Offense Wins Purple & White Game, 60-52
4/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 15, 2005
NACOGDOCHES, Texas-- The offense got an 11-yard touchdown run from Lester Simmons late to win the annual Purple and White game over the defense by a 60-52 score Friday night in Nacogdoches. Simmons' touchdown was one of two rushing touchdowns scored late in the scrimmage by the offensive unit helping them to the win. SFA will close out spring practice with a short workout next week.
SFA head coach Robert McFarland said afterward he was pleased with his team's performance Friday night. "We came out in the first half in some of our base formations and I thought the defense did an outstanding job of shutting the offense down early. We went to a little more of our spread formations later in the scrimmage and the offense responded with some big plays and scores," said McFarland.
Senior quarterback Zeke Dixon completed what has been a solid spring by completing 17 of 31 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns. He was also intercepted once. Dixon connected with Tyrell Williams on a 43-yard scoring play for the game's first touchdown and later hooked up with Lester Simmons for a 42-yard scoring play on a screen pass.
Williams led all receivers in the game with 10 catches for 126 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore receiver Chance Dennis also went over the 100-yard receiving mark with 126 yards on five catches. Running back Louie Runnels added three catches for 79 yards and a touchdown and Lester Simmons also caught three passes for 67 yards and a score.
Carl Price added four receptions for 26 yards and tight end Matt Bodley also caught one ball for 51 yards on the night.
Danny Southall finished the night 16-32-0 for 199 yards and a touchdown and also added two receptions on throwback plays for 23 yards.
Louie Runnels led the SFA ground game with 11 carries for 88 yards including a 35-yard touchdown run. Simmons added 10 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown.
McFarland said that he has been pleased with the progress during spring practice of his team. "I think we've gotten a good grasp of both our running and passing schemes to this point. What we've been able to do this spring provides us with a great springboard for the summer. Hopefully, we'll take what we've been able to learn to this point and the players will continue to work and get stronger and faster over the summer and we'll carry that right over into the opening of fall workouts in August."
NOTES
The 'Jacks came through Friday's scrimmage with no major injuries and with just one light workout remaining, have been able to dodge a major injury so far this spring. The Lumberjack offensive line was limited for Friday's scrimmage by minor injuries with only a handful of healthy linemen playing. Transfer Richie Santos did not play Friday night with Tad Roberts working with the first unit and Scott Dover and Jerry Little and Aaron Kinkade playing almost every down filling in for the injured Brendan Flannery.
The Lumberjack defensive unit was credited with nine sacks on the night and also blocked a field goal attempt and forced two turnovers on the night.
Krys Williams had one interception and the defensive unit also forced a turnover on a fumble by Lester Simmons.
FINAL STATS
PASSING A-C-I YDS TD Long Zeke Dixon 31-17-1 241 2 43 Danny Southall 32-14-0 214 1 54 Rodney Freeman 5-2-0 61 0 51 Logan Jones 2-2-0 23 0 16 TOTALS 70-35-1 539 3 54
RECEIVING REC YDS TD Long Tyrell Williams 10 126 1 43 Chance Dennis 5 119 0 34 Carl Price 4 26 0 8 Louie Runnels 3 79 0 54 Lester Simmons 3 67 1 42 Logan Jones 3 27 0 10 Danny Southall 2 23 0 16 Matt Bodley 1 51 0 51 Daniel Foster 1 12 0 12 Tim Bohannon 1 7 0 7 David Coleman 1 3 1 3 Micah Mabee 1 -1 0 -1 Totals 35 539 3 54
RUSHING ATT YDS TD Long Louie Runnels 11 88 2 35 Lester Simmons 10 63 1 30 Tim Bohannon 4 19 0 15 Rodney Freeman 1 2 0 2 Gary Allen 2 -2 0 0 Zeke Dixon 4 -15 0 9 Danny Southall 1 -2 0 -2 Totals 33 153 3 35
™ SFA opens the season Sept. 1, at home, against Henderson State. ™
