Delta Charter, Trinity square off in spring football action

Published 12:14 am Wednesday, May 18, 2016

On back-to-back plays from the 5-yard line, Delta Charter School’s Dawson Woodruff hurdled over a Trinity Episcopal School defender into the end zone, and quarterback Trey Poole deeked and dodged his way between Saint defenders to register Delta Charter’s two touchdowns during Tuesday’s 12-6 spring game win.

“I’ve always wanted to do that,” Woodruff said of his highlight-reel hurdle. “I’ve seen it look so good on Saturdays and Sundays.”

Trinity scored a touchdown on a 5-yard slant from Sterling Yarbrough to former Ferriday High School standout Dantreize Scott.

Email newsletter signup

The spring game was separated into three segments. First, the two teams played four, five-play drives, and each play started from the 50-yard line. These series were followed by two, five-play drives from the 5-yard line and two, 55-yard drives, in which the ball was spotted normally. There was no kicking or punting.

The game was between two coaches at new programs, Zach Rogel at Delta Charter and Graham Roberts at Trinity. Rogel said he used Tuesday’s game as a measuring stick for his new team.

“We didn’t know where we were at,” Rogel said. “New coach, new playbook, so we wanted to get out here and see where we were.”

Roberts said he got a rare look at a nearly complete Saints team Tuesday. Roberts said his full team has been able to practice less than five days during spring camp, but he still sat a handful of players who weren’t 100 percent healthy.

“You’ve got state tennis guys — they’re four of my starters,” Roberts said. “This is one of the first times I had everybody together.”

Roberts told his team at the start of spring his offense would be “vanilla.” Roberts said he ran just six different offensive plays in the game.

“I wanted to watch the line get after it and see our (running) backs run some routes,” Roberts said.

Yarbrough took most of the snaps at quarterback. The rising sophomore was 5-for-17 passing for 60 yards. Kevontaye Caston took snaps at quarterback for one drive and completed one pass for 3 yards. Caston did most of his damage as a running back and wideout, leading the Saints in rushing with 63 yards and receiving with 52 yards

“Anywhere (Roberts) needs me I’ll play,” Caston said. “I’ve been trying to hit the weights more and get faster.”

The Saints recorded 118 yards of total offense. On defense, Cole Mosby and Keyontaye Loyd both recorded interceptions. Cortez Adams, DeSanto Rollins and Spencer Adams combined for a tackle for loss on a goal line stand from the 5-yard line.

On the Delta Charter side, Poole was 1-for-19 passing for 20 yards. He rushed for 14 yards, including the touchdown.

Lee Lancaster led the Storm with 20 receiving yards, and Tut Hatten led the Storm on the ground with 50 rushing yards. Delta Charter’s offense totaled 166 yards.

Woodruff said he was impressed by the way the Storm competed, having only practiced in full pads one time this week.

“It’s a work in progress,” Woodruff said. “Only having two weeks to prepare for this, we played really well.”

Drake Smith recorded two interceptions and one sack for the Storm defense. Chandler Wiley came away from the game with a pick, while Ben Davis and Dezmon Valdez had one fumble recovery and one sack, each.

Rogel said his squad was excited to finally play a full-speed game of football against a team with different colored jerseys.

“We only had nine practices and a walk-through,” Rogel said. “They’ve been working hard before I got there. They were hungry to hit somebody.”

The spring game marked the first time Rogel coached on the opposite side of The Pit’s sideline. Rogel said it was surreal to be on looking at the Trinity press box, rather than coaching with his back to it. While fully committed to his new program, he wishes Roberts and his former team the best in the coming season.

“It was a weird 30-minute drive over here, but it’s all about navy and Carolina blue for me,” Rogel said. “I love these guys and I want to see them do well, They aren’t in our district, so I’m rooting for them heavy.”