Indians go Green in victory

Published 11:08 pm Friday, May 16, 2008

CHATSWORTH — Although it was only a scrimmage, the cold, windy weather conditions and player intensity generated the feeling of a game played in November.

“This feels like fall,” Murray County coach Josh Lowe said. “It’s definitely one of the colder days we’ve had for a spring game, so that’s good for us to play in that environment. Tonight had that Friday-night feel. It was exciting for all the players, students and fans. This is the first night of what will become many more good nights.”

The Green edged the White, 20-14, at Murray Field, but the White had a chance to tie the game at the final buzzer.

The White’s Josh Zeigler caught a 5-yard pass from Austin Williams but was tackled just shy of the goal line as time expired on the Indians’ annual spring Green and White game.

The scrimmage gave the fans something to cheer about and players a chance to get in game-type situations after two weeks of practice.

“We’re still in the beginning stages of installing a new offense, and we have a lot left to do on offense,” Lowe said. “Plus, we’re working through the inexperience of 10 new starters on defense.”

The scrimmage consisted of four 10-minute quarters with no stoppage of clock until the final two minutes of each half. Drives started on the 30-yard line.

Highlights included the Green’s Jake White opening the game with a 50-yard run down the right sideline after he popped through a big hole. Williams scored three plays later on an 8-yard quarterback-scramble and White ran for the two-point conversion to give the Green an 8-0 lead.

The White’s first drive — also led by Williams, who quarterbacked for both teams — produced a 30-yard pass to Raheem Adams, but no score.

In the second half, the White recovered a fumble on the Green’s 20 and scored eight plays later on a 6-yard run by Ethan Watson, slicing the Green’s lead to 8-6.

On the White’s next possession, Williams was intercepted by Chris Thompson, who ran 40 yards for a touchdown to stretch the Green’s lead to 14-6.

Williams kept his composure and on the ensuing drive drilled a 70-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Oehlson. Williams’ two-point conversion run tied the game at 14.

The game’s next three possessions ended with lost fumbles.

Early in the fourth quarter, Jake White ran 30-yards for his second touchdown and the Green regained the lead at 20-14.

With less than a minute left, Williams led an impressive drive to make things interesting. He hooked up with Oehlson on a 71-yard pass play, moving the White to the Green’s 5, but the game ended on the next play.

Williams, playing for both teams because of Taylor Patterson’s hamstring injury suffered in a practice earlier in the week, was satisfied with how the offense has adjusted to a new spread formation.

“We’re still figuring it out, and at times we didn’t know what we were doing,” Williams said, “but it feels good to be back on the field. This wasn’t a competition, I was just trying to help both teams out and build chemistry with my teammates.”

Lowe was impressed with Williams’ performance.

“I’m proud of Austin stepping up and playing for both teams,” he said. “Initially, that wasn’t our intent, but with (Patteson’s) injury, that was the situation. I think he grew up a little tonight. He played well.”

Though there were some outstanding individual performances, what Lowe liked most was seeing his players compete with enthusiasm.

“It was good to be back on the field,” he said. “We’ve made some progress in two weeks, and I was glad to see the kids excited. The type of excitement and spirit those kids played with tonight can carry us a long way this season.”

The Indians will resume workouts with strength and conditioning beginning June 2.