Bulldogs play first game with Patton

White Hall fans got their first look at the Bulldogs under new head coach Daryl Patton at Thursday’s spring game.

The Bulldogs were divided into evenly matched Red and Black teams for three quarters, then reorganized into first team and second team.

Defense ruled the first quarter with four turnovers. Savion Slater and Hunter Hutcheson had fumble recoveries, while Davion Roshell intercepted a deflected pass. The best offensive play was an 18-yard completion from Black Team quarterback Carson Reese to Jacolby Edwards for a first down.

Patton said the defense improved a lot throughout spring practice.

“We got guys that can run,” Patton said. “We got guys that can move. They can cover. We got strength inside, so I think we can be really good on defense. Offensively, we’ve got some playmakers. We just gotta get in shape.”

Neither team turned the ball over in the second quarter, but the defenses still held strong. Jeremy Drumgoole and Drew Reece each made tackles on fourth down to end drives. The lone first down of the quarter came on a pass interference flag.

The defenses took the ball away again early in the third quarter. Demarius Lattimore intercepted a deflected pass on the second play, and Jayden Nelson intercepted a pass three plays later.

The Black team finally scored on the final play of the quarter when the Red defense left Roshell wide open down the field, and Reese found him for a 50-yard touchdown on fourth down, giving Black a 7-0 lead.

Throughout those three quarters, both teams’ defensive backs played great coverage other than on the late touchdown. Patton said that group has talent.

“All spring, all winter, they’ve done a great job,” Patton said. “Obviously, our quarterback, Wyatt [Golden], this was his first really true test. He had some nerves, no doubt about it, but I thought he got better as it went on. He made some pretty good decisions for the most part. … Going against this defense every time is going to make us better.”

After transitioning to first team and second team, the first-team offense scored on its first three drives, with the fourth being cut short as time expired. Kylon Davis did most of the work on the first drive and finished it with a 1-yard touchdown run. On the second drive, quarterback Wyatt Golden broke free on a 24-yard run, then completed a pass to Chris Joe to set up Xavier Wallace for a 1-yard touchdown run.

The third drive lasted two plays. After Golden’s first pass was tipped incomplete, Davis caught his second and outran the defense for a 40-yard touchdown.

The first-team defense made three fourth down stops before the final drive ended with time expiring.

The game wrapped up with the first-team offense facing the first-team defense with several plays from the defense’s 10-yard line. The defense held the offense out of the end zone for nine plays.

Patton brought in guest head coaches for the spring game. Retired broadcaster Craig O’Neill, who spent 24 years at THV11 in Little Rock, led the Red team. Former University of Arkansas Razorback and radio personality David Bazzel led the Black team.

Patton said he has known both for a long time.

“Anything Craig O’Neill does, he’s bringing the energy,” Patton said. “It’s going to be fun. His pregame speech is legendary. … David Bazzel, he knows good defense. He loves defense, and I thought he had a good time. We’ll continue doing this every year. Next year, it could be maybe superintendent versus principal, or something. We’ll make it fun.”

    Retired broadcaster Craig O’Neill served as the Red Team celebrity head coach. (Special to the Commercial/William Harvey)
  

    Former Razorback and radio personality David Bazzel coaches the Black Team. (Special to the Commercial/William Harvey)