There weren’t big flashy plays, long runs or deep bombs down the field Saturday during the annual Green/White game at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. It felt like, and for all intents and purposes was, just the final practice of the spring. For what it’s worth the Green team, led by starting quarterback Rakeem Cato won 21-7 over the Blake Frohapfel led white team.
Starting quarterback Rakeem Cato led three touchdown drives and finished the day going 15-of-29 for 169 yards including a 17 yard touchdown toss to Tommy Shuler.
“I think we did good, but we still have a lot more space for improvement,” assessed Cato.
The Herd crossed the goal line four times (as a whole), twice on the ground, once in the air and once on a fumble recovery. Cato scored on a two yard touchdown scramble in the second drive of the game and freshman Kevin Rodriguez got a well-deserved score on the final drive for the green squad. There was also the Cato to Shuler touchdown connection through the air.
Essray Taliaferro carried the ball just four times, but rushed for 49 yards, including a 25 yard scamper on the first drive. Kevin Rodriguez also picked up 47 yards on 14 touches as Marshall rushed for 150 yards on 44 carries as a team. As a whole the Herd also threw for 265 yards and a touchdown.
“We’ve definitely made some strides and tempo was the biggest thing Coach Legg wanted us to get in and we definitely improved that,” said senior receiver Aaron Dobson.
However offensively there were still some areas that visibly need work. Although Cato was never tackled in the game, plays were whistled dead for sacks. There were also several dropped pass including one by the sure-handed Tommy Shuler that would likely have been a touchdown.
Defensively Marshall’s linebacking corps showed the progress it’s made with vast changes from last season. Cortez Carter, a sophomore from Bealeton, VA, was able to scoop a Rakeem Cato fumble and return it 58 yards for a touchdown on the second drive of the game for the green team. Carter also registered a pair of sacks. Armonze Daniel had fumble recovery while Raheem Waiters collected six tackles in the game.
“Raheem Waiters is a guy who has had an excellent spring. We’ve moved him up from safety to linebacker and that gives us more athleticism there,” said Holliday.
Marshall came out of the game without any major injuries. Although, tight ends Gator Hoskins and Eric Frohnapfel were hurt on consecutive plays early in the game and did not return. However, their injuries do not seem to be serious.
All together Marshall gained 415 yards on 92 plays with three offensive touchdowns.
Overall, a Marshall team with just six seniors has improved since day one of the 2012 spring practice season. However, there is still a long way to go before this team will be ready to step on to the turf at Milan Puskar Stadium on Sept. 1.
Let the countdown to fall camp begin.
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