With several holes to fill on defense from last season, Eastern New Mexico University’s football team is hoping help may come from within.
Defensive tackle Stephen Smith and strong safety Jason Serda, both from Albuquerque, may be able to plug a couple of those holes.
Both players saw some duty last year, but were playing behind qualify teammates. Both showed well in Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage at Greyhound Stadium, ENMU coach Mark Ribaudo said.
“Jason was making a lot of plays, and Steve had a great scrimmage,” he said.
Smith, who will be a senior in the fall, played behind sophomore Bracy McCoy last season, but the Hounds have moved McCoy to defensive end this spring.
“I think the biggest thing for me is (working on) my speed and explosiveness,” said the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Smith, who prepped at La Cueva. “I’ve always had good timing, but this year I’m just getting off (the ball) faster.”
Smith thinks the Hounds have enough talent in camp to cover for their graduation losses on defense.
“I don’t feel like there’s a big dropoff from last year,” he said. “I think the people filling in will be just as good, although the might not be known yet.”
Angelo State's defense limited the offensive unit to 360 yards on 91 plays and more importantly, just two touchdowns, as the Blue (defense) rolled to a 32-14 win over the White (offense) in the ASU Football Spring Game at San Angelo Stadium Sunday afternoon. The Blue forced two turnovers, a fumble, and an interception by freshman Lawrence Syon.
The Blue Team got two points for every three-and-out, one point for a possession change and three points for every turnover, while the offense was credited points the traditional way, by putting the ball in the end zone for seven points. Both of the White's touchdowns came in the second half, as the Blue team set the tone early with a three-and-out on the very first series.
The White gained 185 yards through the air on 54 pass plays, and ran the ball 37 times for 175 yards. Sophomore-to-be quarterback Blake Hamblin led the rushing with two carries for 41 yards – one being a 50-yard scamper for a touchdown to put the White team on the board in the third quarter. By that point, the Blue team was up 21-7, and answered the score with a sack by Lance Williams and Aseante Roberts to force a three-and-out on the next series, then tallied three points on the very next series with Syon's interception.
The Blue team led 32-7 late in the fourth quarter before the White team quarterback Michael Cochran connected with tight end Nate Bayless on first and goal from the three yard line. That play was set-up by a fourth down desperation pass that Excelle Osborne snagged in front of the defensive back. Osborne, a junior next fall, led the receivers with four catches and 47 yards.
Angelo State played four 12-minute quarters with a running clock, except for the final two minutes of the first half and last two minutes of the game. The game completed the Rams spring practice session and will be the last official team activity until fall camp opens in preparation for the 2011 season. Angelo State will open next year's schedule on the road at Western State in Gunnison, Colo., and open at home in week three against former Lone Star Conference foe Central Oklahoma on Sept. 17 at San Angelo Stadium.
WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Southwestern Oklahoma State University ended its spring football season in spirited fashion as the Bulldogs put together a wildly entertaining Blue-White game that featured highlights and big plays on both sides of the ball. The teams, which were divided by a player draft earlier in the week, carried the names of defensive coordinator Todd Helton and offensive line coach Dustin Hada. Team Hada managed to hold on to their early lead throughout despite a stern challenge from Helton’s group and won, 27-14.
SWOSU head coach Dan Cocannouer who oversaw both teams was delighted in the effort that both teams played with and saw several encouraging signs.
“I don’t think there is a player one who didn’t make some good things happen out there tonight,” Cocannouer said. “This is a completely different vibe than last year’s game and certainly our first two years ago. I saw a bunch of positives that we can take forward. I just wish the season wasn’t four months away.”
The 75-play scrimmage zipped along at a quick pace and was completed in just a little over one and one-half hour.
Hada’s team scored first on a 41-yard touchdown pass from Michael Van Deripe to M.J. Porter to go up 7-0. The lead grew even more as quarterback Houston Johnson came in and connected on a 54-yard strike to Dakota Davis to put Hada’s group up 14-0.
Helton’s team got on the board later when Ravion Ingram picked off a pass at the 10-yard line setting up a short, easy scoring drive. Karl Hodge’s one-yard run made it 14-7.
Hada’s group continued picking up their third touchdown when D. C. Walker crashed in from one-yard early in the third to go up 21-7. Hodge brought Helton’s team back to within a touchdown with a one-yard scoring run in the closing seconds of the third quarter to make it 21-14.
Hada’s team put it away late with a defensive stand and then put it out reach when Van Deripe hit Davis on a 52-yard TD toss to go up 27-14.
DEFENSE LOOKS SHARP, OFFENSE COMES ALIVE LATE IN A&M-COMMERCE SPRING EXHIBITION - TAMC Football
COMMERCE, Texas -- As had been the case throughout the spring season, the A&M-Commerce defensive unit held strong in Saturday's annual spring exhibition at Memorial Stadium, but the offense came alive late as the Lions wrap up their spring football schedule.
"Overall, I thought it was a good effort," said head coach Guy Morriss. "The defense has really been key for us throughout the spring, and they came ready to play today. The offense struggled there for a little bit, but seemed to find its groove as the day wore on. It was good to get these guys out there and see what they could do. There are a lot of things we still need to work on, but it was a good way to wrap up the spring and head into the fall."
A&M-Commerce ran through a 63-play offense vs. defense live-action scrimmage at Memorial Stadium in front of a sizeable crowd of Lion fans on a gorgeous north Texas Saturday afternoon. Early on, it was the defense that controlled the tempo as the offense was unable to generate any momentum on the ground.
One of the most anticipated aspects of the spring practice was to see the quarterback battle between juniors J.J. Harp and Yogi Gallegos. Both put up similar stats on the afternoon, with Harp completing 12 of 22 passes for 138 yards and a 21-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Bevans to close out the practice. Gallegos was 12-of-21 for 156 yards with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Kenzee Jackson.
"I thought they both looked good at times after shaking off a rough start," said Morriss. "There were a lot of times where our offensive line wasn't giving them enough time to get rid of it, but I thought they adjusted well and it was nice to see them spread out their passes. It definitely gives us some signs of optimism as we head into the fall and gives them confidence that they can throw the ball on anybody."
But the defense was able to force three interceptions on the day, the first coming by Corvellas Cage, who returned it eight yards. Dre Dunbar snagged the next pick, returning it 45 yards before flipping the ball to Guy Jones who advanced it an additional 15 yards. Marcus Fore also got in on the action, intercepting a pass along the back of the endzone with some nice tightrope footwork action to remain in bounds.
Troy Griffin led the way on the ground, racking up 15 yards on seven carries for A&M-Commerce. Among the receiving corps, Adorian Arthur led the way with seven receptions for 93 yards, followed by transer Tyler Rawlings' three catches for 60 yards, including a 38-yard reception from Gallegos for the longest catch of the afternoon. Bevans pulled in three catches as well for 28 yards and the touchdown while Jackson caught two passes for 46 yards and the score.
The exhibition wrapped up the spring football schedule for the Lions, who will now have some time off before returning to Commerce in July to prepare for the 2011 season opener at Upper Iowa on Sept. 3.
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COLLEGE TRACK: Soaring & sore - Mike Whitson, San Angelo Standard Times
Berryman Wins At John Jacobs - UCO Track
Harriers strong again at David Noble Relays - MSU Track
Jordan, Coleman shine at David Noble Relays in San Angelo - TSU Track
JEFFERSON'S RUNNER-UP FINISH LEADS LADY LIONS AT TEXAS STATE INVITATIONAL - TAMC Women's Track
STIMPSON'S FIRST AND SECOND-PLACE EFFORTS LEAD A&M-COMMERCE AT THE TEXAS STATE INVITATIONAL - TAMC Men's Track
Speed Merchants Lead Way for Hogs - TAMK Men's Track
Javelina Women Fifth at David Noble Relays - TAMK Women's Track
Three Provisional Qualifying Times/Marks Set Following Competion in San Angelo - WTAM Track
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Wildcats rally to avoid sweep - ACU Baseball
Rams Split Slugfest at Eastern New Mexico - ASU Baseball
Aggie Baseballers Come Out on Winning End of Four Hour Slugfest, 28-19 - CU Baseball
Bronchos Complete Sweep Of Tarleton - UCO Baseball
Diamond Greyhounds Earn First Series Win Over Rams - ENMU Baseball
UIW FINISHES SWEEP OF THE HOGS - UIW Baseball
RiverHawks Trip UAFS - NSU Baseball
Pitching Struggles in Storm Loss - SOSU Baseball
Baseball Sweeps Past East Central - SWO Baseball
Texans leave Edmond on sour note with loss to Bronchos - TSU Baseball
Baseball Swept by Cardinals - TAMK Baseball
Buffs Take Series from ACU with Doubleheader Split - WTAM Baseball
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Smith, Calles Go Deep in Win - ACU Softball
Belles Drop Pair to West Texas - ASU Softball
Softball Aggies Unable to Avoid Sweep at Southeastern on Sunday - CU Softball
Late Rally Earns UCO Key Split - UCO Softball
Zias Drop Saturday Slugfest - ENMU Softball
CARDINALS HOLD ON TO SECOND - UIW Softball
Tanner sets record with 12th shutout, MSU blanks Bronchos 5-0 - MSU Softball
Softball Splits With ECU - NSU Softball
Storm Dominate on Senior Day - SOSU Softball
TexAnns sweep Zias with two grand slams - TSU Softball
Homers Lead ACU Past Javs - TAMK Softball
Pioneers split doubleheader with Incarnate Word - TWU Softball
Lady Buffs Sweep Pair From 7th-Ranked Rambelles - WTAM Softball
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No. 31 Mustangs clobber Texas Lutheran 9-0 - MSU Tennis
30th ranked MSU shutsout Texas Lutheran 7-0 - MSU Tennis
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