WONDER BOYS CONDUCT ITS FIRST SCRIMMAGE OF SPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICE

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – – Arkansas Tech Football conducted its first of three spring scrimmages here on a chilly, overcast Friday morning in Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field.

The scrimmage featured about 90 plays, including several segments where the No. 1 offense went up against the No. 1 defense.

“I thought the defense dominated this morning’s scrimmage. They played with a lot of effort and enthusiasm,” Tech Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Steve Mullins said. “The offense had some trouble taking care of the football and executing throughout the scrimmage.”

Tech’s offense struggled with turnovers during the 90-minute scrimmage as they committed at least five fumbles and its four quarterbacks threw at least three interceptions, including ending the scrimmage with a 90-yard interception return by senior defensive back Adrian Holiday (West Helena, Ark.) for a touchdown.  

“We need to do a better job of taking care of the ball and work on committing fewer turnovers and mental errors,” said Mullins, who is entering his 13th season with the Wonder Boys.

The Wonder Boys offense did score three touchdowns in the scrimmage. The first score was a 40-yard pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin Puckett (Vilonia, Ark.) to senior receiver Frantz Simeon (Belle Glade, Fla.). That scoring drive was highlighted by a 25-yard run from junior running back Cody Burns (Pine Bluff, Ark.). Later in the scrimmage, Tech’s offense got scores on a 7-yard touchdown pass from redshirt junior quarterback Robert Sagerian (San Diego, Calif.) to junior receiver Scharvundrick Franklin (Dumas, Ark.) and a 25-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-down play from Sagerian to redshirt freshman receiver Gionni Harris (Fayetteville, Ark.), a transfer from Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Some other big offensive plays in the scrimmage were a 40-yard run by Burns, a 25-yard pass from senior University of Nevada transfer quarterback Nick Graziano (Moraga, Calif.) to Simeon, a 17-yard run by sophomore running back Joby Hills (Carencro, La.) and a 25-yard run early in the scrimmage from senior running back Tim Childress (Batesville, Ark.).

Mullins said that the Wonder Boys will take the weekend off before returning to the practice field a 6 a.m. workout on Monday. Tech will conduct its annual Green and Gold Spring Scrimmage next Saturday, April 18 at 3 p.m. and then will conclude spring practice with the Senior Bowl on Tuesday, April 21. Both of those scrimmages will be held on the practice field adjacent to Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field.

 -- Tech Athletics --