WSJ: Mountaineers set for spring game

[asu66]

Mountaineers set for spring game
Modified scoring system to be used Friday night

Posted: Thursday, April 3, 2014 6:30 pm
Tommy Bowman/Winston-Salem Journal

Fans who like seeing a lot of points scored most likely won’t be disappointed tonight during Appalachian State’s spring football game.

The Mountaineers will wrap up spring practice by pitting offense against defense with a scoring system designed to determine a “winner” and potentially light up the scoreboard. The game will begin at 7 o’clock at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone. It will be open to the public, and admission will be free.

“We did some research on a scoring system, and a few teams have used the one we’re going with,” Coach Scott Satterfield of the Mountaineers said. “Maryland, I think, has actually used this the last two years. One year, the offense won something like 80-50, and the next year, the defense won 80-76.

“The way the scoring system is designed, we’ll be giving out points every few plays. It should be a high-scoring deal.”

The offense will get six points for touchdowns; three for field goals; two for runs of 15 or more yards, passes of 20 or more yards and two-point conversions; and one for first downs and extra-point kicks.

The defense will get six points for touchdowns; five for turnovers; three for three-and-outs and blocked kicks; two for sacks and tackles for losses, two-point conversions after defensive touchdowns and for stopped drives that aren’t three-and-out; and one for extra-point kicks after defensive touchdowns.

Satterfield said that a clock won’t be used. He expects to run about 120 plays and to have the game completed in less than two hours.

The first-team offense will go against the first-team defense, and the second-team offense will go against the second-team defense.

“We as coaches will be evaluating some things, but predominately we want the kids and fans to have fun,” Satterfield said. “We’ve had a great spring, and this will be a nice way to wrap things up.”

Satterfield said that the Mountaineers had too many missed assignments two weeks ago in a scrimmage but were able to cut those in half in the most recent scrimmage last Saturday.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to do the same this time,” he said. “We’re not doing anything fancy. We just want to be fundamentally sound and cut down on the mistakes. That’s what we’re looking for, that and hoping everybody stays healthy.”

The reason for the format, as opposed to a conventional split-team scrimmage, is mostly because of limited depth at some positions, especially receiver. There are players out with injuries, and there also will be a large group of newcomers in the fall.

“We’ll go offense against defense because of that,” Satterfield said. “We’re thin right now at some spots. If you split the team and have a player go out, you might have to play someone out of position to get enough personnel out there and you get a sloppy game.

“This way, we’ll have the first-team offense against the first-team defense and so on, and the matchups will be more even. The scoring system will give the fans and the kids the competition factor.”

tbowman@wsjournal.com

[T-Dog]

Didn't last year's spring game end up 12-0 with four field goals.

[asu66]

That's correct. No TD's were scored. Jamal (Londry-Jackson) DNP!