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ASU Football Holds Final Scrimmage Before Spring Game Scheduled for Friday Evening at Kidd Brewer

Kennan Gilchrist had a sack and tackle for loss during Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Courtesy: Dave Mayo (Appalachian, 1983)
Kennan Gilchrist had a sack and tackle for loss during Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Courtesy: Dave Mayo (Appalachian, 1983)

March 31, 2014. Appalachian State University football held its final intrasquad scrimmage before Friday’s Spring Game on Saturday morning at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

Saturday’s scrimmage was Appalachian State’s second of the spring and was held in a steady downpour. Head coach Scott Satterfield said that he and his staff decided to hold the two-hour scrimmage in the rain as opposed to inside the Sofield Indoor Practice Facility to give Appalachian’s young squad experience with game-like conditions in inclement weather. 

Despite the elements, the Mountaineers did not commit any turnovers in 24 series and big plays were made on both sides of the ball. In 17 conventional series (not including seven red-zone possessions at the end of the day that began inside the defense’s 20 yard line), Appalachian State’s offense scored four times (two touchdowns and two field goals) while the defense forced eight three-and-outs. 

Junior running back Eric Davidson (Greensboro, N.C./Western Guilford) opened the scoring when he ran through a huge hole opened up by the left side of the offensive line and raced past the secondary for a 64-yard touchdown gallop on the first play of the fourth series. Seven possessions later, junior quarterback Kameron Bryant(Cary, N.C./Panther Creek) found sophomore tight end Jacob McCann (McLeansville, N.C./Northeast Guilford) for a six-yard touchdown pass on third-and-goal.

The offense also got 42- and 37-yard field goals from junior kicker Zach Matics (Jacksonville, N.C./Southwest Onslow).

Defensively, the Mountaineers recorded seven sacks, 15 tackles for loss and four pass breakups to go along with the eight three-and-outs. 

Both sides of the ball also enjoyed success during the red-zone series, with the offense scoring two more touchdowns on an 18-yard pass from Bryant to junior wide receiver Simms McElfresh (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Christian) and a nine-yard run by Davidson. The offense also kicked three field goals during the red-zone series but, thanks in large part to being pushed backwards by the defense, missed two long field-goal attempts.

Davidson and redshirt freshman running back Terrence Upshaw (Duluth, Ga./Northview) led Appalachian offensively with 67 and 64 rushing yards, respectively. Sophomore wideout Jaquil Capel (Mount Gilead, N.C./West Montgomery) chipped in with three receptions for 40 yards.

Sophomore defensive end Olawale Dada (Columbus, Ga./Shaw) and sophomore inside linebacker Toronto Thomas (Ellwood, Ga./Martin Luther King) led the defense with two tackles for loss apiece. Thomas also had a pass breakup.

Appalachian State will hold two more practices before Friday’s Spring Game at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and admission is FREE.