BY DILLON SAND
Staff Reporter
The next era of Central Washington University started last Saturday as head coach Ian Shoemaker got his first taste of coaching the Wildcats during the annual spring game.
The spring football game was played last Saturday with the White team defense defeating the Crimson team offense 37-14 in front of a crowd of 1,700 people.
The game was set up differently in years past, with the Crimson team being made of only offensive players, and the White team of only defensive players. The White defensive team scored points only by creating turnovers (seven points) and missed field goals (three points). The Crimson team had normal scoring rules.
The game was split up into three periods, two 12-minute periods with a stopping clock and one 12-minute final period with a running clock.
The game started with the opening pass from the perceived starting quarterback Jake Nelson being intercepted by junior defensive back DeAndre Baines to give the White team a quick 7-0 lead. This was the first of three turnovers forced by the defense.
After sophomore kicker/punter Sean McDonald barely missed a 50-yard field goal in extremely windy conditions, the White team took a 10-0 lead.
The Crimson team then turned to junior running back Arthur Burns to get their offense going, and he responded in a big way. Burns was the obvious standout of the game: running for 98 yards on 12 carries and eventually scored both touchdowns for the Crimson team.
“He [Burns] really showed everyone what he can do and how hard he’s been working,” Shoemaker said.
Midway through the second quarter the Crimson team was winning 14-13. Nelson, after leading the Crimson team down the field on a great drive, was intercepted by sophomore linebacker Tanner Lucas giving the White team a 20-14 lead.
After another missed field goal, this time from 38 yards out, the White team went into halftime with a 23-14 lead.
At halftime of the contest, the football team announced their offensive and defensive captains for next season. The offensive captain was awarded to senior offensive lineman Marshall Green, and defensive captain was awarded to senior linebacker JB Torsey.
Also during halftime was the handing down of the iconic No. 44 jersey. The jersey is given to a defensive player who best exemplifies the standards of a Wildcat defender: dedication, toughness, discipline and tenacity. The No. 44 jersey was given to junior linebacker Tovar Sanchez, passed down by last years recipient, Stan Langlow.
With only one final quarter to be played, the Crimson team needed to come hot out of the gates and score quick if they wanted a chance to get back in the game. Sanchez and the White team would not let this happen. The defense forced a fumble on the opening drive and eventually gave the white team a dominating 37-14 win.
“We got a great group of backs, they’re the type that we can really rely on. But, overall, we’re just not ready for Saturdays yet,” Shoemaker said when asked about how the team struggled on offense in the game.
The other back that Shoemaker is referring to is track standout Jordan Todd who had ten carries for 44 yards. Todd, a quicker speed type back, when teamed up with the more physical Burns, makes a great combination for the Wildcats.
Nelson finished the game completing five passes on 13 attempts for 60 yards and two interceptions. Back-up quarterback Justin Lane was impressive, completing eight passes on 13 attempts for 93 yards.
“We’re not completely where we want to be yet, but that’s what the spring game is for,” Nelson said.
The leading receiver in the game was the quick sophomore Kent McKinney, who had three catches for 15 yards and was obviously a favorite target for both quarterbacks.
Senior defensive back Anthony Beaver lead the team in tackles with seven total. Junior linebacker Mitch Haldane also had a standout game for the dominating White team, racking up seven total tackles, with 1.5 tackles for loss.
Central’s first game of the season is Sept. 6 against Montana in Missoula. The ‘Cats first home game is the following week on Sept. 13 against Dixie State at 1 p.m.
