ERWIN, Tenn. (April 2, 2015) – Freshman wide receiver Drake Powell (Clinton) caught two touchdown passes and freshman transfer quarterback Austin Herink (Cleveland) threw for a pair of scores to highlight the ETSU football team’s scrimmage Thursday night at Unicoi County High School’s Gentry Field.

The Buccaneers, who visited Erwin as part of its outreach to the entire Northeast Tennessee region, were treated to wonderful hospitality and repaid the local community with a scrimmage that featured strong play on both sides of the football.

"We want to thank the people of Erwin and Unicoi County for being kind enough to host us for this scrimmage,” said ETSU head coach Carl Torbush, whose team has now played two of its three allowable spring scrimmages and will wrap up its spring schedule with the Mountain States Health Alliance Blue-Gold Spring Game on April 11 at 2 p.m. inside Kermit Tipton Stadium in Johnson City.

“I saw a lot of good things out there and I think it’s obvious that we are continuing to get better and progressing from where we started in the fall. Drake Powell and some of our other wide receivers really showed what they can do tonight.”

Playing a basic offense vs. defense scrimmage, the defensive unit stopped two offensive possessions before placekicker Ryan Nuss (Fairfield, Ohio) connected on a 37-yard field goal to open the scoring. Powell then caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from freshman Jared Drake (Westerville, Ohio).

Defensive back Brooks Best (Nashville) then collected a leaping interception off a Herink pass attempt on the next possession, but the young quarterback rebounded on the next possession to connect with freshman wide receiver Demetrius Anthony (Fountain Inn, S.C.) for a 20-yard scoring pass.

After a short halftime break, Nuss hit on another 55-yard field goal, followed by a 1-yard scoring run from freshman tailback Tony Drew (Nashville). Powell then wrapped up the scrimmage’s scoring with a 17-yard pass from Herink.

Defensively, freshman linebacker Dylan Weigel (Pickerington, Ohio) had a team-high 6.5 tackles on the night, while both Best and sophomore transfer Darin Ardis (Bradenton, Fla.) each finished with an interception. In addition, freshman Austin Gatewood (Ooltewah) collected a team-high four tackles for loss.

For more on ETSU football throughout the spring and entering the 2015 season, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the football link.

Scrimmage Statistics

Scoring

Nuss 37-yard field goal

Powell 3-yard pass from Drake

Anthony 20-yard pass from Herink

Nuss 55-yard field goal

Drew 1-yard run

Powell 17-yard pass from Herink

Passing

Herink 14-19-2 167, Sexton 6-11-0 90

Rushing

Colder 7-41, Drew 8-33, Stinson 10-24, Lankford 4-21

Receiving

Powell 6-81, Wike 4-55, Pritchard 3-66, York 3-17