By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Thunderstorms may have shortened Tennessee Tech Football's work on Saturday, but as the Golden Eagles completed their first scrimmage at Tucker Stadium, there were a lot of positive signs.
Offensively, the Tech rushing attack saw a lot of big gains as Justin Pegues, Jordan Harris and Montana transfer Marcus Knight each piled up solid yardage numbers in the scrimmage.
It appeared that Knight had given the Tech offense a score on the second series of the morning as he broke off a run from midfield. He was ruled to be brought down just outside the goal line – a 48-yard scamper – then Jayvian Allen pushed the ball in two plays later.
That's not to say the defense didn't have its share of highlights. Wofford transfer Okachi Emmanwori ended the first series by recovering a fumble, while Theron Gaines did the same as an exchange got away from the quarterback. Dylan Thomaselli, Ethan McLaurin and Seth Vaughn were among the defenders who were able to get through and force called sacks on the day, while Jacquez McGowan had a huge stop in the backfield.
After Allen's score on the second series, the Tech defenders were able to force a turnover on downs at the defensive 48.
The next series saw Pegues make an impressive one-handed catch, then Ethan Roberts connected with Brad Clark to move the chains. After a called sack followed by a holding penalty, the Tech offensive string started once more with a fresh set of downs at the defensive 30. Roberts kept the ball for five yards, then Pegues was able to pick up seven more.
Now at the 18, Roberts' next two passes fell incomplete under defensive pressure, but was able to get a 12-yard completion to Willie Miller to make it 1st-and-goal at the 6. After a one-yard keeper, Roberts connected to Clark for a five-yard TD strike. Devin Parker made his second PAT.
As the second-line offense squared off with the top-tier defense, the Tech attackers were able to go from their own 40 to the defensive 10 off of Hayes Gibson's completions to Aidan Littles, Ezra Widelock, Hunter Barnhart and Raekwon Heath. Notre Dame College transfer Reece Perkins also had a good pickup, then Clark was held to a four-yard gain on a catch to stall the drive. Parker came on for the 27-yard field goal and hit it with ease.
On the next series, Gibson completed a 19-yard connection to Miller, who briefly lost the ball on the ground but pulled it back in before defenders were near. Allen and Harris had a pair of five-yard gains but a sack for four yards and a batted pass ended the drive at the defensive 13. Parker's 30-yard try failed to send the next unit on the field.
Maddux Richey had a 14-yard pass to Jalal Dean, then Littles picked up a couple more yards before Marcellus Jackson had a 12-yard gain. The ball came loose on Littles' next run as McLaurin caught him, while Idris King was right there to pick it up to end the series.
The next sequence only lasted three plays as Jordyn Potts had an 18-yard completion to Widelock, a nine-yard strike to Dean, then Mason Bowman broke free for a 13-yard touchdown run.
Roberts and Clark were able to score again on a series starting from the defensive 25 as Clark, under pressure, pulled in an eight-yard pass in the front corner of the end zone.
The final two series ended in short gains with Thomaselli and Jeremiah Sandiford wrapping up the drives with called sacks, the latter proving to be the last play of the day as lightning entered the area.
The Golden Eagles continue their camp on Sunday with the team photo day starting at 4:30 p.m. at Tucker Stadium. The event is open to the public.
Practices resume on Monday and the annual Gathering of Eagles will be held next Saturday, August 19. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with free hot dogs and Pepsi products as supplies last. The scrimmage will begin at 5 p.m., then autographs and photos will follow.
Season tickets are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or order online at TTUsports.com.
Photo | Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
