Defense dominates offense at spring scrimmage

Photo by Hannah Dolle

The ASU football team held its annual spring scrimmage Saturday at Indian Stadium. The defense dominated the offense with a modified scoring system. Defense held the offense 22-7.

By Dustin Dearman, Herald Staff

Arkansas State held its annual red vs. white, defense vs. offense spring scrimmage Saturday at Indian Stadium.

The defense dominated the offense 22-7 with a modified scoring system. The defense scored points through turnovers, stopped drives and defensive scores.

"I think we grew this spring, I think we got better as a football team. Now we go into some evaluation periods," fifth-year head coach Joe Hollis said.

The offense was desperate for rhythm but showed a sign of potential when quarterback Tommy Miller connected with wide out Mark Hamilton on a 52-yard touchdown pass to give the "white team" its only score.

Miller was one of only two quarterbacks to take snaps in the game, but after he bruised his shoulder in the second half Bryan Gauthreaux took all of the reps.
Miller went three of four with 72 yards and one touchdown while Gauthreaux threw 50 percent connecting on 10 of 20 for 80 yards.

The quarterbacks spread the ball around well, hitting six different receivers including junior James Hickenbotham who lead the way with four catches for 31 yards.

The scrimmage was absent of quarterbacks Tye Forte and Jerome Stegall who were both touted as possible starters in the 2001 campaign.

Hollis said that Forte was not playing because of academic difficulties and Stegall was moved to wide receiver.

"I was kind of behind at the quarterback position but I felt more comfortable at receiver anyway. I just want to get the reps and do what I can do," Stegall said. He played at receiver Saturday pulling in three balls for 33 yards.

Not only are Forte, Gauthreaux, and Miller viding to be the Indians' signal caller next season but there will be three or four recruits coming in the fall with a legitimate opportunity to grab the position.

In his third stint at ASU offensive coordinator Phil Davis insisted the quarterback problem was not a controversy but more of a try-out for the position.

"There's no controversy in my mind, it's still wide open. We get a controversy when we get a couple of guys playing really, really good," Davis said.

Absent from the practice game were running backs Jonathan Adams and Danny Smith who were sitting out due to injuries.

Adams had a knee sprain and Smith sustained a sprained ankle a couple of weeks ago. Hollis chose to keep them out of action Saturday.

"Anybody who was suspect of having any kind of injury, spring is not the time to get those youngsters hurt," Hollis said.

"Our running backs are a strength of what we're doing offensively."

With the absence of Adams and Smith, the running game fell into the hands of Sanchez Sherer and Quincy Williams.

Sherer gained only eight yards against the stingy "red" defense.

Williams, who missed last season with a knee injury, rushed four times for 19 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Reggie Everett led the defensive storm with five tackles, including two sacks. The defense made sure that Miller and Gauthreaux hit the turf several times.

Hard hitting linebacker Curtis Barfield, a walk-on his first two seasons at ASU was awarded a scholarship by coach Hollis for this hard work on the field, Thursday.

"It's great to see a young guy come in as a walk on and go through two years of being on the football team. Players like him, obviously love to hit. He loves to play the game. I'm just glad we had the scholarship available to award to him," Hollis said.

With the hiring of Davis the Indians have instituted a new offensive scheme. They plan to add the speed option. The option was called only once during the whole scrimmage and earned modest yardage.

The only players to miss the spring game were players who have been out all spring were offensive center Andrew Tripp (knee), linebacker Tyshon Reed (foot), and running back Tracey Whitaker (neck).

The Indians will host six home games during the 2001 football season, something that has not happened since 1998.

The Indians will open its season at Georgia Sept. 1.