Sports
Tigers end spring football showcasing depth
Saturday, 09 June 2012 by Chuck Kelly
Three year starting linebacker Ryan Stinson causes a fumble that was run back for a touchdown by Kyle Battle to help the White team win 14-13 in the Tigers annual spring football game. Photo by David TumaThe Tigers Red and White Spring Game allowed some recognition to all the hard work put in the past month and past few years. Depth of the program was impressive. It was a chance for offensive players to show what they can do and for the veterans on defense, and they played well on both teams.
"The younger players really stepped it up this spring. They took the play to the varsity level. It takes awhile to get used to the speed of the game and how hard you have to work to play at this level. The offensive line got better and better," said Derrick Bates.
The White team won 14-13 after falling behind 13-0 at half. Shane Stafford led the White team on an impressive 76-yard drive that came up just short of scoring. Stafford connected several times to Bates, once on a fourth-and-three conversion to keep the drive alive.
Peter Shelburne connected with Chase Thornal and Andre Ewing for 20-yards. Brandon Rhoads had three good runs to move the Tigers to the 30-yard line. Tanner Coats picked up 13-yards off a pass from Shelburne to move the Tigers to the three-yard line and Austin Farr ended up recovering in the end zone for a touchdown.
Ben Munoz recovered a fumble to give the ball back to the Red team. James Murphy sacked Shelburne forcing a punt.
Anthony McCosham, off a pass from Stafford, took the Tigers inside the five-yard line but fumbled into the endzone that was recovered by the Red team. Rhoads ended up scoring on the drive from three-yards out to give the Red team a 13-0 first half lead.
The Red team got the ball to start the second half. Coats picked 20-yards on a third-an-seven completion from Stafford. Rhoads had a 57-yard touchdown run called back. Colby Priest batted down a pass and Ryan Stinson caused a fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Kyle Battle cutting the lead to 13-7.
McCosham scored on a 70-yard pass from Stafford to give the White team a 14-7 lead. Garrett Curry intercepted his second pass of the night to seal the win for the White team.
"I thought it was a good spring overall. There were a lot of young players that we were looking at. The seniors did a great job of leading and helping those younger players improve. We have a chance to be very good this fall," said Tigers offensive coordinator David Brewer.
Former Tigers football coach Lance Herring spoke after the scrimmage. Herring took the defensive coordinators job at Montgomery. Former Tiger football player Dustin Templin is now the defensive coordinator at Port Neches Grove.
Belton has 120 players signed up this summer at the 6 a.m. work out slot. "The players understand it isn't ok to just go through spring drills. We have to perform at a high level because of the expectations we have. These guys have been working since the seventh grade. This summer we plan on improving team speed," said Tigers head coach Rodney Southern.
Belton travels this Saturday to Lake Travis to compete in their 7-on-7 State Qualifier Tournament. Belton plays Lake Travis at 9 a.m.
