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Western holds initial pre-season scrimmage
Western Carolina’s football team held its first pre-season scrimmage Monday night at E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field.
“I felt like we had several guys step up and have strong individual performances, but overall, we need to step up the intensity level.” Coach Kent Briggs said. “I felt like we had a lot of guys thinking rather than just going out and making plays. Those things tend to happen with the influx of so many new faces in different situations, but we will evaluate the film and mark the changes we need to make between this, our first scrimmage, and the next.”
Former Smoky Mountain kicker Stephen Brown practices punting for Western Carolina. The Catamounts held their first pre-season scrimmage Monday. – Photo by Mark Haskett
The scrimmage featured multiple drives scattered between the first through third teams beginning at the 30- and 45-yard lines. Mixed in were special teams plays with both punt and punt coverage as well as kickoff and kickoff coverages. The session concluded with red zone work followed by short distance and goal line situations.
Todd Spitzer threw the ball well, especially while orchestrating a touchdown drive on the first possession. He completed eight of 11 passes for 110 yards and was five of five on the first drive.
Spitzer completed a 35-yard pass to Marquell Pittman before Mike Malone burst through on a short scoring run.
Malone led all running backs with 30 yards on six carries, and Pittman caught three passes for 95 yards.
A 54-yard pass from Andy Horn to Pittman led to Jonathan Parsons’ 36-yard field goal.
Horn hit on five of nine passes for 85 yards.
Smoky Mountain’s Chad Harper (31) tackles a Rosman ball carrier in last Thursday’s scrimmage. The Mustangs scored three touchdowns and kept the Tigers out of the end zone until the final play. SM will open the regular season at home at 7:30 p.m. Friday against Hendersonville. – Photo by Mark Haskett
Defensive highlights included a pass interception by Gene Singletary and two sacks by Jeff Bradley. Paul Gilmore also had a sack, and John Martin recorded a tackle for a loss.
On special teams, Lee Stanley blocked a punt, and Darren Curtis blocked a 44-yard field goal.
Parsons kicked three of four field goals.
During red zone work, freshman quarterback Zach Jaynes scrambled in from 12 yards out, and L.J. Davis had one of his three scores on the evening. His other TDs came during goal line situations. Adam Hearns found Eddie Cohen in the back of the end zone during the waning moments of the scrimmage.
The next scrimmage will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18. The annual Meet the Cats scrimmage is set for Wednesday, Aug. 22, at a time to be announced. A pre-game autograph session will be held with players and coaches.
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