LAKE CHARLES - McNeese held its first scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday morning and the outcome didn't disappoint as the offense displayed its fire power while the defense showed its physicality and speed.
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The offense, led by quarterbacks Tre Simmons and Nate Glantz, rolled up 598 total yards and scored seven touchdowns. But not to be outdone, the defense looked sharp as well, sacking the quarterback five times while recording seven tackles for a loss.
Simmons, who started with the first team only because it was his day in the rotation, completed 5 of 7 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown while Glantz, who took snaps with the 1s and 2s, hit on 10 of 155 throws for 185 yards and a score.
Four quarterbacks combined to complete 20 of 31 passes for 372 yards and three touchdowns while in the running game, the Cowboys rushed for 226 yards and four scores and averaged 5.9 yards per carry on 38 hand-offs.
The offense did not turn the ball over on the day.
The defense got sacks from returning starter Micah Davey as well as Khylon Chapple, transfer defensive lineman Tony Gibson, transfer linebacker Kyle Armstead, and freshman lineman Mark Fielder.
The Cowboys will return to the practice field on Sunday morning before having Monday off as classes are set to begin.
McNeese will hold its second scrimmage on Friday night at 7 p.m. in Cowboy Stadium.
Scrimmage Notes:
- The offense got rolling quick with scores on its first two possessions - an 11-yard touchdown run by D'Angelo Durham then a 4-yard run by transfer back Coleby Hamm.
- On the scrimmage's first play, QB Tre Simmons connected with WR Jalen Johnson for a 50-yard catch and run.
- In the second series, facing a 3rd-and-15, QB Nate Glantz found WR Jon McCall for a 30-yard gain and converted for a first down.
- Following the two opening scoring drives, the defense held the offense to two straight punts and a 50-yard field goal attempt that sailed wide left.
- The offense got in the end zone for the third time when QB Cameron McCalister dropped on in to WR Jalen Wright for a 27-yard score.
- The No. 1 defense followed by holding the No. 1 offense to a three-and-out, but a 76-yard punt by Callum Eddings ended with the ball being downed at the 1-yard line.
- Facing and 3rd-and-9 at the 2, Glantz threw a ball up for grabs that was hauled in by McCall near the 35-yard line then sprinted to the 25 before being brought down for a gain of 73.
- The defense would hold and keep the offense from scoring thanks in part to LB Micah Davey's sack on a 2nd-and-2 that pushed the ball back.
- The next possession saw Simmons throw a beauty to WR Aalah Brown on a post route route for a 47-yard score.
- The final non-red zone score came two possessions later when transfer RB Cam Thomas scored from 2 yards out to cap an 8-play, 70-yard drive that took 3:47 off the clock.
- Glantz hit Brown for a 39-yard gain on a 3rd-and-8 to keep that drive alive.
- In red zone action, Hamm scored on a 20-yard run and Glantz threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Mike Paris on the first play to cap the scoring.
Scrimmage Stats:
Passing:
Nate Glantz 10-15, 185, TD;
Tre Simmons 5-7, 129, TD;
Cameron McCalister 3-5, 52, TD;
Ryan Roberts 2-4, 6.
Total Passing: 20-31, 372, 3 TD.
Rushing: Ivory Roberts 3-104; Nate Glantz 7-39; Cam Thomas 6-28, TD; Coleby Hamm 8-24, 2 TD; D'Angelo Durham 3-16, TD; Tre Simmons 5-10; Joshon Barbie 6-5. Total Rushing: 38-226, 4 TDs.
Receiving: Jihad Marks 4-11; Jon McCall 3-103; Aalah Brown 3-86, TD; Jalen Johnson 2-45; Makhi Paris 2-38, TD; Tyler Goff 2-20; Jalen Wright 1-27, TD; Austin Watkins 1-11; Jonathan Harris 1-10; Cam Thomas 1-6; Gage Hildreth 1-(1-4).
Total Offense: 58 plays, 598 yards, 7 TDs.
Sacks: Kylen Armstead, Khylon Chapple, Micah Davey, Mark Fielder, Tony Gibson
Tackle For Loss: Brayden Adams, Khaylon Chapple, Mark Fielder, Jake Held, TJ McCants, Carlos Sanders, Cody Smith
Pass Break Ups: Jackson Anders, Twillie Lovett
Punting: Callum Eddings (47, 44, 76)
Scoring Drives:
3 plays, 65 yards, 0:45 - D'Angelo Durham 11-yard run (Garrison Smith PAT Good).
12 plays, 65 yards, 5:16 - Coleby Hamm 4-yard run (Smith PAT Good).
9 plays, 67 yards, 3:13 - Jalen Wright 27-yard pass from Cameron McCalister (Matthew Krneta PAT Good).
4 plays, 76 yards, 1:39 - Aalah Brown 47-yard pass from Tre Simmons.
8 plays, 70 yards, 3:47 - Cam Thomas 2-yard run.
4 plays, 20 yards, 1:41 - Coleby Hamm 10-yard run.
1 play, 20 yards, 0:05 - Makhi Parish 20-yard pass from Nate Glantz.
