LICENSED TO ILL
Film review: How Illingworth turned the OSU offense around
STILLWATER — Shane Illingworth caught the shotgun snap at his chest, calmly turned to his right and lobbed a perfect touch pass toward Tylan Wallace.
No apparent nerves or signs of over-excitement for the Oklahoma State third-string quarter back who began Saturday with no real expectation of playing in a tight ballgame.
But the Cowboys were down 7-3 when Illingworth made his first play, the throw
to Wallace.
You know how the story ends. Illingworth completes four of his five passes, leads the Cowboys to 13 fourthquarter points and a 16- 7 victory over upset-minded Tulsa.
Let's take a look at each of the five passing plays when the ball was put in
Il ling worth' s hands after he entered t he game with 2:02 remaining, and how the 6-foot-6, 220-pound freshman turned the game around:
First pass
Situation: First-and-10 at
OSU's 14
Clock: 2:02, third quarter
The play: With Wallace in single coverage, Illingworth lofts a perfect back-shoulder throw. Wallace turns to catch the ball and lands at the OSU 43 for a first down. With single coverage on one of the best receivers in the country, the read was easy. All that mattered was the execution. It looked like a veteran-to-veteran pitch and catch for Illingworth — not his first throw in a college football game.
Second pass
Situation: First-and-10 at
Tulsa's 47
Clock: 0:42, third quarter
The play: On the snap, Illingworth is looking toward Wallace again, but he's covered. Illingworth looks to the middle of the field as he begins to move forward.
Then, just before it looks like he's going to take off running, he glances right and slings it to tight end Jelani Woods in the flat, who gets around the corner for an 8-yard gain. Patience and calmness from Illingworth again.
Third pass
Situation: Second-and-2 at Tulsa's 39
Clock: 0:20, third quarter
The play: Similar to his first throw, Illingworth is automatically going to Wallace in single coverage down the right side. This time, Wallace gets shoved out of bounds, but fights back in and runs under the ball for an easy catch, getting knocked down at the 3. If Illingworth was unnerved by his receiver getting knocked out of bounds, it doesn't show in the pass, which comes down where only Wallace can get to it. OSU running back Chuba Hubbard scores the goahead touchdown on the next play.
Fourth pass
Situation: First-and-10 at Tulsa's 33 Clock: 6:48, fourth quarter
The play: One play after a deep throw to Wallace that drew a pass interference call, Illingworth has another easy read. He delivers a perfect pass on a short out route to slot receiver Dillon Stoner for an 8-yard gain.
Fifth pass
Situation: Second-and-6 at Tulsa's 18 Clock: 5:21, fourth quarter
The play: Illingworth fakes a handoff to LD Brown and looks deep to the left, where Wallace is coming open on a crossing route. Illingworth either didn't see Wallace or didn't feel comfortable with the throw, so he takes off scrambling to his right. Landon Wolf also was open, but with a defender in Illingworth's direct vision, he instead throws the ball away — at least avoiding a negative play. After a fruitless run play, OSU kicks a field goal for a 13-7 lead and Illingworth didn't have to throw another pass the rest of the day.