By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports
Information
Video by Tom Hollander and Marc Graham, Video
Coordinators
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- They are prime numbers, a certain set of
digits that have a special quality about them. Any numbers but
themselves cannot divide them.
Watching Tennessee Tech's second scrimmage of fall camp Saturday
as the centerpiece of the annual Gathering of Eagles in Tucker
Stadium, players wearing prime numbers continually made key
plays.
Call them "prime" players, whether they are returnees or
newcomers, but they are some of the players who will likely shine
this season for coach Watson Brown's team.
For example, Ladarius
Vanlier (3) broke off several nifty runs including a 10-yard
touchdown burst through a crowded secondary, then took a punt
return 99 yards for a touchdown.
Or Darian
Stone (5), who ran the ball well, made some outstanding catches
from the ever-amazing QW position. He rushed three times for 32
yards including a touchdown, and caught three balls for 64
yards
Even Steve
Wilson (1), whose single digit is not quite considered prime by
some mathematicians but fits the criteria, had some sensational
plays during the afternoon including a leaping, 65-yard touchdown
catch and run on a deep ball. He finished the day with four catches
for 95 yards.
Later in the scrimmage, runningback Isaiah
McKinney (43) plowed over for a touchdown, and on the next
possession it was Dorian
Eskridge (47) with a brilliant 29-yard TD run up the middle and
through several tackle attempts.
On the defensive side of scrimmage, Marty Jones (11),
Demario
Donnell (13) and Jimmy Laughlin
(23) all showed why they are expected to be in starting spots come
the season opener, Thursday, Aug. 28, against Kentucky
Christian.
Call them "prime" players or "prime time" players, they will play
primary roles in Tech's 2014 success.
But Saturday's scrimmage, which resulted in 584 yards of total
offense and six touchdowns, featured some masterful plays by guys
wearing less distinct numbers. Guys who will certainly distinguish
their own numbers among team leaders, too.
Newcomer Keith Flannigan (9) at cornerback was one of the most
sure-handed, open-field tacklers, transfer runningback Willie Davis
(22) showed power on the goal line as well as some elusive,
open-field running as he finished with 30 yards and one touchdown
on six carries, and sophomore receiver Colton Belew
(10) caught three passes for 34 yards and also threw some effective
blocks.
Among others were redshirt freshman Brock McCoin
(4), who was spot-on in his running and passing displays, including
that bomb to Wilson; freshman receiver Tyler Harrell (38),
who grabbed a big-play, 27-yard pass; freshman cornerback Jalen Manning (25),
who picked a loose ball out of mid-air after a reception and hard
hit jarred it loose, and sped 80 yards the other way for a
touchdown.
Sophomore quarterback Jared Davis (18)
was 14-for-15 passing for 183 yards, starting the game by
connecting on his first nine attempts. His only incompletion of the
day was a ball that was tipped at the line of scrimmage. In all six
players threw passes, going a combined 23-for-32 for 343 yards.
Freshman Dorian
Carter (25) was the leading rusher with 52 yards on two
carries. A total of 14 players had carries, gaining 241 yards with
five rushing touchdowns on 43 tries.
Some of the big plays on defense included a blocked punt by senior
Stephen
Bush (21), fumble recoveries by Elliott
Normand (49) and Dakota Rushing
(95), another quarterback sack by Jordan Patrick
(94), and a fumble forced by J.P. Evans.
In the kicking game, John Arnold connected
on all four of his field goal tries with kicks of 25, 27, 32 and 42
yards, and punter Jonathan King
averaged 53 yards on three kicks, putting all three inside the
opponent 10-yard-line.
The Golden Eagles take a break from action Sunday, and then hit
the field again Monday.
By the way, just to complete the lesson, here are all the "prime" numbers under 100: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97
