Central Michigan University Athletics
Football Wraps Up Spring Ball
4/21/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 21, 2003
MOUNT PLEASANT -- The Central Michigan University football team completed its offseason workouts with its annual spring game last Friday.
The White team topped the Maroon team, 14-7.
The White team found paydirt first. Jeff Perry's (Apple Valley, Calif./Jr.) 13-yard toss found Scott Gibson (Jefferson, Wis./So.) in the corner of the endzone. With the extra point, White had the 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Both teams would exchange scores in the second quarter. Led by the nimble-footed Lance Gailliard (Detroit/Jr.), the Maroon team scampered down the field and knotted the game at seven on a six-yard TD run by Gailliard. Perry struck again to give the White team the lead for good. Perry's longest throw for the day was a 20-yard touchdown pass to Markus Naves (Grand Rapids/So.). White went into the half with the 14-7 lead and held on to win by that margin.
Perry led all quarterbacks, going 9-for-13 for 77 yards and two TDs. Terrence Jackson (Somerset, N.J./Sr.) led the White team on the ground while Gibson was Perry's No. 1 target in the air. Jackson ran for 60 yards on nine carries and Gibson had two catches for 17 yards and a TD.
Kent Smith (Toledo, Ohio/So.) led the air assault for the Maroon team. He was 4-for-7 and threw for 43 yards. Maroon's Nick Thompson (Menominee/Jr.) led all receivers with three catches for 32 yards while Gailliard led the ground attack with 22 yards on five touches.
"We ran a limited offense and defense," said head coach Mike DeBord after the scrimmage. "On defense, we didn't run any blitzes, and on offense, we tried some new things. But, we liked what we saw. I liked this team's effort, speed, and intensity."
While Perry walked off the field this spring as the top QB, statistically, the quarterback job is still open for the taking.
"As all positions go, we assess each position through the spring and into the fall," DeBord said. "There's a No. 1 quarterback in my mind but that's not to be announced until the fall.
"There are two times when you see improvement in your athletes - the spring and the fall. There's still some good competition for the No. 2 QB and that could result in a challenge for No. 1 in the fall."
While the competition is fast and furious at quarterback, DeBord is quick to note that the receivers have stepped up as well in the offseason. The wideout position was a big question mark heading into the spring. The receiver corps ranked 11th in 2002 in the Mid-American Conference with 1,994 yards.
"I believe that the wide receivers were the most-improved part of the team this spring," DeBord said. "I thought Gibson and Steve Messam (South Bay, Fla./Sr.) started to establish themselves and feeling good about their play. I really think that our passing game is starting to improve."
With spring ball completed, the Chippewas now head into summer break. The Chippewas return to the gridiron in early August after finishing strong in spring drills.
"Thursday's practice was unbelievable," said DeBord. "And, I thought the team played with great effort and intensity on Friday. On Tuesday, I was unsure of how this team was going to finish. But, it came out in the last two practices and showed that it can come out and finish strong."
