|
TURNOVERS PLAGUE OFFENSE IN GREEN-GOLD GAME
4/23/2011
Osagie Odiase's 64-yard interception return was one of four turnovers forced by the Hornet defense.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento State football team concluded its spring practice season with the annual Green-Gold Game on Saturday morning at Hornet Stadium. The game was highlighted by the defense which created four turnovers and limited the offense to one touchdown and field goal in 50 plays.
The defense grabbed the upper-hand early on, forcing a three-and-out in the opening drive and then creating turnovers in consecutive drives. Safety Joe Larche gathered in a loose ball off of a Tommy Edwards fumble for the first, while Osagie Odiase intercepted Dominic Carmazzi and returned the ball 64-yards down the sideline before being stopped at the 4-yard line.
Edwards got the offense on the board with a 7-play, 35-yard drive which resulted in a 24-yard field goal from Jason Diniz. The drive featured a 16-yard run from Curtis Shaw and a 25-yard completion to Kenonte Howard but stalled inside the 10.
The defense took momentum back with a stop of Stephen Tezanos-Pinto on 4th-and-1 before the offense bounced back with its first touchdown. Garrett Safron opened with a 38-yard pass to John Hendershott which took the ball down to the 7-yard line. Safron then rushed up the middle on the next play for the score.
The defense closed the game with two more turnovers. The first came on a fumbled snap and the second on a big hit from Evander Wilkins on Edwards which was recovered by William Fukofuka.
"Overall, we came out of spring ball fairly healthy," Sacramento State head coach Marshall Sperbeck said. "We worked well as a team to practice better and really push each other.
"Today, I thought the offense had some good individual efforts but we did not click as a unit like I know we're capable of doing."
Three Hornets quarterbacks took snaps during the game. Edwards led the group with 53 yards but was 4-of-9. Safron completed both of his attempts for 49 yards while Carmazzi was 2-of-5 for 27 yards and an interception.
Shaw was the lone Hornet running back to crack double figures, rushing for 19 yards on five carries. Hendershott was the top receiver with two grabs for 49 yards.
Defensively, the unit had 10 tackles-for-loss and really disrupted the Hornet rushing attack.
PASSING: Garrett Safron 2-2-0-49-0; Tommy Edwards 4-9-0-53-0; Dominic Carmazzi 2-5-1-27-0.
RUSHING: Curtis Shaw 5-19; Sam McCowan 3-7; Tommy Edwards 4-7; Jake Croxdale 3-5; Dominic Carmazzi 4-1; Stephen Tezanos-Pinto 1-0; Garrett Safron 7-(-3), TD.
RECEIVING: John Hendershott 2-49; Kenonte Howard 3-41; Morris Norrise 1-22; Sam McCowan 1-11; Eli Caldwell 1-6.
|
