Quarterbacks Are The Focus At Ole Miss’ Grove Bowl

OXFORD, Miss. (Ole Miss Athletics) — In front of a crowd of approximately 15,000 fans, Ole Miss closed out spring practice with the annual Regions Bank Grove Bowl on Saturday. The Blue team defeated the Red team 17-7, behind a pair of long touchdown passes, one by junior quarterback Chad Kelly and another by senior running back Jaylen Walton on a halfback pass.

“We had a good spring,” head coach Hugh Freeze said. “We battled through being short-handed at some spots. We had to fight through that. We got through today’s game with the offensive line position. I thought that a lot of kids improved and the effort was good all the time.”

The Blue team scored on their first drive of the game. Kelly helped put together an impressive drive, capped by a 43-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Taz Zettergren.

Sophomore quarterback DeVante Kincade helped lead the Blue team to their second score of the game, a 28-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Andy Pappanastos. Kincade hit sophomore wide receiver Damore’ea Stringfellow for a 21-yard gain and later scampered 12 yards on a quarterback keeper to help set up the field goal that made it a 10-0 game in the second quarter.

Leading 10-0, the Blue team forced the first turnover of the game, as sophomore linebacker Ray Ray Smith intercepted sophomore quarterback Ryan Buchanan. On the very next play, Walton found Stringfellow for a 66-yard touchdown on a halfback pass, giving the Blue team a 17-0 lead in the third quarter.

Sophomore running backs Jordan Wilkins and Eugene Brazley combined to help lead the Red team to their lone score of the game. Wilkins broke off a powerful 28-yard run, and then Brazley found the end zone from five yards out to make it a 17-7 game in the fourth quarter

With the Blue team driving and looking to add to its lead, junior cornerback Tee Shepard intercepted Kelly just short of the end zone on the last play of the game.

Freeze was generally pleased with the play of all three quarterbacks in the game. Kelly was 9-of-19 for 104 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Kincade was 9-of-18 for 93 yards and also led the Blue team with 50 yards on 10 carries, while Buchanan was 5-of-16 for 49 yards with an interception.

“The quarterback play was good,” Freeze said. “But then you missed a couple of touchdowns on plays you have to hit. Our kids know that and they get that. I saw some positives from all three that we can build upon going into the offseason.”

Wilkins led all players with 62 yards on six carries, while Brazley rushed for 44 yards on 10 carries and redshirt freshman Akeem Judd added 24 yards on five carries for the Blue team. Stringfellow led the the Blue team with three receptions for 98 yards, while junior wide receiver Derrick Jones led the Red team with three catches for 35 yards.

Defensively, junior defensive lineman Fadol Brown led all players with 2.0 tackles for loss and tied for the lead with 1.0 sacks. Sophomore cornerback Kendarius Webster finished with three pass break-ups and sophomore linebacker DeMarquis Gates totaled four tackles, which led all players, respectively.

“I thought they gave up the possibility of too many big plays,” said Freeze of the defense. “But, with the Blue team up front, Issac Gross and Breeland Speaks and those guys caused havoc all day in the Red backfield. I was pleased with that front. The Red defense didn’t start with a great edge, but some of that credit goes to the blue offense at the start of the game with some good tempo.”

The Regions Bank Grove Bowl concluded spring practice for the Rebels, who will open the 2015 season Sept. 5 at home against Tennessee-Martin.

“All in all, I am excited about where we are,” Freeze said. “I think we have the chance to be a good football team. Like everything else, this league is so difficult and so evenly matched that you have to make the most of your time between now and the next opportunity you have to be a team.”