CCU

White Handles Teal, 30-6, In Annual Spring Football Game

       

White Handles Teal, 30-6, In Annual Spring Football Game

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CONWAY, SC -- Senior quarterback Tyler Thigpen (Winnsboro, S.C./Fairfield Central) threw for two touchdowns to junior wide receiver Santini Washington (Jonesboro, Ga./Lovejoy) to lead the White squad to a 30-6 victory over the Teal in Coastal Carolina's annual spring game, Apr. 1. The modified game, with a running clock except the last two minutes of each half, wrapped up Coastal's 2006 spring drills.

The White got on the board first, as Thigpen hooked up with Washington from 19 yards out, with the extra point putting them up 7-0 late in the first quarter. The Teal team answered on a trick play, as senior receiver Chris Noble (Winston Salem, N.C./North Davidson) took the ball on the end-around, stopped and threw a 27-yard touchdown strike to junior Jerome Simpson (Reidsville, N.C./Reidsville) to make it 7-6. However, the ensuing extra-point attempt was blocked by the White squad and returned by junior defensive back Kenneth Joshen (Hixson, Tenn./Hixson) for two points to put the White up 9-6 with 3:45 to go.

After getting the ball on its own 25, the White team marched down the field in seven plays in just over a minute. Thigpen and Washington connected again, this time from 22 yards out, and the extra point sent the White team into the intermission with a 16-6 lead.

The White team got both of its second half touchdowns on the ground, capping off drives of 55 and 60 yards, respectively. Senior running back Aundres Perkins (Effingham, S.C./West Florence) broke several tackles for a seven-yard scoring run with 5:11 to go in the third quarter. Sophomore running back Jamie Fordham (Goose Creek, S.C./Goose Creek) then plunged in from a yard out on fourth down to seal the win late in the fourth quarter.

Offense was dominated by the White team, as they outgained the Teal 288-96 on just six more plays. Thigpen finished the game 12-for-18 for 179 and two touchdowns, while Washington had five receptions for 92 yards and a pair of scores. Thigpen was also the leading rusher for the White with seven carries for 40 yards.

The Teal team was led on the ground by sophomore Arthur Sitton (Greer, S.C./Greer) with 40 yards on nine carries, while sophomore quarterback William Richardson (Sumter, S.C./Sumter) finished 8-for-15 for 66 yards.

Coastal opens its 2006 campaign at home for the first time in three years, hosting Southern Conference foe Elon, Sat., Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. at Brooks Stadium. Season tickets are now on sale by calling 1-877-4CHANTS or 843-347-TIXX.