FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Running back Zach Bauman rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns to account for 20 points to lead the White team to a 62-53 win over the Blue in Northern Arizona's annual Blue-White scrimmage Saturday afternoon.
“The scoring system really worked well,” NAU coach Jerome Souers said of the introduction of a new system. “It was a great exchange. At times the offense looked great, and then the defense made a big play. The scoring was indicative of the scrimmage. There were good plays on both sides of the football.”
The offense could score points with a touchdown (6 points), field goal (3), run of 15 or more yards (2), pass of 20 or more yards (2), first down (1) or conversion (1 or 2 points). The defense could score seven points with a turnover, three points with a three-and-out or a missed field goal or two points with a stopped drive, sack or tackle for loss.
“I promise you, this is a competitive group of guys,” said Souers. ‘They come after each other pretty hard. The key to remember is we are all on the same team at the end of the day.
"I think this is going to be a really good team. Our defense progressed very strongly throughout the spring.”
The White team led early on two passing plays of 20 or more yards by quarterback Cary Grossart, with the drive ending on a missed field goal. Redshirt freshman Kyren Poe then hit Austin Shanks for a 34-yard score. After the extra point and another 20-yard pass from Jordan Perry, the White team led 22-9. But a tackle for loss by Aaron Williams and interception by Marcus Alford cut into the lead, making it 22-18.
The White went ahead again by 13 points after a touchdown from Grossart, who went 11 for 15 for 118 yards and two touchdowns, to Bauman. But the Blue fought back with the first of two sacks by Mitch Melugin, a fumble recovery from Randy Hale and an interception by Robert Watson.
“Whenever there is a point system, we want to win,” said Watson. “It just gave us more motivation to come out there and try to come out on top. It was big to get the interceptions. It brought us back in the game. It was a big momentum builder.”
Bauman, who was an All-Big Sky first-team pick last season, was the leading point scorer for the offense. He tallied 181 yards of total offense in the contest, including 146 on the ground. He had a 27-yard receiving score and finished his day with a 60-yard scamper to put the White team up 61-49 late in the scrimmage.
“I think the offense is hitting on all cylinders,” said Bauman. ‘We have been coming out here three times a week to prepare, and I think we showcased what we are capable of doing next season.”
STATISTICS
White 62, Blue 53
PASSING: Grossart: 11-15-0 118 2 TD; Poe: 7-8 89-0 1 TD; Perry: 5-9-2 56.
RUSHING: Bauman 11-146-2; Shanks 5-29-0. Wilson 1-11-0. McMillian 3-5-0.
RECEIVING: Deboskie 4-62-0; Cole 3-54-1; Shanks 2-37-1; Bauman 2-35-0; Dang 2-19-0; Bueno 2-12-0; Walker 2-6-0; Babineaux 1-30-0; Moore 1-10-0; Holmes 1-7-0; Rickert 1-2-0.
SCORING SUMMARY
3-0 Pass of 20+ Yards (Grossart to Bauman)
3-2 Tackle for Loss (Garcia)
6-2 Pass of 20+ Yards (Grossart to Bueno)
6-4 Tackle for Loss (Malenfant)
6-9 Missed Field Goal/Stopped Drive
7-9 Offensive First Down (Wilson Run)
10-9 Run of 15+ yards (Shanks)/First Down
18-9 Touchdown Pass (Grossart to Shanks)
19-9 Extra Point (Wilder)
22-9 Pass of 20+ Yards (Perry to Deboskie)/First Down
22-11 Tackle for loss (Williams)
22-18 Interception (Alford)
23-18 First Down (Bauman)
23-20 Tackle for loss (Garcia)
26-20 Run of 15+ yards (Bauman)
32-20 Touchdown (Grossart to Bauman)
33-20 Extra Point (Wilder)
33-27 Fumble Recovery (Hale)
34-27 Pass of 20+ Yards (Perry to Debsokie)
37-27 Pass of 20+ Yards (Perry to Babineaux)
37-29 Sack (Melugin)
37-36 Interception (Watson)
38-36 First Down (Bauman)
38-38 Tackle for loss (Williams)
41-38 Pass 20+ Yards (Grossart to Cole)/First Down
42-38 First Down (Grossart to Walker)
48-38 Touchdown (Grossart to Cole)
49-38 Extra Point (Wilder)
49-40 Sack (Phipps)
50-40 First Down (Poe to Deboskie)
50-42 Sack (Bailey)
51-42 First Down (Poe to Moore)
52-42 First Down (Defensive Penalty)
55-42 Pass 20+ yards (Poe to McMillian)/First Down
55-44 Tackle for loss (Dosen)
55-49 Missed Field Goal/Stop Drive
61-49 Touchdown (Bauman)
62-49 First Down (Pass from Poe to Deboskie)
62-51 Tackle for loss (Melugin)
62-53 Sack (Ray)
