GREEN-GOLD GAME CAPS END OF SPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICE ON SATURDAY

4/19/2011

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento State football team will close out its 2011 spring practice with the annual Green-Gold Game on Saturday, April 23. The game will begin at approximately 10 a.m. inside Hornet Stadium.

The controlled scrimmage will place the team in different situations ranging from red zone offense to two-minute drill.

Following the scrimmage a complementary barbecue will be provided. Those wishing to take advantage of this deal need to RSVP to TIna Blessen of the Stinger Athletic Association by Wednesday, April 20. She can be reached at (916) 278-4263 or by e-mailing tblessen@csus.edu.

ON THE MOVE
Unlike some spring seasons where players have been shifted around quite liberally, there have only been a handful of moves this spring. Maika Maumau is the only player switching sides of the ball. Maumau has returned to the defensive line after spending all of 2010 on the o-line. Last season, Maumau started four games for the team at guard.

Sophomore Todd Davis has also made a slight adjustment on the defense. Davis will drop back to linebacker after playing defensive end as a true freshman. In his first season with the team, Davis appeared in all 11 games and finished the year with 21 tackles.

A DIFFERENT LOOK
The Hornets have one of the most talented group of returning offensive players in all of the Football Championship Subdivision. The one down side is that most of the skill players are sitting out during the spring. Quarterback Jeff Fleming (arm), running back Bryan Hilliard (toe) and wide receiver Brandyn Reed (ankle) have each missed all of spring ball while continuing to heal. The list added one more member when wide receiver Chase Deadder went down in last Saturday's scrimmage with a shoulder injury.

Those absences have created opportunities for others to show their skills to the coaches. Four quarterbacks have taken snaps during the spring with returners Garrett Safron, Tommy Edwards and Dominic Carmazzi getting most of the action. Freshman Jake Geringer, who should be finishing his final high school semester had he not graduated early, has also been impressive despite his lack of experience.

In the backfield, Curtis Shaw appears to back to his old ways. Shaw has broke several long runs over the last two weeks and has the acceleration that made him one of the top prep running backs in the country. Shaw scored a touchdown at Stanford but then suffered a season-ending concussion the following game against Western Oregon.

Defensively, All-American Zack Nash continues to pressure the quarterback and disrupt plays. Nash was a second team All-America selection in 2010 after leading the FCS with 1.5 tackles-for-loss per game.

Last Saturday's scrimmage also showed improved play out of the secondary. Kyle Monson and Corey Vanderbeek each had interceptions while Osagie Odiase made several breakups in one-on-one coverage.

SEASON TICKET RENEWALS
Season ticket renewals for the 2011 Hornet Football season have been mailed. If you are a previous season ticket holder and would like to renew your season tickets or if you are a new member of the Stinger Athletic Association and would like to order season tickets, please call T'Ante Sims at (916) 278-2222 or CLICK HERE to complete the 2011 Football Season Ticket Renewal form.
 
One of the many advantages for purchasing season tickets is the ability to purchase single game tickets before they go on-sale to the public. Purchase your single game tickets for the away game at Oregon State or this year's home Causeway Classic today!
 
You can also renew your season tickets on Saturday April 23rd at the Green & Gold Hornet Football scrimmage. Season tickets for the general public will officially go on-sale May 2nd.

ALUMNI REPORT
Several former Hornets continue to play professionally in the Arena Football League. The San Jose Saber Cats, which are coached and owned by former Hornet Darren Arbet, feature three Sacramento State products. The trio is comprised of quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson, kicker Juan Gamboa and receiver Fred Otis Amey.

The more remarkable story comes for 40-year old slinger Aaron Garcia who returned to QB the Jacksonville Sharks. Garcia is nearing in on 1,000 career passing touchdowns as he has 992 TDs in his 17 AFL seasons. The Sacramento native recently completed an amazing three-game stretch in which he threw for more touchdowns (20) than incompletions (14).