The Georgia Southern Eagles concluded spring camp with their annual Blue/White football game Saturday at Paulson Stadium. Using a mixed scoring system where both sides of the ball could earn points, the defense topped the offense by a count of 37-28.
Head coach Clay Helton felt the team showed continued progress throughout the spring and was happy with the performances on both sides of the ball Saturday.
“I thought a lot of guys did a tremendous job today,” Helton said. “I thought we had some big plays from our skill position guys and our first team defense tackled really well today. It was a competitive game with the defense coming out on top with some late big plays. It was a fun day and I wish we had 15 more of these.”
The Eagle offense scored on their first two drives of the game. O.J. Arnold rushed for a 13-yard touchdown and Dexter Williams connected with Taylor Bradshaw for a 33-yard score. Later J.C. French hit Josh Dallas for a 40-yard touchdown. Dallas and French hooked up again for an 18-yard score to notch the final points for the offense.
French led the way with 178 yards passing and two scores while Williams threw for 171 yards. Dallas led the way with three catches for 69 yards and two scores. Helton feels there continues to be not much separation between the top three quarterbacks at the conclusion of spring.
“It’s really going to be about the guy who is playing the best in the moment,” Helton said. “They have all taken turns looking really good. Dex has done a really good job, David Dallas has lit the world on fire at six or seven practices and today was J.C.’s turn. I thought he did a really nice job today being able to find open guys down the field. It has been really neat to watch the competition in that room. We had Kyle and we had Davis and the next stage was developing guys. We now have guys going into their third year that have experience, and a competitive environment in the room.”
While David Dallas battles it out for the starting quarterback position his twin brother Josh is trying to work his way into the mix in a very deep receiver room. Dallas hauled in two touchdown receptions and Helton has been impressed with his work this spring.
“We moved Josh inside and he has really shined,” Helton said. “He is a natural instinctual football player who is able to find open grass. Sam Kenerson has also looked good and Dalen Cobb is electric. On the outside at receiver Derwin Burgess and Marcus Sanders have done a great job as well."
“I feel like a lot of us who have been known as the younger guys are starting to get our chance,” Dallas said. “I feel like we are two and three deep at every position out there. The thing that is special about what coach Helton has built is everyone is heading in the same direction. If we are all heading in the same direction and united, I feel like we can accomplish great things.”
As far as the defense goes, they were able to get points for interceptions and sacks as well as hits for losses. Wrapping up a full year under the guidance of defensive coordinator Brandon Bailey Helton sees the improvement on that side of the ball.
“I think we are really tackling so much better in space right now,” Helton said. “You really saw that on display today. There were a couple times where I thought the offense was about to break a long play and our defense stepped up and made a play. We have worked really hard in this camp being fundamentally sound and that is what is spring is for.”
