Sophomore running back Tyler Lofton rushed for a career-high 119 yards and two touchdowns in Illinois State’s 76-0 romp against NAIA St. Francis in Saturday’s season opener at Hancock Stadium. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Dan Verdun
NORMAL – It may be hard for Tyler Lofton to top his first carry no matter how his collegiate career turns out.
The Illinois State sophomore running back entered Saturday’s opener against NAIA St. Francis with 6 minutes remaining before halftime. Thirteen seconds later, he crossed the goal line on an 85-yard touchdown run.
“It was very exciting,” Lofton said after ISU’s 76-0 romp in the season opener for both teams.
Lofton credited senior running back Victor Dawson for mentoring him. He also spent time with quarterbacks Beckham Pellant and Gage Roy watching film of opposing defenses.
“Last year, especially with our defense (in practices), it was hard to read,” Lofton said, “but I’ve most definitely gotten better with that.”
With ISU leading 34-0 in the second quarter, Lofton entered the game. Dawson was sidelined with an upper body injury and backup Seth Glatz had already dashed for a 53-yard touchdown.
“It’s always the next man up, that’s what we did,” he said.
Lofton – a Crete resident who prepped at Brother Rice High School – finished with a career-high 119 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just five carries.
His second rushing TD came on a 9-yard run in which he bowled over a defender at the goal line early in the third quarter.
Those two scores sandwiched a 9-yard TD catch out of the backfield from Roy. Lofton caught three passes for 21 yards.
Head coach Brock Spack said Lofton had an impressive series of spring practices that have carried over into the fall.
“He’s really built low to the ground. He’s got a low center of gravity,” Spack said of the 5-foot-10, 225-pound Lofton. “He’s a bowling ball, a wrecking ball.”
With the extent of Dawson’s injury still being determined, Lofton could well take on a more important role in the Redbird offense.
Spack noted that Lofton’s acceleration stands out.
“That’s where he gains a little bit of advantage. He can really burst and accelerate. However fast he is, he gets to that speed quickly. Every great back I’ve been around is like that,” Spack said.
That quickness was on full display on his 85-yard touchdown run.
“(ISU running backs coach KeyShawn) Carpenter always told me that every time you get the ball, run like you’re going to score and that’s exactly what I did,” Lofton said.
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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