First public scrimmage by Buccaneers highlights special on-campus event

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Sept. 27, 2014) – With thousands surrounding the ETSU football practice fields, the Buccaneers gave fans a sneak peek at the program during the featured event of Saturday’s Game Time 101 event – the Blue-Gold Scrimmage.

In the first public scrimmage for the team since beginning practice earlier this month, the score ultimately ended at 21-21 thanks to a modified scoring system based on the quarterback’s jersey color. Head coach Carl Torbush said he was pleased with the effort, but even more impressed with the turnout and support for the scrimmage.

“I think, definitely, for a team that’s just been out here together for a few weeks I saw a lot of positives, and that’s a compliment to the players and our coaching staff,” Torbush said. “And I talked to a lot of people today who have been around this program for a long time, and they were just blown away by the support and the number of people that were here. It was really special.”

As for the players, quarterback Nick Sexton (Seymour) provided the most impressive offensive plays of the game, connecting on touchdown passes of 12 and 55 yards, and finishing 6-of-7 for 92 yards in the game.

Sexton’s first scoring pass went to Zach Casey (Kingsport) and covered 12 yards, as the product from nearby Dobyns-Bennett High School made a nice leaping catch. Sexton then connected on an impressive 55-yard strike down the middle of the field to Drake Powell (Clinton).

Along with Sexton’s quality day, fellow quarterback Logan Wallace (Morristown) also played well, going a perfect 6-of-6 through the air for 47 yards. Ultimately, ETSU quarterbacks combined to hit on 21-of-31 through the air for 203 yards, as Sexton was the only Buc signal-caller to have a scoring pass.

On the ground, tailback Shawn Prevo (Maryville) led the way with nine carries for 66 yards, and scored on a three-yard run in the first quarter. Meanwhile, Casey also pitched in five runs for 35 yards to go with his scoring catch. Other scoring runs included a 4-yard jaunt by Cory Colder (Ashburn, Va.), a bruising 1-yard run by Cole Notgrass (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), and a 2-yard dash by Jack DeFur (Knoxville).

Through the air, Powell’s long touchdown catch helped him finish with a team-best showing of 60 yards receiving, while teammate Haden Welch (Lancaster, Ohio) posted a squad-best with five receptions totaling 49 yards.

The defensive highlights include an interception by cornerback Denzell Boyd (Etowah, Ga.) and the team also forced one fumble. On the day, Cole West (Oneida) had a team-high five tackles, while Adam Mullins (Elizabethton) finished with four solo stops.

ETSU will return to action with their second scrimmage of the fall on Thursday, Oct. 2, in Bristol, Tenn. The scrimmage will be held at Tennessee High School’s historic Stone Castle. For more on ETSU football throughout the 2014-15 school year, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the football link.

Game Stats

Scoring Plays

First Quarter

Colder 4-yard run (Gold Team)

Second Quarter

 Prevo 3-yard run (Gold Team)

 Notgrass 1-yard run (Blue Team)

Third Quarter

Sexton 12-yard pass to Casey (Gold Team)

Sexton 55-yard pass to Powell (Blue)

Fourth Quarter

Defur 2-yard run (Gold Team)

Passing:

Gold Team – Logan Wallace (6-6-0 47); Jared Drake (4-6-0 23); Cullen Lavoi (3-5-0 23)

Blue Team – Nick Sexton (6-7-0 92); Hagen Owenby (2-2-0 11); Demetrius Anthony (1-5-1 7);

Receiving: Drake Powell 2-60; Haden Welch 5-49; Hunter Wilke 1-20; Adam Mitchell 4-19; Hank Black 4-25; T.J. Morgan 1-(-4); D.J. Jones 1-4; Zach Casey 1-12; Connor York 1-10

Rushing: Shawn Prevo 9-66; Zach Casey 5-34; Jack DeFur 5-32; Logan Wallace 4-22; Jajuan Lankford 4-26; Cory Colder 5-16; Demetrius Anthony 6-9; Cullen Lavoi 2-8; Hank Black 1-8; Cole Notgrass 3-7; Tony Drew 3-3