Defense “lights out” in spring game

For any of the 2100 fans that turned out Saturday for the 2012 spring football game expecting offense, they were sorely disappointed. The two offensive units combined for a meager 235 yards in the short contest, which was won by the Blue team 7-3.

The defense, however, put on a clinic, with both the red and blue defenses shutting down an offense that is still struggling to find an identity.

Senior Tyler Brennan, considered by many to be the front-runner in the three way quarterback race, threw two interceptions, one of which was returned 35 yards by Ryan Ayers for the only touchdown of the game.

Redshirt freshman Josh Woodrum and redshirt junior Brian Hudson, the other players competing for the starting quarterback job, did not fair considerably better. All three quarterbacks took snaps for both Red and Blue offenses.

Hudson did provide the lone offensive spark of the afternoon, connecting on a 30-yard pass to redshirt sophomore Gabe Henderson, to put the Red team in the red zone.

“It was just a great play by Gabe. He made a move on the safety, it was pretty much one-on-one when it got to that position so he made a great play and I had time, and just hit him in stride,” Hudson said.
The drive stalled, however, when a third down pass intended for the end zone was batted down at the line of scrimmage. Redshirt sophomore kicker Alex Kacere’s subsequent 24-yard field goal put three points on the board for the Red team.

Hudson finished the day completing 60 percent of his throws for 94
yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions.

Defensively, redshirt junior lineman Corey Freeman led the charge, tallying two and a half sacks. Freeman was one of eight defensive players with a sack in the scrimmage. Coach Gill was very enthusiastic about the play of his front seven.

“The guys play with a passion on the defensive side of the ball. That’s what we wanted to do: play with passion and know how to finish, and I think you saw a good example of that today for some individual guys but also as a unit,” Gill said. “It feels very good to have defensive depth and talent. Good, bad or indifferent, this is probably the first situation that I’ve been in where we’ve probably been a little better on the defensive side when I come into a program…Defense is always a good thing. I’m an offensive minded guy, but we’re a team. And if you can stop them, you’ll have a great chance to win some football games.”

Players attribute the new 3-4 defensive scheme to their success thus far.

“I feel free,” Freeman said. “I can just go out there and run wild. They really do a great job of making it simple and allow for the d-line to go out there and just play and play fast.”

Ayers, whose interception return for a touchdown provided fans with the only touchdown to celebrate, shared Freeman’s feelings about the defense.

“The transition is great,” Ayers said. “He’s (coach Wimberly) coming in coaching us up, getting everything right, basically explaining things. He’s trying to teach us. We still basically have the same reads, it’s still just going out there and playing football.”

The brief halftime featured a farewell to last year’s senior class, as well as the presentation of the Luke 2:52 award and the Samkon Gado award.

Luke 2:52 reads, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (ESV) The award is given to a player from last year’s squad that most personified the football team’s goal of developing players athletically, academically, spiritually and socially. This year’s award went to senior defensive back Brandon Robinson. Robinson was one of three players that led the Gridiron Bible Study for players on Monday nights.

The Samkon Gado award, named for former Liberty running back who went on to play for the Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans, goes to the most improved offensive and defensive player of the spring.

Redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Mitch Hanson was the recipient on offense. Hanson will be competing for the starting job at left tackle. He redshirted last year, while earning his way on to the Big South Presidential Honor Roll.

On defense, the award went to another lineman, redshirt senior defensive tackle Bryant Lewellyn.

“I think, according to him (Lewellyn), and according to our defensive staff, us coming to a 4-3 from a 3-4 has helped him as a player. It’s brought a lot more things that you didn’t see when he was playing in the odd front. He’s a strong kid, very aggressive, good first step, uses his hands well, so he’s a guy that has some skills.”

In referring to the quarterback race, Gill said that a complete depth chart will be published within a couple of weeks, but that overall he was very pleased with the development of his team.

“I just want to thank the fans for coming out, for their support, and we’re excited to be here as far as our staff,” Gill said. “I think it’s going to be a great year here in 2012.”