University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Football Eagles End Week Three With Solid Scrimmage
4/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Football Eagles End Week Three With Solid Scrimmage
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ? Solid performances from both the offense and defense highlighted Southern Miss' Sunday scrimmage as Head Coach Jeff Bower's Golden Eagles ended their next-to-last week of spring football work.
Following the two-hour-plus, almost 150-play Sunday scrimmage, the Eagles will work Wednesday and Thursday and then end the spring with the annual Black & Gold spring football game, Saturday, at 1 p.m. The game will highlight a full weekend of activities that also will include a three-game weekend baseball series against Charlotte, a three-game softball series, also against Charlotte, and the annual M-Club Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony Friday night at the Lake Terrace Convention Center, in Hattiesburg.
The Golden Eagle offense scored three touchdowns and the defense had one of its own, when Alex Ray picked up a fumble and returned it 36 yards for a score. The defense also recorded one interception, by junior defensive back Karone Champagne, along with at least 18 quarterbacks sacks, including three by Ronald Jones, and two each by All-American Rod Davis, Carsha Stromas and Terrell Paul.
Offensively, James Walley carried the ball 13 times for 55 yards and Anthony Harris added 53 on 13 carries. Ryan Earnest had 32 yards on eight carries and William Adams 26 on four carries. Quarterback Micky D'Angelo completed 10-of-22 passes for 167 yards and a pair of touchdowns, 25 yards to Chris Johnson and 20 yards to Pedi Causey. Anthony Harris added the other touchdown on a one-yard run.
Dustin Almond contributed five completions on 22 throws, good for 87 yards, and Chris Johnson led the receivers with three catches for 82 yards. Causey also had three, for 36 yards, and several other receivers had two each.
Bower was quick to point out bright sports from the final major scrimmage of the spring, with the exception of the spring game. "I'm pleased with the progress we're making," he said. "There are still areas where we have to improve, but the positive is that we've worked hard, we've made a little improvement each day as we've gone along, the attitude and work ethic has been good, and if we continue to do that, we'll be okay.
"We've got to be more consistent at the running back spot. They've all looked good at times, but we haven't had a lot of consistency there. We've put the ball on the ground way too much all spring, and someone has to step up and take charge in that area.
"Also, we had a lot of missed assignments today, and that's a result of being young on the offensive front and putting in a new offense. We're getting better, but that youth on offense, and the multiple defenses we've thrown at the offense, makes it tough. We'll be better down the road as a result though."
