Troy University Athletics
T-Day Goes As Planned Saturday
3/28/2009 5:00:00 AM | Football
TROY, Ala. - After three days of torrential downpours, including a heavy dose an hour before scheduled kick-off, the Troy Trojans took the field at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium as the sun started to appear through the clouds Saturday afternoon.
The focus of the spring has been to find replacements due to graduation at offensive tackle and in the defensive backfield. The Trojans coaching staff saw enough to call the scrimmage just 90 minutes in on Saturday afternoon.
"The shortness of the scrimmage comes from injuries," Troy coach Larry Blakeney said. "We've got four or five guys on the offensive line that are out and we have to get them healthy. We had some had today, and then and Nic Riley get banged up. We've just got to get some folks well and continue to try and improve there."
Although the scrimmage was shortened, there were still some highs for the Trojans that will be addressed at the next team meeting. There were also a couple of things Blakeney wished he had back during the scrimmage.
"We had a lot of good things happen today," Blakeney said. "I don't like Levi [Brown] throwing those two interceptions, but I think he was trying to press a little bit because of the situation. You have to always take what you get in this offense, and sometimes it will backfire on you."
Brown finished the day 13-of-24 for 172 yards and touchdown, with two interceptions. Corey Robinson finished the day with 102 passing yards (8-of-10), while Dantavious Parker finished 5-of-9 for 37 yards.
The Trojans used nine different receivers on Saturday with a host of players catching four passes each, including Jason Bruce and Chip Reeves who recorded touchdowns.
Defensively, the Trojans were led by Chris Bowens, Emmanuel Dudley, Daniel Sheffield, Sam Sellers with five tackles on the day. Bowens and Dudley each recorded a tackle for loss.
Freshman Bryan Willis made a statement on the opening drive with an interception in the end zone on the game's first drive. After the offense moved the ball down the field, going 60 yards on 12 plays before the interception.
On that opening drive, the offense had two chances to score inside the three but the defense held tough. Maurice Greer was stuffed at the one-yard line by defensive linemen Kevin Dixon and Mario Addison. On the next play, quarterback Levi Brown fumbled the snap before he was stopped short of the goal line, setting up the interception by Willis.
On the game's fourth drive, the Cardinal team finally got on the board when Chip Reeves caught a 24-yard pass from Corey Robinson with 8:06 remaining in the opening period. The drive lasted 10 plays and went 55 yards with Reeves catching the pass by two defensive backs and lunging for the goal line for the opening score.
Brown got the offense going on the next drive when he connected with Jason Bruce on a 26-yard pass with 3:26 to play in the opening quarter. Bruce caught the ball at the seven-yard line, danced around a couple of defensive backs and made his way into the end zone for the touchdown. The drive lasted five plays, going 55 yards (minus 25 yards when the ball was moved up following an injury, while the athletic trainers attended to the player).
The Gray (defense) scored again when they recovered a fumble near the end of the first quarter when T.J. Mitchell fumbled after fighting through the line for yardage. The defense recovered the fumble, ending the drive with just two minutes remaining in the opening quarter.
On the next offensive drive, Robinson was picked off by Dre Harris who returned the pick 11 yards to set-up the next possession. Although Harris picked off the pass, the hardest hit of the day may have belonged to wide receiver Antonio Bailey, who knocked Harris to the ground.
The next possession started with Brown attempting to hit receiver Josh Jarboe down the middle. The pass was knocked away at the last minute, negating a 35-yard attempt. The next play, Brown attempted to hit Andrew Davis down the left side, with the pass following incomplete on a 20-yard attempt. The play was kept alive at the beginning of the second quarter when Austin Silvoy caught an 11-yard pass from Brown. The play stalled three plays later, ending with a Josh Milner 33-yard punt to Jorrick Calvin with 12 minutes left.
Following the punt, Jarboe recorded his first catch when he caught a quick out from Dantavious Parker and turned it up field for a nine-yard gain. On the next play, Parker was sacked by Chigozie Nwankwo for a nine-yard loss; before Zach Marcum caught a quick out for a five-yard gain. Will Goggans' punt was nearly blocked by Zach Richardson, before the ball rolled down the turf for a 56-yard punt.
Offensively, the Trojans continued to work the ball deep and around the field. Justin Bray dropped a pass at the 15-yard line that was tipped by Courtland Fuller at the last second; before Brown overshot Jarboe at the 15-yard line on the right side on a third down. The drive ended on that play, when Milner connected on a 43-yard punt.
Fernandus Edwards scored the third touchdown on a day when he took a handoff from Robinson, went up the middle and scored. The touchdown culminated a seven-play, 60-yard drive highlighted by a 37-yard reception by Reeves and pair of catches by Willie McDowell. The ensuing point-after attempt by Michael Taylor was blocked by DeMarcus Robertson. Jordan Wilczewski picked up the ball and returned it 50-yards before he was tackled by Marcum.
The next drive started when Brown hit Bruce for a 30-yard gain, before Jorrick Calvin broke up the next pass (intended for Reeves) inside the 10-yard line. Two plays later, Greer rushed up the middle for a 16-yard gain and a first down at 15-yard line. Bruce had the move of the day when he caught a pass at the 10-yard line, stopped on a dime at the six-yard line, dove from the three and was knocked out just short of the goal line.
After the Bruce reception, Fuller intercepted a Brown pass intended for Jarboe at the one-yard line. He subsequently ran past the offensive team, the coaching staff on the field and the rest of the team down the sideline for a 99-yard touchdown. Fuller's touchdown celebration caused Taylor's extra-point attempt to take place from the 35 yards away on the final play of the game.
"I like this group," Blakeney said. "We held a bunch of starters out today on both sides of the ball. We have all those offensive linemen out, and then sitting a bunch of other, you can't make excuses. You just have to keep working through it. All we have to do now is finish strong, we need to get some fundamentals worked in there next week, and team stuff. We just have to continue to work through it and try not to get anyone else hurt, and make sure everyone is supposed to be doing what they need to do off the field."
The Trojans played without offensive starters DuJuan Harris, Jerrel Jernigan, Steven Adams and Danny Franks; as well as defensive starters Boris Lee, Bear Woods, Cameron Sheffield, Brandon Lang and Rashad Roussell. Quarterbacks Jamie Hampton and Tanner Jones both suited up, but sat out the game due to their knee injuries.
"The guys just have to finish up what they need to do off the field," Blakeney said. "Academics, strength and conditioning, everything they need to do to focus on the fall."
The Trojans will wrap up spring drills next week.
"My plan right now is to wrap up Thursday," Blakeney said. "Then we will hold a team meeting on Friday, and try to get an evaluation on everyone academically. That way we will know where everyone stands on this football team."
