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Maroon Defeats White, 14-7, in Spring Game
April 4, 2009
CANYON, Texas - Playing in conditions not normally associated with football, the West Texas A&M Maroon squad earned a 14-7 victory over the White team Saturday afternoon in the annual Maroon-White game at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium. Despite a Dust Storm Warning being issued by the National Weather Service, with gusts upward of 55 mph and visibility extremely limited, an estimated crowd of 500 was on hand to see the Buffaloes close out their spring drills. A pair of third-quarter interception returns for touchdown, one a 23-yarder by Mark Ford, the second, a 32-yard TD return by Anthony Scott, coming minutes later, proved to be enough points to secure a Maroon squad victory. “Days like this are when the defense need to step up and make some plays,” said WT defensive coordinator Colby Carthel. “The Maroon team’s defense did just that.” Taylor Harris, expected to be the Buffaloes’ starting quarterback next fall, completed 7-of-15 passes for 68 yards in one quarter of work. His long completion was a 16-yarder to Wade Langley. Tanner Marsh playing the majority of the game, completed 14-of-27 for 101 yards. His long effort was a 31-yard toss and run to Tramicah Young. “It’s difficult to assess your offense during a spring scrimmage because your unit is divided into two teams,” said WT offensive coordinator Scott Parr. “But, Taylor (Harris) has shown over the past two seasons that he is ready to lead this ball club.”
Langley led the Maroon squad in receiving, finishing the day with eight catches for 88 yards while young had three catches for 46 yards. Defensively, outside linebacker Mark Ford had five tackles to go with his 23-yard interception return for a touchdown. “The wind was blowing so hard that it was difficult to judge the ball,” Ford said. “I kind of caught it like a knuckle ball and had a wall in front of me.” Also having a strong game was inside linebacker Anthony Scott, who registered five tackles and a 32-yard interception return for a touchdown. The White team was led by the rushing of Kelvin Thompson. The junior had 11 carries for 64 yards and caught four passes for 28 yards, while Kortney McDow grabbed eight catches for a game-high 101 yards. The White defense was led by defensive back Curtis Slater (4 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU), inside linebacker Taylor McCuller (5 tackles), outside linebackers Kachi Ezirike (6 tackles) and Blake Bonner (5 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QBH) and defensive back Caleb Randolph (4 tackles, 2 PBU). The Buffaloes open the 2009 season, August 29, when they host Grand Valley State. Kickoff at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium is set for 6 p.m. CDT.
SCORE BY QUARTERS Maroon 0 0 14 0 - 14 White 0 0 7 0 - 14 Third Quarter M - Ford 23-yard interception return (Phillips kick), 7-0 M - Scott 32-yard interception return (Phillips kick), 14-0 W - Gibbs 12 pass from Hill (Chandler kick), 14-7
Statistical Leaders (Not All-Inclusive) MAROON RUSHING - Jones 5-6 yds, Ford 3-4. Brigham 1-0. Marsh 2-(-2). Harris 3-(-20). PASSING - Marsh 14-27-101 1 INT, Harris 7-15-68 0 INT, long of 16. RECEIVING Langley 8-88, T. Young 2-46 long of 27, T. Williams 5-39 long of 20, Knowlton 2-1, Ford 1- (-7). DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS - Ford 5 tackles, QB sack, 23-yard INT return for TD, Scott 5 tackles, QB hurry, 32-yard INT return for TD, Okoro 3 tackles, J. Smith INT Ruffins 15-yard INT return.
WHITE RUSHING - Thompson 11-64, Jackson 3-10, K. Smith 2-9, Hill 2-6, PASSING - Hill 10-25-91 1 TD, 3 INT, long of 28, Smith 5-16-68 long of 25, Lackey 0-1-0. RECEIVING - McDow 8-101, S. Johnson 2-23, Thompson 4-28, Gibbs 1-12 1 TD, FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS - Chandler 39 yard miss. DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS - Slater 4 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU, McCuller 5 tackles, Ezirike 6 tackles, Bonner 5 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QBH, Caldwell 2 tackles, 1 PBU, Randolph 4 tackles, 2 PBU |
