Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Ben Kleppinger The defense picked off four passes and caused four fumbles in route to a 50-29 victory.

It's that time of the year; baseball is in full swing, talk of alternate endings to the Final Four are beginning to fade from people's minds and football is back in the limelight.

Eastern's 2008 spring game brought fans into Roy Kidd Stadium to watch the Colonel defense, called the maroon team, force eight turnovers on their way to a 50-29 victory over the offense, which was called the white team (see box below for points system).

"Pretty typical for the defense to be ahead of the offense… just offense takes a little more time to mature than defense," Head Coach Dean Hood said. "You can make a mistake on defense and there's the ball, go run, go get it."

About half of Eastern's new defensive package has been assembled and was ready to go in time for the spring game, Hood said. The basic 4-3 scheme hasn't changed from last year. The defense will be based around occasionally bringing in an extra defensive back to run a nickel package.

Senior Brandon Gathof, who totaled 91 tackles and five interceptions last year at strong safety, had a pick in Sunday's game.

"Once we got a grasp of the defense, everybody was just able to go out and play football," Gathof said. "Were attacking the offense this year, instead of sitting back seeing what they will do to us."

Gathof said the defense isn't more complicated, just different. Last year the on-field calls revolved around the linebackers, this year's calls are geared more toward the safeties.

Sophomore big-man Yameen Thomas put plenty of highlights on the spring game film Sunday. The 241-pound defensive linemen had an interception, an 18-yard return and a forced fumble, which nearly gave the defense a touchdown. He topped his spring performance off with two fumble recoveries.

"[The defense] has been going out there and executing, flying from sideline to sideline," said freshman wide receiver Shannon Davis. "With offense, all 11 guys have to contribute to the play. If one guy messes up it messes up the whole play."

The offense started off slow. The first quarter was riddled with incomplete passes and runs for short yardage, no yardage or negative yardage.

A solid running game kept the offense moving early in the game. Thanks to 17 carries each by junior running backs C.J. Walker, who had 71-yards on the ground, and Aaron Bradley, who collected 88-yards, the Colonels had one constant on offense.

Continued...

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