University of North Texas Athletics
Photo by: Nic Johnson
Defense Shines In First Scrimmage
8/10/2019 12:57:00 PM | Football
DENTON – Saturday marked the first scrimmage of fall camp, presented by Rhino Steel Buildings, as the Mean Green were in action on a warm, humid morning. The North Texas defense stood out during the first scrimmage of the fall, forcing turnovers and a handful of three-and-outs early in the day.
Play of the Day: South Carolina graduate transfer Nick Harvey (Lancaster, Texas) had another strong performance for Troy Reffett's defense, and made a tremendous catch to intercept a pass near the opposing goal line. He took off down the sideline for a 97-yard pick six.
Offensive Play of the Day: Senior wide receiver Michael Lawrence (Sweetwater, Texas) had a very productive day overall, but his highlight play came early in the scrimmage. Senior quarterback Mason Fine (Peggs, Oklahoma) hit Lawrence in stride toward the sideline and Lawrence cut up-field quickly before dispatching a defensive back with a stiff arm along the boundary. Lawrence then took off to turn a nice gain into a 57-yard pickup.
Run of the Day: Redshirt sophomore running back Tre Siggers (Duncanville, Texas) continued his fast start to camp and demonstrated his physical running style on several occasions. Siggers showcased some other aspects of his repertoire - his vision and elusiveness, on a 10-yard touchdown run early in the scrimmage where he reversed field on a play designed to the right, shook a would-be tackler and accelerated into the end zone to get the offense on the board.
Key Moments:
Play of the Day: South Carolina graduate transfer Nick Harvey (Lancaster, Texas) had another strong performance for Troy Reffett's defense, and made a tremendous catch to intercept a pass near the opposing goal line. He took off down the sideline for a 97-yard pick six.
Offensive Play of the Day: Senior wide receiver Michael Lawrence (Sweetwater, Texas) had a very productive day overall, but his highlight play came early in the scrimmage. Senior quarterback Mason Fine (Peggs, Oklahoma) hit Lawrence in stride toward the sideline and Lawrence cut up-field quickly before dispatching a defensive back with a stiff arm along the boundary. Lawrence then took off to turn a nice gain into a 57-yard pickup.
Run of the Day: Redshirt sophomore running back Tre Siggers (Duncanville, Texas) continued his fast start to camp and demonstrated his physical running style on several occasions. Siggers showcased some other aspects of his repertoire - his vision and elusiveness, on a 10-yard touchdown run early in the scrimmage where he reversed field on a play designed to the right, shook a would-be tackler and accelerated into the end zone to get the offense on the board.
Key Moments:
- Four quarterbacks saw action on Saturday.
- Senior nickel back Jameel Moore (Cedar Hill, Texas) set the tone early with a nice play to break up a pass on a deep corner route.
- Junior linebacker Tyreke Davis (Denton) blew up a running play, exhibiting great pursuit on a play designed to the right and finished it off with a solid form tackle.
- Harvey helped set up the first turnover of the day, getting a hand on a pass and fellow graduate transfer (Arizona State) corner Dominique Harrison (Houston) picked it off and had a good return.
- Junior running back Evan Johnson (Loranger, Louisiana) had an explosive burst to the outside to pick up a first down.
- Junior defensive lineman Asher Frow (Fullerton, California) made a nice stop on a tackle for loss on a running play.
- Redshirt freshman Jason Bean (Mansfield, Texas) connected with redshirt junior receiver Deion Hair-Griffin (Fort Worth) on the sideline and Hair-Griffin put on a very shifty move on the defender to create space. He then shot down the sideline to turn what would have been a nice first-down play into a monster gain to help set up the offense's first score of the day.
- Sophomore linebacker KD Davis (Ennis, Texas) had a very good morning, recording a pair of sacks.
- Junior corner Cam Johnson (Houston) made a diving pass break-up after being in tight coverage.
- Siggers had a very physical nine-yard run in the red zone where he ran through a pair of tackles before punching it in from one yard out on the next snap for his second rushing score of the day.
- Redshirt senior linebacker Mike Linehan (Highland Park, Texas) leaped to knock down an Austin Aune (Argyle) pass attempt.
- Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Bryse Burris (Irving, Texas) recorded a big hit on a running back to finish a play.
- Freshman running back Oscar Adaway III (North Little Rock, Arkansas) scored on a six-yard run, where he bounced off a few would-be tacklers to find the end zone.
- Moore made a very nice play on a pass intended for junior receiver Jaelon Darden (Houston) by hitting Darden at the moment the ball arrived, jarring it loose to force the incompletion. Moore had another pass break-up on a pass intended for Rico Bussey, Jr. (Lawton, Oklahoma).
- Redshirt sophomore corner Quinn Whitlock (Pinola, Mississippi), a junior college transfer from Copiah-Lincoln CC in Mississippi, intercepted a pass on a slightly underthrown ball in the end zone. Whitlock returned it near midfield.
- Fine connected with Lawrence for a 27-yard touchdown strike on a pass over the middle late in the scrimmage.
- Freshman linebacker Kevin Wood (Converse) was around the ball a lot when he had his chances on the field, including a big hit on a tackle for loss towards the end of Saturday's scrimmage.
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