Paced by strong running and relentless defense, the White held off a late charge by the Green to win the annual spring football game Saturday, 14-12.
White squad running backs Josh Abrams and James Magee each found the end zone on the ground to put their team up early, while both Green touchdowns came through the air during the fourth quarter from quarterback Austen Everson.
While the two touchdown passes were encouraging for the Ohio coaching staff, the rest of the passing game for both sides struggled early on. At halftime, Everson and White quarterback Josh Febus had completed a combined 13-of-31 passes for just 82 yards.
I think at the beginning it was a mix of different things
Everson said. It was maybe me not seeing the right picture or a receiver not being on the right page. I think there were a lot of things that contributed early but we were real close. We knew what we had to do and I think later in the game we just got in a rhythm; we started moving the ball.
The first score of the game came on a 44-yard run by Abrams with more than a minute left in the first quarter. Abrams might have been in the shadow of the Bobcats' featured backs, Kalvin McRae and Voncarie Owens, but his six carries for 87 yards showed what his coaches have been saying all spring: He's right there with them.
He's had an excellent spring
coach Frank Solich said. The thing that Josh has got to do is keep himself on the field. He's had some injuries that haven't taken him out for long stretches of time
but have taken him off the field. I was really pleased with his spring overall. He has excellent speed
breakaway ability and the ability to make people miss. He can really add to the running back corps.
I've been coming out here and running as hard as I can
following my blocks
listening to coach (Tim) Albin
being real coachable
and I think the coaches have taken notice of it
Abrams said. So we have a three-headed monster in that backfield: me
