Green Earns 44-9 Victory Over Gold in 2016 Spring Game

 

HAMMOND, La. – The Green offense defeated the Gold defense, 44-9, as the Southeastern Louisiana football team closed out its 2016 spring practice with the annual Spring Game Saturday afternoon at Strawberry Stadium.

 

The offense was awarded points in the traditional way, as well as scoring for first downs and big plays. The defense earned points by forcing three-and-outs and stops, as well as turnovers.

 

The Lion offense finished with 307 total yards in the 65-play scrimmage. Senior D’Shaie Landor led Southeastern with 44 rushing yards, while senior Rasheed Harrell (39 yards, 1 TD), freshman Julius Maracalin (38 yards) and senior Kaelyn Henderson (30 yards) were also effective on the ground.

 

Landor (5-for-11, 78 yards, 1 TD), sophomore Donovan Isom (6-for-8, 50 yards), freshman JT Jackson (4-for-5, 28 yards) and junior Larry Cutbirth (1-for-2, 17 yards) all saw action under center for the Lions. Sophomore Jake Ingraffia led SLU with four catches for 27 yards, while junior Kaylan Richardson caught a touchdown pass from Landor.

 

Under new offensive coordinator Matt Barrett, Southeastern focused on ball security throughout the spring. The Lions did an excellent job on Saturday, as the defense did not force a turnover.

 

The Southeastern defense was led by junior Jeff Williams II, who finished with a team-high seven tackles. The Gold racked up seven sacks on the day, led by junior Jon Taylor and sophomore Sean Clavelle with two apiece.

 

The first half was dominated by the defense, as the Gold was able to keep the Green out of the end zone for the first 30 minutes. The only traditional points SLU scored came on a 26-yard field goal by sophomore Harrison Heim. Heim, a native of Tomball, Texas, also had an excellent day punting, averaging 50.0 yards per punt.

 

Southeastern opened the second half with its first touchdown drive of the game, as Landor engineered a six-play, 75-yard scoring march. Long runs by Landor (19 yards), Harrell (24 yards) and Maracalin (19 yards) helped the Green to march down the field. Harrell, who redshirted in 2015, powered in from seven yards out to give the Lions their first touchdown of the contest.

 

The defense held firm again until the penultimate drive of the scrimmage. A 15-yard run by Maracalin started the drive off and the Green moved into Gold territory after a personal foul. Landor found senior Brandon Acker on the sideline to convert a third-and-seven with a nine-yard completion. Two plays later, Richardson made a juggling catch from 24 yards out to give the Green their second touchdown of the day.

 

The Lions will return to the practice field in early August to begin preparations for the 2016 season, which opens Sept. 3 with Southeastern traveling to Oklahoma State.