Fumbles, penalties plague Model in scrimmage

♦ The Blue Devils’ first string is kept out of the end zone against Mt. Zion-Carroll.

For everything good that happened for Model during its scrimmage Friday night, the Blue Devils just couldn’t escape mistakes at the worst possible time.

A fumble at the goal line, a touchdown called back because of a penalty, a long pass just out of reach of a receiver’s hands all made it seem like Model just couldn’t catch a break DW KRPH DJDLQVW 0W =LRQ &DUUROO

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“We just lack consistency right QRZ ´ ¿UVW \HDU KHDG FRDFK 5LFN\ Ross said after the scrimmage. “That’s on us, and that’s on me. But those long runs will not turn into long runs if everybody is hustling and everybody is running. So right now we just lack that pure passion, and at times when we have it you see good things.”

While they put together drives GRZQ WKH ¿HOG WKH WHDP ZDV SODJXHG by penalties, fumbles and miscues.

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$ \DUG ¿HOG JRDO IURP 0DWthew Syverson was the Devils’ only offensive production until a

touchdown run from freshman quarterback Landon Cantrell in WKH ¿QDO PLQXWH RI WKH JDPH

Model started the game strong, opening with a 10-play drive that included a 13-yard pass from Sam Silver to Kwalic Dublin to get the 'HYLOV QHDU PLG¿HOG 7KH GULYH KRZHYHU ¿]]OHG RXW DQG WKH\ turned the ball over on downs.

Ross said his team lacked the

passion they needed to get things GRQH RQ WKH ¿HOG

“You’ve got have passion and enthusiasm,” he said. “When adversity hits, if you put your head down, only more adversity piles on. <RX KDYH WR ¿QG \RXU HQWKXVLDVP and your passion and change it.”

The Blue Devils looked to get on the scoreboard in the third quarter when Hunter King scored

from 4 yards out, but a personal foul on the offense took away the score and pushed Model back to the 19-yard line. King again took the ball and got within the 10-yard line before fumbling and the Eagles recovered.

The Blue Devils will open the season Friday on the road when they travel to LaFayette in a non-region game.

/ Steven Eckhoff Model head football coach Ricky Ross talks to players in between plays during a preseason scrimmage against Mt. Zion-Carroll on Friday at Model.