The Wildcats’ Blue team proved to be too much for the Wildcats White team, taking a 41-7 win at Gerald Prim Stadium in the Spring Game that marked the end of spring football workouts.
Wildcats quarterbacks Kaden Wallace, Noe Ponce and Ty Stroud took turns directing both teams.
The Blue team, with Wallace at quarterback opened the game with a 70-yard TD drive. Wallace connected with Ponce on a 26 yard touchdown pass. Osiel Lopez kicked the extra point and Blue led 7-0 with 10:26 left in the first quarter.
After the White team was forced to punt, the Blue team, with Ponce at quarterback, drove 48 yards for a second score. Ponce threw a pass that was tipped but then caught by receiver Langston Bridges for a 17 yard TD. Brandon Zavala kicked the extra point and Blue was up 14-0 with 6:13 left in the first quarter.
After a White team punt, the White defense had a good moment. Nick Atkinson of the White team intercepted a Wallace pass. The White team turned the ball over on downs as the first quarter ended.
On their first drive of the second quarter, the Blue team, with Stroud at quarterback, threatened to score again but they bogged down inside the ten. Brian Tavera kicked a short field goal and Blue went up 17-0.
After a White punt, the White team got on the scoreboard on defense. The Blue team, with Stroud at quarterback, started at their own 37 yard line. Two straight center snaps sailed over the quarterback’s head. The second one ended up in the end zone and the White team’s Brian Orsornio came up with the ball for a touchdown. Lopez’ extra point kick was good and the White team now trailed only, 17-7 with 4:52 left in the second quarter.
The Blue team, with Stroud at quarterback, got on the board one more time before halftime. Blue went 70 yards and Stroud scored the touchdown on a winding 33 yard touchdown run. Zavala’s extra point kick was good and Blue was up 24-7 with 2:58 left in the second quarter. It was Blue 24 and White 7 at the half.
In the third quarter, with Ponce at quarterback for the White team, the Blue team got an interception by Kylan Wade and he raced down to the six yard line. Despite the juicy field position, the White defense stiffened and forced a field goal attempt. Tavera kicked his second short field goal of the game and Blue was now up 27-7 with 9:16 left in the third quarter.
The White team appeared to score a touchdown on their next drive as Wallace threw a 19-yard TD pass to Landry Meskimen, but it was nullified due to a false start penalty. The White team ended up turning the ball over on downs.
The Blue team then went 66 yards for a score. Quarterback Ponce had six completions in the drive. The first one involved trickery. The Blue team ran a hook and lateral play. Ponce completed a pass to Detrick Clayton, who then lateraled the ball to back Hayden Keller for a 21 yard play.
Ponce threw a touchdown pass, his second of the game, to Zach Tiemeyer as the clock expired in the third quarter. The play covered 18 yards. Lopez’s extra point kick made it Blue 34 and White 7.
In the fourth quarter, on the White team’s first drive, Beau Bankston of the Blue team intercepted a Stroud pass. Stroud then led the Blue to its last score as they went 50 yards. The score came on a 34 yard TD pass from Stroud to Weston Fields. Tavera kicked the extra point and Blue led, 41-7 with 6:38 left in the fourth quarter.
After the final White drive led to a punt at the 4:53 mark of the fourth quarter, Coach Greg Owens decided to call it a game. He seemed most pleased that there were no serious injuries.
When players return to school on Monday, coaches will be ready with game film to share with them. More 7 on 7 games and The Edge conditioning program awaits players this summer.
