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

The Huskies and kicker Kanon Woodill reached into their bag of tricks for an epic surprise play in the Camellia Bowl.

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.

#MACtion pic.twitter.com/xLFX16Dy1J

— #MACtion (@MACSports) December 23, 2023

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.

Watching @NIU_Football kicker Kanon Woodill score on a 32-yard pass off a fake FG and the ensuing celebration is enough to justify watching @CamelliaBowl. Thank you, @NIUCoachHammock for the entertainment. Great call, play.

— David Haugh (@DavidHaugh) December 23, 2023

Kanon Woodill is the most explosive kicker in college football history@NIU_Football | #theHardWayhttps://t.co/ffAyZl04RZ

— Collin Wilson (@_Collin1) December 23, 2023

THE FIRST KANON WOODILL TOUCHDOWN ON THE FAKE FIELD GOAL!!! pic.twitter.com/xsW8oOIQAW

— Huskies On Tap (@HuskiesOnTap) December 23, 2023

Kicker Kanon Woodill runs in the fake field goal for a touchdown! The wheels on this young man 💨#KickersAreAthletesToo @KanonWoodill

https://t.co/TutX391w5V

— The Transfer Portal CFB (@TPortalCFB) December 23, 2023

KANON WOODILL TURNS ON THE JETS

Northern Illinois’ kicker takes it 33 yards to the house on a fake field goal

pic.twitter.com/VbhvOgjgJk

— Brendan Moore (@bmoorecfb) December 23, 2023

Northern Illinois kicker Kanon Woodill with the best touchdown of bowl season so far.

The Camellia Bowl has been so zany, perfect example of why bowl games are the best. pic.twitter.com/73jj2oSzUH

— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) December 23, 2023

I mean, he’s outrunning defenders and leaving them in the dust

Kanon Woodill might have the fastest 40 time of any kicker in college football https://t.co/QeQ7xOPUJA

— Steve Helwick (@s_helwick) December 23, 2023

Does this NIU kicker run a 4.3 40?? https://t.co/igQgZHZmkd

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) December 23, 2023

NIU’s kicker was schmoooooovin’

— ¡BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL! (@edsbs) December 23, 2023

NIU’s kicker just housed a fake FG before the Huskies successfully ran the Philly Special for the two-point conversion.

And some people think there are too many bowl games… pic.twitter.com/XeW953klc8

— Dean Straka (@DWStraka49) December 23, 2023