Red Team Wins Red-Blue Spring Football Game 24-21 on Game Ending Kick
The annual Red-Blue Spring Football Game came down to the final snap on Saturday with Aleem Sunanon’s 42-yard field goal being the winning advantage for the Red team’s 24-21 victory. It wasn’t without an effort by the Blue team as their entire sideline was out near the numbers yelling and trying to distract Sunanon’s attempt, but Sunanon was not deterred.
The game winning drive was lead by Dallas Davis and moved the Jags 47 yards in six plays after taking over on the Red 28 yard line with 1:35 left. Consecutive passes to D.J. Vinson and Daylan Abrams of 17 and 19 yards to start the drive and was followed by Kenterrius Gray who carried the ball twice for 11 more yards.
The Blue team had a chance to take a 24-21 lead with under two minutes to go but Corliss Waitman’s field goal attempt missed wide right from 45 yards.
The game started with three touchdowns in the first 15 minutes before only three more touchdowns the rest of the game.
The first score came on Blue team’s Hunter Vaughn’s 33 yard touchdown run on the opening possession. Dallas Davis and the Red team would respond with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Sassaman after a 30-yard gain by Claude Garrett started the drive and tied the game 7-7. On the next possession by the Blue team, Vaughn connected with Ronnie Reed for a 16 yard touchdown to answer the Red teams score to take a 14-7 lead.
Davis tied the game with less than 11 minutes before halftime for the Red team with a 48 yard touchdown to Tyrone Williams.
Kelan James recovered a fumble and Roman Buchanan made a diving interception for two takeaways for Red team.
Margo Reed had a pick at the one yard line for the Blue team.
“I thought it was a real good day, although I’m excited about how the whole spring went,” Jaguar head coach Joey Jones commented. “[Offensive coordinator] Bryant [Vincent] has done a good job coming in with his tempo, that really has helped us offensively, and then we have playmakers who can make people miss which makes it even better. There were some good hits out there today, you kind of like seeing that, but we got through the game and nobody was hurt.”
With the conclusion of the spring practice, the program handed out awards this week. Those included Daniel Aust (offensive line), Caleb Butler (defensive line), James Bynes (tight end), Antonio Carter (safety), Davis (quarterback), Demarius Rancifer (linebacker), Reed (cornerback), Tyreis Thomas (running back), Corliss Waitman (special teams) and Williams (wide receiver) as the most improved individuals at their positions. Nigel Green was selected the most improved academically, while the trio honored for the most improvement in the strength and conditioning program were Cameron Blankenship, Cameron Broadnax and E.J. May. The “I Like To Practice” awards were presented to Tre Alford (defense), Malcolm Buggs and Grant Powell (special teams), and Joseph Scelfo (offense), with Brad Murry (defense) and Christian Pearsall (offense) earning the program’s High Academic Awards.
South Alabama’s football schedule will begin on Saturday, September 5 against Gardner-Webb at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.