Maroon, Gold teams vie before LH scrimmage
PEARCY — Two weeks before Hot Springs visits Wolf Stadium for the regular-season opener, Lake Hamilton hosted its annual Maroon and Gold intrasquad football game Friday.
Fans got a look at the varsity Wolves of first-year coach Tommy Gilleran, returning to his alma mater this year after a successful run including a Class 3A title at Fountain Lake.
Gilleran split the team evenly “so each team would have a chance to be successful,” with Utah Atiken and Jackson Davis vying at the quarterback position.
With a running clock, the scrimmage consisted of two 20-minute periods and a 10-minute session.
Aitken’s Maroon offense took the field first, scoring in 10 plays although missing the conversion.
Davis’ offense struggled in the first few plays before Malik Brewer took a handoff and went 45 yards, setting up a touchdown. Jackson Johnson carried for a two-p0int conversion and 8-6 lead.
Overcoming a penalty, Aitken passed 66 yards to Jacob Nichols on third and six for a touchdown that made it 12-8, the conversion attempt failing.
Starting the second period, new quarterback Cayden Napier found Kyle White for 31 yards to the 29. Tre Darrough barreled 25 yards to the five and went over from the two. The conversion attempt unsuccessful, it was 14-12.
Zack Bradley directed the Red team in the second period, handing off to Braden Qualls for 26 yards. Blake Davis and Braden Braughton each carried for 11 yards, and Qualls went over from the one for an 18-14 score.
Napier threw an interception on the first play of the ensuing drive, but the Red team was stopped.
In the final period, Aitken and Davis were brought back and the downs reset for the Gold team. After two incomplete passes and a sack, Davis found Brewer for 55 yards to the 20. Two plays later, Randall Nichols went for 17 yards and Johnson scored from the two, making it 20-18.
Aitken was sacked on the first down of the next possession before Zack Tisdale broke for 60 yards, time running out before the Red team could score again.
Aitken was 3-for-5 passing for 93 yards while Davis misfired on his only attempt.
Gilleran noted that both Aitken and Davis had good games but that Aitken definitely took the upper hand.
“(Davis) struggled more tonight,” he said. “Without him not having been a starter before, that’s a thing he’s got to develop. I think Utah probably played just a little bit better tonight on that, on the throwing. That’s because Utah’s played quarterback since the seventh grade. He’s got that on Jackson, but we’ll just keep evaluating and keep moving on from here. He’s a little faster than Utah, and that’s his ability.”
Tisdale had six rushes for 95 yards and a score, Qualls had four for 30 and Braughton two for 19 and a touchdown.
Defensively, Braden Qualls racked up four solo tackles with one assist and Nichols had three.
Gilleran said he is looking forward to Monday’s scrimmage at Cabot.
“I’m excited when we put all our good kids together what we’ll look like,” he said. “I thought both sides did good tonight, and I’m glad of the progress everybody’s making. When we get them all together on (defense), we’re going to be OK on that, too. Part of that is our kids are getting better and better and understanding the concepts. Monday will be another chance for us to evaluate our kids and get ready for Hot Springs.”
Kickoff for the Cabot scrimmage is 6 p.m. The Lake Hamilton-Hot Springs game Sept. 1 starts at 7 p.m.