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White Defeats Crimson, 7-3, in Golden Flake A-Day Game

Wikimedia stock photo of Alabama vs. Arkansas.

Wikimedia stock photo of Alabama vs. Arkansas.

 

Ronnie Harrison intercepted a Cooper Bateman pass in the end zone with 1:02 left in the game to preserve a 7-3 victory for the White team over the Crimson team in the 2016 Golden Flake A-Day Spring Football Game Saturday before a crowd of 76,212 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Harrison’s interception thwarted a late drive by the Crimson team to save the victory for the White, which dominated the game statistically behind a 114-yard rushing effort from running back Damien Harris.

Harris’s performance earned him the Dixie Howell Memorial Award given to the most valuable player of the Crimson Tide’s spring game while linebacker Tim Williams, who registered two quarterback sacks in the game, earned the Dwight Stephenson Award given to the most valuable lineman of the spring game.

Harris led all rushers with 114 yards on 20 carries. For the quarterbacks, White team quarterback Jalen Hurts passed for a game-high 120 yards and a touchdown while completing 11 of 15 attempts while teammate Blake Barnett was 9-of-16 for 112 yards. For the Crimson team, Cooper Bateman passed for 86 yards while completing 9 of 24 attempts with one interception. David Cornwell completed 5 of 13 attempts for 50 yards on the day.

White team tight end Miller Forristall led all receivers with eight catches on the day, totaling 53 yards. White wide receiver Cam Sims had a game-high 66 yards on three catches. White receiver Derek Kief has five catches for 58 yards and the game’s lone touchdown. For the Crimson team, wideout Calvin Ridley had a team-high four catches for 54 yards.

Defensively, Williams earned MVP honors with three quarterback hurries and his two quarterback sacks. Crimson linebacker Rashaan Evans led all tacklers with 17 stops on the day, including 10 solo tackles, along with one quarterback sack. The Maroon team registered 11 sacks on the day, led by three apiece from linebackers Anfernee Jennings and Christian Miller.

The game was scoreless through three quarters before the Crimson broke on top early in the fourth period on a 21-yard field goal by Adam Griffith with 10:55 left. Griffith’s kick capped a 54-yard drive in 10 plays that was highlighted by a 33-yard pass from quarterback David Cornwell to wide receiver Calvin Ridley. That play, on a third down needing eight yards for a first down, reached the White team’s 7-yard line.

A few minutes later, the White team moved 52 yards in three plays to the winning touchdown. After a JK Scott punt of 42 yards was fair caught at the by Daylon Charlot at the White 48, quarterback Jalen Hurts connected with wideout Cam Sims for 32 yards to the Crimson 20. Two plays later, Hurts rolled to his right and fired a 5-yard pass to wide receiver Derek Kief for the go-ahead touchdown with 2:48 on the clock.

The Crimson responded with its most impressive march of the game following the White score as they marched 57 yards in nine plays to threaten to win the game. Quarterback Cooper Bateman completed four passes for 54 yards on the drive, including a 25-yard dart to wide receiver ArDarius Stewart to the White 13. But the march was stopped when Harrison darted in front of Ridley to intercept a Bateman pass in the end zone with 1:02 on the clock, sealing the verdict.

The format for the A-Day game was much like a normal game, with a few minor variations primarily regarding the game clock. The game consisted of four 15-minute quarters with a running clock. The clock stopped only following scoring plays, penalties, and changes of possession. Regular clock rules were used during the final minutes of the second quarter and the fourth quarter. Halftime was 12 minutes in duration. Players wearing black jerseys (quarterbacks and injured players) were considered “tag-off” and were not treated as live players. The kickoffs and kick returns were “tag-off” plays as well, with the ball spotted at the 30-yard line.

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