Speedy Northern Illinois Kicker Scored a TD, and College Football Fans Were Amazed

College football teams playing in bowl games often dive deep into their playbooks.

To wit, Northern Illinois treated college football fans to one of the best plays of the 2023 bowl season by successfully executing a fake field goal for a touchdown in the Camellia Bowl against Arkansas State on Saturday.

Faced with fourth-and-four from the Red Wolves’ 32-yard line, Huskies coach Thomas Hammock opted for some trickery instead of attempting a 49-yard field goal with his club leading 13–7 midway through the second quarter.

Northern Illinois holder Tom Foley made a flip pass to kicker Kanon Woodill, who sprinted untouched into the end zone to extend the Huskies’ lead.

The Huskies went on to win, 21–19, so the touchdown proved to be pivotal. Northern Illinois improved to 7–6 with the win, ending the 2023 campaign on a three-game winning streak. The Red Wolves dropped to 6–7 under coach Butch Jones.

Fans and pundits were impressed by Woodill’s speed and the boldness of the call by Hammock, and they set social media abuzz with their reactions.