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Steward finished with four tackles in addition to the pass breakup, a strong showing by the senior who had earned a starting job last year before a neck injury cut short his season.
“It was a chance to bounce back from an injury in a strong way,” Steward said of the spring game performance. “I thought it would be dominated by the defense. We’ve been working hard all spring. We just wanted a chance to come out here and hit somebody in front of all the fans.”
Jimmy Daniels, returning to his starting defensive end position after missing 2011, led the Black defense with six tackles and two sacks, while DreQuay Everett had five tackles and two sacks.
Both quarterbacks had interceptions late in the game, with Deandre Rashada intercepting Duhart’s pass over the middle for Nehemiah Henry in the final minute of regulation and Price’s fourth-and-goal heave for Paris Pound in overtime intercepted by Marcus Solomon. Several defensive players, including linebackers Brandon Roberts, Le’Andre Crawford, Leland Baker and Marcus Owens sat out the scrimmage with injuries but that didn’t keep the defense from dominating.
“We want our offense to be great, but in order to win championships you have to start with defense,” Knox said. “That’s what we’ve tried to do is make our defense faster, stronger, more physical on every snap and just play hard until the whistle blows. We’re communicating a lot better this spring because everybody wants to live up to their potential.”
Cross finished as the game’s leading rusher with 36 yards on seven attempts while Quendarious McKibben had 35 yards on 16 attempts.
“I think Rodney Cross is still running the ball hard,” Barlow said. “He’s been doing it from the beginning of the spring. Will Roller is playing outstanding and Rashada is doing everything right right now. He’s being a leader on the back end (secondary).”
Cross, a walk-on freshman from Lithia, Ga., was surprised the only offensive touchdowns came on a pair of runs for a pass-oriented team.
“I didn’t expect that,” he said. “I thought we would at least get one passing touchdown because we’re a passing team. Our O-line made good holes. It was really because of them. They made the good holes, I scored.”
Following the game, Barlow handed out spring awards, with Rashada receiving the Most Valuable Defensive Player award and receiver center Edmond Davis earning the Most Valuable Offensive Player award. Most Improved Player awards went to receiver Marcus Gamble on offense and linebacker Will Roller on defense. Cornerback Cary McKnight received the first Rico Webb Memorial Award, named in honor of the ASU signee who died this spring and awarded to the player who best demonstrates hard work and character. Former St. Jude standout Corey Schofield was honored with the Joe “Peter Rabbit” Malone Award for walk-ons.
The Hornets return to the practice field in August for the Sept. 2 MEAC-SWAC Challenge contest against Bethune-Cookman in Orlando.
This story was originally published at: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20120422/SPORTS0403/304220021/1180
