Spring Game On

Not even the elements can stop spring football; QBs put on show

Amy Paterson / photo editor JMU rising redshirt freshman quarterback Rodney Landers enjoys a warm embrace from an eager defender.

Saturday afternoon the national champion JMU football team returned to Bridgeforth Stadium for an organized game of football — sort of.

It was the annual spring game — Purple vs. White — and after a short break to allow for a passing thunderstorm, the Purple pulled it out 30-13 before a rain-lessened crowd.

"It was exciting with all the people who came out in the beginning," JMU rising sophomore free safety Tony LeZotte said of the turnout. "It shows how far we’ve come. The rain caused them to leave early though, but it was a very good outing for us."

The game itself was based on a scoring system foreign to spectators. Points were awarded not just for touchdowns, extra points, field goals and safeties, but also for exceptional play.

The defense was awarded points for keeping the offense from crossing the 50-yard line, while the offense got the same treatment, picking up points for crossing midfield. Points were also available for defensive three-and-outs, interceptions and fumble recoveries.

"It was very positive," JMU coach Mickey Matthews said. "No one got hurt. You don’t want someone to suffer a major injury in your spring game."

The Dukes probably couldn’t stomach another name on the disabled list. During the spring game, they worked with two running backs — one of which, rising sophomore Marvin Brown, is a converted defensive end. The other was rising senior and last season’s leading rusher Raymond Hines.

"We did well considering all the injuries and the second team," Hines said. "But that’s what the spring game is for, finding people who have been hiding in the back. It’s a real good opportunity for the younger guys."

At Hines’s position, the Dukes are most depleted. Rising juniors Alvin Banks and Maurice Fenner are both on the shelf with a broken leg bone and a bum shoulder, respectively. Third-string back, rising sophomore Antoinne Bolton, is also dinged up, nursing an injured shoulder suffered in last weekend’s scrimmage.

"They’ve been practicing but without contact," Hines said. "They’re still out there working hard trying to get better. With our backfield, anything’s possible. I think we’ve got one of the best backfields in the league."

But they aren’t the only ones suffering. JMU went into the spring game minus a full receiving corps with rising senior Tahir Hinds and rising junior Ardon Bransford both sidelined. To fill out the field, rising redshirt freshman quarterback Rodney Landers saw action both under center and lined up in the slot.

"We started that about a week and a half ago," Landers said. "It’s just another opportunity to get on the field. It gives you a different perspective and will help me develop as a player and a QB."

During the game Landers completed 16 of 31 passes for 148 yards. His first-string counterpart, rising junior Justin Rascati, finished at 9 of 13 for 181 yards.

"He played great," Rascati said of Landers. "He went out there and made some plays. He’s a great athlete and we just have to get him on the field somewhere. He’ll do whatever it takes."

The spring game is the culmination of spring practice and the end of being undermanned as Matthews expects all of his injured players to be back and ready when fall practice kicks off in August.

The season starts a month later when the Dukes begin their title defense Sept. 3 hosting Lock Haven University at 6 p.m.