturday’s game with Missouri State at Hancock Stadium. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Dan Verdun
Teon Parks wasn’t fooled.
Facing a 4th-and-2 at the Illinois State 14-yard line early in the second quarter Saturday at Hancock Stadium, Missouri State brought in multiple tight ends and a fullback.
While many expected a run, Parks – a Redbird sophomore defensive back – recognized the formation. After all, he’d seen the ISU scout team set up in it during practices leading up to the game.
“It was a read-option play. I just read the QB,” Parks told Prairie State Pigskin. “I wasn’t sure he was going to throw, but I trusted my training.”
Parks lined up seven yards off the ball and kept his eyes on Missouri State quarterback Jacob Clark.
“I saw him look at me and he thought I was playing some sort of off coverage,” Parks said. “I walked down at the snap and just played man (defense) and broke inside.”
Parks, a Detroit King High School graduate, intercepted the pass in the end zone. He briefly thought about bringing the ball out on a return, but then the reality of the situation hit him.
“You have to think smart. It’s a team game. I couldn’t be selfish and only get to the 1- or 2-yard line (for our offense to start its possession),” he said.
Late in the same quarter, Parks made another impressive play – this time on special teams. He tracked teammate Hayden Futch’s 41-yard punt and downed it at the Missouri State 2.
“I took an inside release and looked up. I saw the other (ISU) gunner in my peripheral vision and I knew I wasn’t in the end zone (when) I caught it,” he said.
After spending most of last season on special teams, Parks has seen more time in the Redbird defensive backfield. He ended Saturday with three tackles, raising his season total to 14.
“He did some pretty good things. He did some things that weren’t obvious to the naked eye,” Illinois State head coach Brock Spack said. “He made some mistakes, but he made a big interception.
“He’s going to play more as we move forward.”
Moving forward, Parks and Illinois State (4-3 overall, 1-2 in MVFC) resume their Missouri Valley Football Conference schedule Saturday at Murray State (1-5, 0-3). (2 p.m., ESPN-Plus)
The opponent
Murray State forged a second-half comeback but fell short at Indiana State, 31-27, last weekend in Terre Haute.
Trailing 21-10 at halftime, the Racers stormed back with a pair of touchdown passes from quarterback Jayden Johanssen.
Murray State took a 27-24 lead on a 25-yard field goal by James London with 1 minute, 57 seconds left in the game.
However, Indiana State put together a 9-play, 75-yard drive to pull out the victory and spoil things for the Racers.
Johanssen, a graduate transfer from Division II South Dakota Mines, threw for 256 yards against Indiana State. That was the most by a Murray State QB since Sept. 2, 2023.
The Racer defense recorded three sacks and seven tackles for loss against Indiana State.
“It’s their homecoming. Anytime you go on the road in this league, you have to expect the very best,” Spack said.
Kickoff: 2 p.m.; TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: WJBC.com
Key matchup
Illinois State offense vs. Murray State defense
After producing just seven points against Missouri State, the Redbirds face a Racer defense allowing 40 points a game.
Moreover, Murray State ranks 108th out of 123 FCS teams in rush defense, surrendering 207.8 yards on the ground per game.
Throw in the 100th-ranked pass defense (247.8 yards per game) and you’ve got a recipe for a Redbird rebound.
What’s at stake
Illinois State needs a win to even its MVFC record and head into its bye week on a positive note.
Quick hits
Illinois State dropped five spots to No. 21 in this week’s Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll after losing 41-7 to Missouri State. The Redbirds slid seven slots to No. 23 in the American Football Coaches Association poll. … Spack said safety Keondre Jackson will play against Murray State after sitting out the Missouri State game with a shoulder injury. ISU leads the all-time series with Murray State, 6-1. … The Redbirds posted a 44-7 win against the Racers in Normal last November. … Murray State’s lone win in the series came in 2001. … The analytics-based @RedHerringFCS lists Illinois State’s playoff chances at 53%. … Following Saturday’s game, the Redbirds enter their bye week.
Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.
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