Annexstad, Carr rally Illinois State past Valparaiso 28-21

Seattle Sports

NORMAL, Ill. (AP) — Zack Annexstad threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, Jalen Carr returned a kickoff 98 yards to the end zone and Illinois State rallied to beat Valparaiso 28-21 on Saturday night.

Annexstad staked Illinois State (1-1) to a 7-0 first-quarter lead with a 35-yard scoring strike to Nigel White.

Mason Kaplan pulled Valparaiso (1-1) even with an 8-yard touchdown toss to Matt Ross. The Beacons grabbed a 14-7 lead in the second quarter when the Redbirds’ Franky West muffed a punt and Caleb Rao recovered it in the end zone.

The lead lasted until Carr returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to knot the score. Annexstad gave the Redbirds a 21-14 halftime lead when he ran 8 yards for a score on a keeper midway through the period.

Illinois State pushed its lead to 28-14 after three quarters on Annexstad’s 23-yard scoring strike to Bryson Deming.

Kaplan added a 14-yard TD toss to Evan Jernegan in the fourth quarter to end the scoring.

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Annexstad completed 14 of 22 passes for 196 yards with one interception. Wenkers Wright rushed for 101 yards on 21 carries.

Kaplan finished with 191 yards on 18-of-36 passing with three interceptions for Valparaiso.

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