Troy University Athletics
Trojans Close Spring Drills With Scrimmage
4/5/2008 5:00:00 AM | Football
The Troy University football team put a wrap on spring practice on Saturday with a scrimmage at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium.
The scrimmage lasted just shy of two hours and saw much of the focus on game situations, including goal line, two minute and fourth down.
The scrimmage was also notable for several players who did not take part. Receiver Jerrel Jernigan and running back DuJuan Harris, both sophomores this fall, took the day off as did defensive back Terrence Moore and linebacker Boris Lee on defense.
Several other players who are expected to start in the fall saw very limited duty.
“We chopped down practice for the last two days and worked on a lot of little things we hope will help the quarterbacks,” Trojans coach Larry Blakeney said. “We held a lot of guys out today, not necessarily because they are hurt, and I would have liked to have held out a few more.”
The main focus continued to be in the ongoing battle between junior Levi Brown and sophomores Jamie Hampton and Tanner Jones for the vacant quarterback position. All three had good moments on Saturday, but none threw for nearly as many yards as they did in the T-Day game last week.
“We'll have to take a look at the film to see exactly what was what, but I thought all three guys did some good things,” Blakeney said. “It is really difficult to get a good read on things because they have on those yellow jerseys and can't really get into the running part of the offense.”
For the second straight week, it was Hampton that led the way among the quarterbacks. He completed 18-of-27 attempts for 182 yards and a score. He also had 10 rushing attempts for 12 yards, but that included six negative yardage plays that resulted from being touched down in the backfield.
Brown had a solid day as well, hitting on 14-of-20 passes for 107 yards and a score. Jones completed 11-of-20 attempts for 69 yards and threw the only interception of the day, to corner Chris Bowens.
Senior Kennard Burton was the leading receiver, hauling in eight passes for 88 yards. Junior Patrick Cherry (6-57), junior Zack Marcum (5-44), freshman Willie McDowell (5-44) and senior Mykeal Terry (4-39) also had good days catching the ball. McDowell, on a six-yrd pass from Hampton, and Gerald Tate, on an eight-yard throw from Brown, had the only TD catches on the day.
Juniors Xavier Moreland and Fernandus Edwards shared most of the rushing load on the day. Moreland had 14 carries for 47 yards and a TD while Edwards had 11 carries for 47 yards and two scores.
Defensive standouts, in addition to Bowens, included senior Steve McLendon with two sacks and senior Dion Gales with a sack and a pass breakup. Freshman Brandon Boudreaux, and juniors Jeremy Hawkins and Rashad Roussell all had sacks during the scrimmage.
“I think the defense played a little better today, even without some of the guys we held out,” Blakeney said. “It seems as if when they know the deal, they play a little better, and they did that today.”
Special teams were limited to just a few plays. There were no kickoffs and only three punts. Freshman Will Goggans averaged 38 yards on those three attempts. Both freshman Michael Taylor and junior Sam Glusman were two-of-two on PAT kicks and Taylor hit the only field goal, from 42 yards. Both Taylor and Glusman missed on one field goal try.
