BOONE, N.C. — With sixth-year redshirt senior
Daetrich Harrington breaking down the huddled team, App State Football's 14th preseason practice and second full scrimmage were officially complete.
The Mountaineers ran approximately 65 plays Saturday in Kidd Brewer Stadium, with only about 20 of those involving reps for the first-team units. The scrimmage occurred two weeks before the 2022 home opener against North Carolina and two days before the fall semester begins on App State's campus.
"It was good on both sides of the football," App State head coach
Shawn Clark said. "Our defense flew around and got some turnovers. Our team speed really showed up on defense. On offense, we made some plays in the red zone when we had to being in a two-minute and four-minute situation there on the field."
Outside linebacker
Jalen McLeod had a sack, delivered a big hit in pass coverage and batted down a pass near the line to lead the defensive effort.
The offensive highlight was a 14-yard touchdown run from first-year running back
Ahmani Marshall, who capped a drive in which
Chase Brice completed passes to tight end
Miller Gibbs, running back
Camerun Peoples and receiver
Christan Horn.
With newcomers
Brady McBride and
Ryan Burger in the competition to back up Brice,
Dalton Stroman caught two throws from Burger and
Michael Hetzel hauled in two passes from McBride as the two quarterbacks went a combined 5 of 7 through the air. Marshall, Peoples,
Nate Noel and
Anderson Castle all had nice gains on the ground, and the full-contact return for Harrington, who has overcome several serious injuries during his career, provided a spark.
Almost three-quarters of the reps allowed App State's coaches to get a better look at the depth beyond potential or likely starters, and defenders made several big plays. Veteran safety
Kaleb Dawson intercepted a pass, inside linebacker
Jordan Mitchell applied heavy pressure in a passing situation and a pair of sacks came from freshmen linebackers
Derrell Farrar and
Orlando Leon.
Andre Hamilton's big hit led to a 40-yard fumble return for a touchdown by safety
DJ Burks, although some coaches signaled that the runner was down before losing the ball, and defensive lineman
Josiah Wyatt recovered a fumble.
The longest gain of the day was
AJ Hall's 21-yard reception following a sideline throw from walk-on quarterback
David Hernandez.
"You have to find someone who can be the third tackle or fourth defensive tackle or third corner, and today it showed," Clark said. "We had some guys who really came out and proved that they can play at this level. That's good to see."
