April 26, 2003
Bowling Green, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University football team concluded its spring practice with the annual Red-White Game Saturday afternoon at L.T. Smith Stadium/Jimmy Feix Field. Neither squad scored until the final play of the game when Kris Mau recovered a fumble in the endzone to give the White team a 6-0 victory. The day ended with the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA National Champion Hilltopper team receiving their championship rings.
"That was a football fan's dream today," said Hilltopper head coach David Elson. "We made it obvious today that Western Kentucky is still known for its great defense. The biggest thing today to come out today and compete. I liked our intensity out there, not only today, but all spring."
Both defenses dominated play in the opening half as the White team came up with the game's first turnover when Mau recovered a Casey Rooney fumble on the Red 40-yard line. The White offense was unable to capitalize, however, going three-and-out. The White squad did put together to two longest drives of the half, a quarterback Perez Smith orchestrated a 10-play drive to move the ball down to the Red 19-yard line. After an incomplete pass on third down, Smith was dropped for a three-yard loss as the Red team got the ball back on downs.
The White defense again forced a three-and-out, allowing the offense one last scoring chance in the half. Smith and Reggie Dent combined for 20 yards on the ground, getting down to the Red 34. Antonio Veals then found Smith streaking the sideline on a trick play on fourth down for ten yards, but Smith's pass into the endzone on the next play fell incomplete as the half came to an end.
Each defense forced a turnover early in the third quarter as Mau came up with his second fumble recovery of the game for the White team, and L.A. O'Neal picked off a Smith pass and returned it 34 yards to set up the Red squad's best field position of the game. Starting at the White 15 yard line, Rooney and Jacques Johnson ran the ball on the first three plays, moving the ball down to the seven, but Rooney's pass on fourth down was incomplete as the defense held to preserve the scoreless tie.
The White squad was again able to move the ball down field on their next possession as Smith completed two straight passes, and Dent picked up 11 yards on two carries to get the ball down to the Red four yard line. Dent then appeared to put the game's first points on the board, getting into the endzone on his next carry, but the play was called back for holding. After two unsuccessful plays, Matt Lange's 30-yard field goal sailed wide left, keeping the game scoreless.
Neither team converted on its next possession, but with just over a minute to play a 46-yard punt from Brian Claybourn pinned the Red team inside their own five. After two incomplete passes by Rooney, Anthony Bates was able to come from behind on third down, stripping the ball from Rooney as Mau fell on it in the endzone as time expired.
Dent led all ball carriers in the game with 74 yards on 20 carries, while Smith carried the ball 10 times for the White team, picking up 36 yards. Smith also completed six of his 19 passes for 48 yards, hooking up with Dustin Strupp on three of those for 27 yards. Johnson led the Red team with 13 carries for 32 yards, while Rooney completed two passes, both to Trey McMiller, for 22 yards.
Defensively, Darius McCrimmon and Charles Thompson led the victorious White squad with seven and six tackles, respectively. Josh Johnson paced the red team with six stops.
The game brought an end to what Elson considered a successful spring for his football team.
"I really feel good about what we did this spring," said Elson. "I really tried to just step back and evaluate where we are each day out here on the field. I like our senior leadership coming back next season."
"Our offense still has some work to do, but we moved the ball well, he continued. "We know we have a great offensive line coming back, and can come out in the fall knowing we are able to run the ball, and at the same time keep working on our passing game to get that balanced attack that we want."
Western will open its national title defense on Thursday, Aug. 28 when it hosts Union (Ky.) College at Smith Stadium.
- WKU -
