Runnels Has Big Night in Final Scrimmage
8/22/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 22, 2007
NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack football team participated in its final scrimmage of fall camp Wednesday night at Homer Bryce Stadium. The scrimmage saw the first-team offense face the second-team defense, and second-team offense face the first-team defense. The first unit looked like it was in midseason form at times recording three touchdowns and two field goals on the night.
Senior Louie Runnels capped his final scrimmage in a Lumberjack uniform by carrying the ball 14 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns, including a long of 44 yards. Classmate, and co-first-team All-Southland Conference selection Danny Southall was just as effective behind center. Southall completed 19-of-25 (.760) passes for 169 yards and a touchdown. He also connected on five of his first six pass attempts.
Southall was able to utilize several different weapons for SFA, hooking up with six different receivers on the night, including a 45-yard strike to sophomore Aaron Rhea for a touchdown. Rhea finished the night with two catches for 46 yards. Senior Nick Rhodes led all receivers hauling in seven passes for 61 yards.
After getting out to a slow start, allowing a touchdown on the opening drive, the first-team defense proved its strength as well, shutting down the second teamers. The first-team defense surrendered only 156 yards of total offense on the night, 61 those coming on the opening drive. The defense also forced the SFA offense into four fumbles.
Arlington freshman Chris Elliott led the Lumberjack defense with 4.5 tackles and one pass break up. Senior linebacker Bug Aymond recorded 2.5 tackles, and forced a fumble, while classmate Stephon Rhea recorded the other forced fumble. Rhea finished the night with 1.5 stops. Sophomore defensive ends Tim Knicky and Daimyeon Hoskin each recorded a sack.
Sophomore Vincent Pervis looked solid as a ball carrier, and coming out of the backfield as a receiver. Pervis finished the night with six carries for 53 yards, and one reception for 12 yards. Freshman quarterback Jeremy Moses completed 9-of-16 (.563) passes for 88 yards and one touchdown. The lone touchdown for the second-team offense came on a 21-yard strike to freshman Marcus Taylor, who made a nice run after the catch for the score.
Moses also looked strong at the beginning of the game completing six of his first seven passes. He connected with six different receivers during the contest. Taylor led the second-team catching five passes for 42 yards.
The kickers were perfect on extra point attempts, each going 2-for-2. Junior Cory Long was 1-of-2 on field goals, connecting on a 44-yarder, while coming up just short on a 49-yard attempt. Lufkin freshman Jaime Fernandez connected on his only field goal attempt, hitting from 49 yards out.
Senior punter Ryan Gooch averaged 37.4 yards per punt on six attempts during the scrimmage. He recorded a long of 45 during the contest.
The Lumberjacks kickoff the 2007 season Saturday, Sept. 1, when they welcome Tarleton State to Nacogdoches. The game against the Texans is slated to begin at 6 p.m.
-SFA-
