RALEIGH, N.C. (April 13) – Saint Augustine’s University held its Blue-White Intrasquad Spring Football Scrimmage on Saturday at the George Williams Athletic Complex, and to no surprise, the defense dominated.
Roy Garris (Jr./Raleigh, NC) and Joseph Harris, Jr. (Fr./Jacksonville, FL) led a veteran defensive unit that intercepted four passes and recovered four fumbles in the one-hour scrimmage, which included officials. No score was kept, but the offense failed to score.
“The defense has more experienced players,” said Tim Chavous, who will be entering his fourth full season as head coach in August. “It usually takes time for the offense to develop chemistry.”
The offense nearly scored on the next-to-last series. A running back found a clear path to the end zone but was popped by defensive back Robert Leach just before he crossed the goal line. The ball came loose and linebacker Antavius Marrow (So./Raleigh, NC) pounced on it in the end zone for the defense.
Leach was one of several defenders who stood out. He recovered a fumble on the final play of the scrimmage for the defense.
Garris, a defensive back who missed half of last season due to knee injury, bounced back in a big way as he picked off two passes. Defensive back DeVaughn Covington and Harris, an All-CIAA and All-CIAA Rookie linebacker, both had an interception. Harris made a spectacular tackle in the backfield when he cracked a running back right after the back took the handoff.
Defensive lineman E’Kwon White (Fr./Franklinton, NC) also had a good day for the defense. He knocked the ball out the quarterback’s hand on a pass play that led to a fumble recovery by Brandon Jackson (Fr./Washington, NC), an All-CIAA and All-CIAA Rookie linebacker. White also recovered a fumble and Marrow made a big hit in the backfield for the defense.
The scrimmage signaled the end of the spring football season for the Falcons. After the scrimmage, the SAU players met with kids from the Kemetic Cultural Science & System of Unity youth program, based in Raleigh, N.C.
The Falcons begin the 2019 regular season on the road against Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C., on Sept. 7. Kickoff is 6 p.m.
-Office of Sports Information
