Offense Bounces Back in Second Scrimmage

Photo by: Nic Johnson

8/17/2019 1:26:00 PM | Football

DENTON – Saturday marked the second scrimmage of fall camp, presented by Rhino Steel Buildings, as the Mean Green were in action at Apogee Stadium. The Mean Green offense, who were beaten fairly soundly by the defense in the first scrimmage, had a strong day, especially at the outset of Saturday's action.

Play of the Day: Redshirt freshman quarterback Austin Aune (Argyle) channeled his inner Patrick Mahomes on an impressive improvisation that resulted in a 23-yard touchdown pass. Aune was flushed from the pocket and shoveled a no-look toss to freshman running back Oscar Adaway III (North Little Rock, Arkansas) along the sideline. Adaway raced untouched into the end zone for the highlight reel score.

.@Austin_Aune must have been watching @PatrickMahomes tape... #GMG #UNiTeNorthTexas pic.twitter.com/xJ2Rk2Sb7E
— North Texas Football (@MeanGreenFB) August 17, 2019

Defensive Play of the Day: Redshirt senior safety Taylor Robinson (Fort Worth) and redshirt senior defensive lineman Tuulau Sa'afi (Euless, Texas) combined to stuff a run on fourth and short in the second half of the scrimmage.

Run of the Day: Redshirt sophomore running back Tre Siggers (Duncanville, Texas) continued to stand out, ripping off a 42-yard touchdown run, exploding through a hole and off to the races on a fourth and one play.

Key Moments:

Five quarterbacks saw action on Saturday.
Senior quarterback Mason Fine (Peggs, Oklahoma) was razor-sharp Saturday, completing 8-13 passes with a touchdown and no interceptions. Aside from one knockdown at the line of scrimmage and a solid pass break-up on a deep ball, other incompletions were either a throwaway or a few drops. Fine was on the money consistently.
The Mean Green kickers had a very good day, hitting on 8/9 field goal attempts, including a 4-4 effort from sophomore Ethan Mooney (Fort Worth), connecting from 41, 43, 45, 46.
Junior running back DeAndre Torrey (Gautier, Mississippi) busted a 40-yard run into the red zone on the opening drive, which resulted in a touchdown.
Freshman linebacker Kevin Wood (Converse, Texas) jumped up to bat down a pass at the line of scrimmage to force a third and long.
Fine picked out junior receiver Jaelon Darden (Houston) for a touchdown pass to cap off the opening drive on third and goal from the 10.
Redshirt freshman defensive back Javier Neal (Whitehouse, Texas) had a good day, making an openfield tackle to hold the running back to a minimal gain early in the scrimmage and later, made a big hit on a short pass to knock the ball loose.
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Chris Thornton (Amarillo) recorded a sack early in the day on third down to force a punt.
Fine connected with redshirt freshman Jyaire Shorter (Killeen, Texas) along the sideline for a nice pickup and a first down.
Junior linebacker Tyreke Davis (Denton) and redshirt junior linebacker Joe Ozougwu (Alief, Texas) combined nicely to stuff the run for no gain on a play early in the day.
Fine put very good touch on a pass over the middle to his former high school teammate, redshirt junior tight end Jason Pirtle (Locust Grove, Oklahoma) for a 31-yard gain.
Redshirt senior safety Taylor Robinson (Fort Worth) nearly came up with an interception, breaking up a deep pass intended for senior wideout Rico Bussey, Jr. (Lawton, Oklahoma).
Bussey had a very good day, especially early. He made several catches and was dangerous in space.
Senior safety Khairi Muhammad (Dallas) put a big hit on a receiver to hold a short passing play to no gain.
Robinson recorded another pass break-up on a redzone third and four play to force a field goal attempt, that redshirt sophomore kicker Zach Williams (Louisville) connected on from 26 yards out.
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Larry Nixon III (North Richland Hills, Texas) laid a big hit on a running back to hold him to a short gain.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Jason Bean (Mansfield, Texas) picked out redshirt freshman receiver Austin Ogunmakin (Alief, Texas) for a gain of 20 down the sideline to convert a third and six.
Freshman defensive back DeShawn Gaddie (Arlington) broke up a pass on a screen, knocking it loose following an initial bobble by the receiver.
Senior linebacker Jamie King (Azle, Texas) wrapped the ball carrier up for a short gain to force a third and long.
Fine completed a pass over the middle to redshirt sophomore receiver Greg White (Riverdale, Georgia) to pick up 23 yards on a third and eight play.
Senior defensive end LaDarius Hamilton (Corrigan, Texas) and Ozougwu split a sack during the second half of the scrimmage.
Fine burst up the middle on a designed quarterback run for a huge 67-yard touchdown.
Sa'afi had a very nice run stop to force a third and one, holding the back to a very short gain.
South Carolina graduate transfer Nick Harvey (Lancaster, Texas) recorded a big hit on a third and short play to stuff the running back and force a fourth and short situation.
Bean picked out Darden on a pass to the sideline to pick up about eight yards and a first down on the next play.
Tyreke Davis recorded a nice open field tackle on running back Nic Smith (Arlington) to hold him to a modest gain to force a third down.
On fourth and short, Robinson and Sa'afi combined on the run stuff to force a turnover on downs.
Bean connected with Smith on a well-designed screen to pick up 20 yards and get the ball inside the 10.
Siggers showed his patience and explosiveness on a shifty eight yard touchdown run.
Redshirt senior linebacker Mike Linehan (Highland Park, Texas) made a big hit on a running back to force a loss of yardage.
Aune completed a touchdown strke to Ogunmakin on a fourth and goal from the six late in the scrimmage.
Freshman running back KJ Williams (Garland, Texas) picked up a big gainer on a run that he bounced to the right towards the end of the day.

The Mean Green return to the practice field on Sunday afternoon, which will be the 15th practice of fall camp. Follow along with @MeanGreenFB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for updates and additional coverage throughout the remainder of fall camp.