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Defense dominates spring game

Last Saturday, fans, friends, former players and alumni gathered at Robinson Stadium to watch the Black team dominate the Gold team 28-12. This the second straight season that the Black Team has been victorious. The opening drive is where the defense set the tone, forcing a fumble by sophomore running back Cornelius Walker which allowed the Black team to take a 5-0 lead.

The Tigers defense was lead by sophomore defensive end Christian Anthony and senior linebacker Keefe Hall, who recorded nine tackles a piece.

Perfection and penetration are what limited the offense to only two trips to the end zone; despite the last two drives of the scrimmage, the offense struggled the whole day.

Even though the offense struggled the majority of the day, they were given a boost by redshirt freshman running back Kenneth Bastise, as he took a simple pass from quarterback Greg Dillon and took it 72 yards for the Gold team’s final touchdown of the scrimmage.

By the numbers, quarterback Brandon Landers went 22 of 37 for 165 and a touchdown; second team quarterback Greg Dillon went 6 of 8 for 121 and one touchdown, he also had 12 carries for 37 yards. Cornelius Walker was the leading rusher, with 20 carriers for 89 yards and the leading receiver was senior Nick Lewis with 5 catches for 75 yards and a touchdown.

As the spring game comes to the concludes, the focus of the team turns to the offensive side of the ball. Coach Broadway will have to replace five key players including: record breaking wide receiver Clyde Edwards and center Tavraus Cockrell.

There are several young players that must step up to take some of the pressure off quarterback Brandon Landers. Wideouts Nick Lewis and Larry Kerlagan will be Landers’ “go to” guys in clutch situations this upcoming season.

The defense will not be a problem this season. It returns seven starters from a unit that gave up only 18 points a game. On the defensive line, defensive tackles Otis Young and Melvin Matthews will return.

The linebacking corps will return everyone from a season ago, even though the secondary will have to replace safeties DeMicheal Dizer and Zaire Wilborn, the cornerback tandem of Nigel Copeland and Kenneth Anio return to look down the opponent wide receivers.