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SPARTANBURG, SC – In the final scrimmage of training camp, the Wofford football team worked for almost two hours at Gibbs Stadium on Wednesday night. It also marked the final two-a-day practice for the team, as they worked out for approximately 70 minutes in the morning. The offense and defense each ran about 40 plays against a scout team in the scrimmage, while special teams worked on a multitude of situations.
“I think we accomplished what we set out to do,” said head coach Mike Ayers. “We made up a script and we were trying to decide on areas that we needed to emphasize. The scrimmage went the way that we wanted it to and the best thing is nobody got hurt. The kickers got a lot of kicks. The big thing I wanted on special teams was the transition from the boundary to the field and make sure we had the right head count. Right now I think the kids are tired. They have worked hard and with the end of two-a-days this will be a chance to get their legs back under them before game week.”
The starting defense took the field first and Josh Holt came up with an interception. The first series for the offense had James Lawson under center. Donovan Johnson, Brad Nocek, and Eric Breitenstein each had first down runs on the drive. With the defense back on the field, E.J. Speller had an interception and he returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. Jeremy Holt added an interception off a tipped pass and Zack Cole had a pass break-up to end the series.
Next for the offense, Evan Jacks was at quarterback. Thomas Simmons made a leaping catch in traffic for a 12-yard gain. Cam Flowers then hit a 47-yard run to set up a 12-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Barnes. Evan Jacks added a seven-yard touchdown run to end part of the series. Will Gay and Caleb Lucas each ran for first downs before turning the field over to the defense.
In the next defensive series, Drake Michaelson had an interception and a pass break-up, while Zack Cole also had a pass break-up. The scout team offense came up with a 40-yard reception by Paul Nelson from Taylor Bragg during the series.
With the offense on the field and Brian Kass at quarterback, Octavius Harden had a 42-yard run. Ray Smith capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run. Still on offense, Brian Kass found Wade Francis for a 50-yard touchdown pass that was caught after being tipped by a defender.
On the final series for the defense, Phillip LeGrande and Travis Thomas had tackles for loss and Kevin Thomas recorded a sack. The offense took the field to end the scrimmage. Nick Crocker, Will Gay, and Ray Smith had first down runs and Paul Nelson had a 13-yard catch from Michael Weimer.
NOTES: Players held out of the contact scrimmage included LB Alvin Scioneaux, HB Cody Burris, OL T.J. White, RB Bryan Youman, LB Jim Dolinak, DL Tarek Odom, and TE Zach Muller … There were no major injuries in the scrimmage … The team will have single practices on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday before beginning game week preparations … The Terriers will open the 2012 season on Saturday, September 1 at Gardner-Webb … The home opener will be Saturday, September 8 against Lincoln … Tickets are available by calling the Wofford Ticket Office at 864-597-4090.
