OFFENSE PERFORMS WELL IN SATURDAY'S FIRST FALL SCRIMMAGE

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech Football held its first full-scale scrimmage of fall camp here Saturday afternoon in front of nearly 250 fans at Thone Stadium in Buerkle Field.

Tech Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Steve Mullins said he was pleased with Saturday’s 90-play scrimmage.

“I was really pleased with our team’s effort and intensity on both sides of the ball,” Mullins said. “I thought our offense executed well, especially early in the scrimmage and I was pleased we made it through somewhat injury free.”

The offense wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard as they took the opening possession of the scrimmage and scored on an 11-yard pass from senior quarterback Cole Barthel (Decatur, Ala.) to junior receiver Rolaundo Wright (Sulphur Springs, Texas). Junior kicker Travis Cockerham (Bryant, Ark.) added the extra point. On the drive, Barthel completed four of five passes for 57 yards.

On its second possession, the first-team offense scored again as Barthel connected with senior receiver Tracey Stiger (Russellville, Ark.) for a 26-yard touchdown pass and Cockerham added the extra point. Stiger’s score was set up by a 34-yard pass from Barthel to junior receiver Landon Turner (Destrehan, La.). Stiger, who was one of three Wonder Boys named a Preseason All-GSC selection, finished the scrimmage with five catches for 92 yards and gained five yards on one rushing play, while Turner caught three passes for 57 yards. 

          “I thought our No. 1s played the way they were supposed to play, just like I thought our No. 3s played the way they were expected to play,” the Tech coach said. “I’m pleased with where we are at, but we need to continue to execute and get better in the next 12 days.”

          Perhaps the biggest bright spot in the scrimmage was the play of the Wonder Boys special teams as Cockerham was 2-for-2 on extra points and connected on both of his field goal attempts in the scrimmage, while freshman Kyle Lusinger (White Hall, Ark.) hit an extra point late in the scrimmage.

          “We have got to continue to develop confidence in our kicking game,” Mullins said.

In addition to Cockerham, both senior punters - Michael Podobnik (Frankfort, Ill.), a Preseason All-American according to both Lindy’s and Sporting News and Nick McCaskill (Camden, Ark.) worked on their craft prior to the scrimmage.

          “I thought our punters did well on eight out of their nine punts,” the coach added.

          On the offense’s fifth possession of the scrimmage, Cockerham connected on a 29-yard field goal and later he added a 28-yard field goal for the offense’s final points.

          The offense scored its third touchdown of the afternoon on a 7-yard run by sophomore running back Cody Burns (Pine Bluff, Ark.).

          On the afternoon, Tech’s offense accounted for 489 yards of total offense as their four quarterbacks combined to go 24-for-43 passing for 313 yards and one interception, while the ground game produced 168 yards rushing on 43 carries.

          Barthel finished the scrimmage 13-for-20 passing for 257 yards and two touchdowns, but had the team’s lone interception, which was negated by a penalty on the goal line. The other three quarterbacks that saw action combined to go 11-for-23 through the air for 56 yards.

          In Saturday’s scrimmage, the only miscue was a fumble by redshirt freshman running back Trent Davis (Danville, Ark.).

          “Early on, I wish the first group could have run the ball better. Obviously, Cole threw the ball well and we had only one turnover in 90 plays,” Mullins added. “The second group, then later the first group, ran a lot better as we went through the scrimmage.”

          Tech will take its first day off of fall camp on Sunday before returning to the practice field for a 3:30 p.m. workout on Monday. The Wonder Boys, who will have its final two-a-day practice on Tuesday before fall semester classes begin on Wednesday, will conduct its second and final scrimmage of fall camp on Thursday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m.

          “Thursday’s scrimmage will be like a dress rehearsal for the first game,” Mullins said. “Hopefully, we’ll be sharper and continue to play hard and smart.”

          The Wonder Boys open its 94th season of intercollegiate football on Thursday, Aug. 28 when they welcome Northeastern State to Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Scoring Summary

White - Rolaundo Wright 11-yard pass from Cole Barthel (Travis Cockerham kick)

White - Tracey Stiger 26-yard pass from Barthel (Cockerham kick)

White - Cockerham 29-yard field goal

White - Cody Burns 7-yard run (Kyle Lusinger kick)

White - Cockerham 28-yard field goal

Att: 250 (est.)

Individual Statistics

Rushing - Tavin Davis 6-31; Kevin Puckett 5-15; Joby Hills 5-14; David English 4-21; Justin Ray 3-18; Shawn O'Connor 3-30; Cody Burns 3-10; Courtney Greer 3-(-1); DeShanti Mitchell 3-0; Tim Childress 2-4; Mike Shouse 2-0; Justice Clinton 1-17; Cole Barthel 1-6; Tracey Stiger 1-5; Tyler Morton 1-4; Scharvundrick Franklin 1-(-6). Total Rushing: 43-168 yards

Passing - Cole Barthel 13-20-2-0-257; Justin Ray 4-6-0-0-26; Kevin Puckett 4-11-0-0-19; Mike Shouse 3-6-0-0-11. Total Passing: 24-43-2-0-313.

Receiving - Tracey Stiger 5-92; Rolaundo Wright 2-21; Landon Turner 3-57; Franz Simeon 3-28; Jordan Jernigan 2-9; Lecario Paskel 2-12; Tavin Davis 2-7; Cody Burns 1-44; Tyler Morton 1-6; Jarrod Martin 1-5; Justin Ray 1-5; Justin Bennett 1-4. Totals - 24-313.

-- Tech Athletics --