University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Football Ends Third Week of Spring Practice With Scrimmage
4/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 6, 2007
HATTIESBURG, Miss - Southern Miss finished its third week of spring football practice Friday morning with a 120-play scrimmage at M.M. Roberts Stadium.
The scrimmage put the two units in different situations, which included drives that started on the offense's own 35 yard-line, as well as their own one yard-line. The team also worked on different plays from various yardages on third down and went into goal line situations, where the offense scored on 4-of-10 possessions.
Those goal-line touchdowns included two rushing scores from Damion Fletcher and another from Tory Harrison - all from 3-yards out. Jeremy Young also hit Shawn Nelson in the back of the endzone for the other short-yardage touchdown.
The scrimmage ended with the offense having to drive downfield and score in 10 plays. According to coach Jeff Bower, it was a little extra competition for the two units during the scrimmage.
"We had a little competition where we had three periods that we had a winner and a loser," Bower said. "I believe the offense won two out of three of the periods."
In the scrimmage, Harrison rushed for 82 yards on 16 carries, while Fletcher added 35 yards rushing and 45 receiving yards on a pair of receptions, including a touchdown. The quarterback duo of Young and Stephen Reaves also had a solid day. Young finished with 20-of-30 completions for 111 yards, while Reaves went 7-of-9 for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Nelson caught five passes for 50 yards.
On the defensive side, Brandon Sumrall, Brandon Davis, Blake Spiers and Mam Nyang all tallied fumble recoveries, while Tokumbo Abanikanda added a pair of sacks along with one from Jerome Lyons. Vontre Mason and Roshaad Byrd each collected safeties on the 1-and-10 portion of the scrimmage at the offense's one yard-line, while Martavius Prince added a blocked field goal.
On asked about putting together his two-deep position chart for next season, Bower said that it was starting to form but that there are still opportunities for players going into next season.
"We are getting there, but it doesn't mean you are happy with it," Bower added. "We've got guys that we have to keep pushing to get better, especially the younger kids. I thought they worked well today and the enthusiasm was good and that is good to see."
The Golden Eagles will conclude spring practice next Saturday with the school's annual Spring Game. The time of the contest is 1 p.m. and admission in $5 for adults and $3 for youth.
