“Temple football is on its way back,” he continued. “Like everybody else, we have a long way to go before we play our first game, but it’s been a great spring. Tonight was a great way to finish up.”
The 70-minute session before an enthusiastic crowd showed the Wildcats’ potential to escape two seasons in the spread in which they managed an average of just 193.5 yards and 10.3 points per game.
For the record, the blue-clad offense under new coordinator Mike McMurtry rushed the ball 53 times for 343 yards and completed 12 of 26 passes for 161 yards. That’s an average of 6.4 yards per snap.
Sophomore-to-be running back Lache Seastrunk flashed his big-game potential with 95 yards on six carries, including touchdown runs of 61 and 28 yards. He showed the ability to be shifty, speed and tough.
The other touchdowns came on a 5-yard keeper by junior-to-be quarterback Kevin Lock, a 16-yard keeper by senior-to-be quarterback Chase Moore, a 3-yard pass from Moore to running back Patrick Gamble and an 11-yard pass from senior-to-be quarterback Derek Marshall to wideout Devin Reese.
Moore, last year’s backup quarterback, also showed the ability to play tough on his scoring run as he lowered his shoulder and hammered himself into a position to put the ball over the goal line.
Junior-to-be Chris Winkler made good on all five of his extra-point attempts.
Arthur Leavell was the leading rusher with 99 yards on 11 carries, and veteran fullback Adrian Reaves-Brown carried eight times for 46 yards. A total of 13 different backs carried the ball.
In the air, Moore completed seven of 13 passes for 102 yards. Nine different players caught passes with no one having more than two receptions.
Sixteen plays gained 10 yards or more, with the longest being Seastrunk’s 61-yard dash for the night’s second touchdown.
One of the best-looking plays of the night - a 29-yard pass from Moore to junior-to-be tight end Quintel Rutledge - may have been the most-costly as Rutledge sustained a knee injury of unknown severity.
The first offense worked behind a line of center Brett Gunn, guards Joseph Maxwell and Sergio Robledo and tackles Joseph DeMartino and Alex Nasseri.
Defensively, the White team stopped the offense on nine of 15 possessions starting at the offense’s 35-yard line. The defense got interceptions from Toravian Belcher and William Farrow. Stedman Moore and Daquan Dunn recovered fumbles.
“The kids played hard, but now we’re in the summer and it’s time to work on the weights, conditioning and 7-on-7,” said Monsen, who will open fall drills on Monday, Aug. 13. The season opener will be Saturday, Sept. 1, against South Garland in the H-E-B Classic at Waco ISD Stadium.
In the freshman scrimmage, the Blue posted a 12-0 victory as it posted a balanced 242-yard attack on 55 plays - 122 yards on the ground and 120 in the air.
