Turner Shines, Learning Continues In MSU Scrimmage
"I thought we consistently hustled and made plays," head football coach Jackie Sherrill said. "We didn't have the continuity with our offensive line because of injury, but our running backs showed that if we can make a block, we can run the football. We definitely have some talent, and I look for them to continue to improve."
Turner showed that ability early, ripping off a 62-yard touchdown run on State's third offensive series. He also scored on 3- and 13-yard runs later in the two-hour scrimmage.
Sophomore quarterback Kyle York (Spring, Texas) led all quarterbacks with 15 completions in 23 attempts for 138 yards and touchdown. He connected with sophomore wide receiver Tee Milons (Starkville) on a 26-yard TD toss.
The defense came up with four turnovers and four sacks, led by strong safety Jason Clark's (Starkville) two quarterback falls. Sophomore linebacker Brandon Downing led all defenders with nine hits, two for loss.
Despite all the heroics on offense and defense, however, both coordinators were more encouraged with how their charges were advancing along the learning curve.
"We stayed pretty simple," defensive coordinator Ron Cooper said. "We ran a couple of different calls ? a couple of different blitzes ? and I'm pretty pleased. We just have to keep getting better. We're going to keep adding to the scheme and making sure that the guys understand what we're doing."
"I saw some guys make some plays," offensive coordinator Morris Watts. "Our feeling was that if we could get to the end of the scrimmage, and we played hard and hustled, then I'll be happy about the scrimmage. We haven't had to coach effort and intensity very much this spring."
SCORING
Turner 63 run (Marlin kick)
Andrews 22 FG
Marlin 43 FG
Andrews 35 FG
Andrews 42 FG
Marlin 47 FG
Marlin 52 FG
Turner 3 run (no PAT attempt)
Milons 26 pass from York (no PAT attempt)
Turner 13 run (no PAT attempt)
Reid 1 run (no PAT attempt)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-Turner 11-121 3TD, Reid 10-34 TD, Norwood 9-26, York 3-20, Fant 6-(-6), Nelson 6-(-25), Team 1-(-5).
PASSING-York 15-23-0-138 TD, Fant 8-14-1-60, Nelson 6-11-1-51.
RECEIVING-Randle 7-54, Reid 4-16, Prosser 3-59, Milons 3-36 TD, Jenkins 2-29, Lumpkin 2-14, Norwood 2-12, Turner 2-7, Wiley 2-3, Pettit 1-15, Hargro 1-4.
PUNTING-Wallis 2-44.0, J.Cook 3-33.0.
TACKLES-Downing 9, B.Morgan 7, Wallace 6, Clark 4, Day 4, Jack 3, Kern 3, T. Morgan 3, Upton 3, Vinson 3, D.Wright 3, Bennett 2, Evans 2, Heard 2, Jackson 2, McKinley 2, Perry 1, Pyron 2, Swain 2, Tate 2, Arant 1, Bradley 1, R.Cook 1, Fields 1, Hunter 1, Mawhinney 1, McDougal 1, Moore 1, Sherrill 1, Stowers 1, Williams 1.
INTERCEPTIONS-Heard 1-10, Arant 1-0.
PASS BREAKUPS-Wallace 2, Heard 1, McDougal 1.
SACKS- Clark 2-9, McKinley 1-15, Evans 1-7.
TACKLES FOR LOSS- Downing 2-7, McDougal 1-5, Jack 1-4, Mawhinney 1-4, Kern 1-3, Moore 1-1, Stowers 1-1, Upton 1-1, Vinson 1-1.
CAUSED FUMBLES- Mawhinney 1.
FUMBLE RECOVERIES- Byrdsong 1, T.Morgan 1.