Swedes Spring Game 2014

LINDSBORG—As expected, the Bethany defense was ahead of the offense when the two units squared off in the annual Spring Game Saturday evening at Anderson Field.

The offense still prevailed on the scoreboard using a weighted scoring formula in a scrimmage that lasted through four 12 minute quarters, ten with a running clock and normal timing the final two minutes of each period.

The offense was also limited to a trio of quarterbacks as Virgil Bridges was held out of competition, still shaking off the effects of a concussion suffered April 26.

"We didn't want to take a chance on him right now," said Swede coach Manny Matsakis. "He actually warmed up and threw the ball but I didn't want him to take another hit.

"Since the concussion, the longer you go without a hit, why take a shot on one night so let's get him super healthy and give him a chance to compete in the fall."

That left the offense in the hands of sophomores Bo Savage, Jordan Bess and Taylor Platt with Savage getting the first and fourth quarters, Bess the second and Platt the third.

Between them, they launched 46 passes, completing 26 for 192 yards, a touchdown and a pick. It didn't matter who was in the lineup at receiver as 11 Swedes caught at least one pass with Kelton Evans having the best stat night, four catches for 57 yards. Ricky Alexander caught the only touchdown of the night, a 20-yard strike from Savage, and had 33 yards on a pair of receptions.

"Bo really did a good job," Matsakis said. "He's not there yet, he's just picking up the 11-man game. It's taken him some time, his technique is getting better but he's starting to show more poise in (the pocket).

"There's some times he breaks out of the pocket, if he can just get his feet set and look to the right guy, it'll be six points, and that's what we've got to work on."

Savage was impressive completing 18 of 29 tosses for 159 yards in his two quarters while LonDarius Thomas turned out to be the most effective runner (36 yards on 11 carries).

"I was much more relaxed out there," Savage said. "The experience helps, I'm not as nervous (this year) as I gain more confidence.

"The guys are starting to trust me, we've got a great O-Line and the receivers are catching balls better than they were last year—everybody has just improved so much. Just knowing the reads and having experience with them, it's so much easier to deliver the ball and of course with the line we've got, there is so much more time in (the pocket)."

Of course, the number of passes thrown was pretty much dictated by the deep and fast defensive rotation that featured at least two deep at all positions and in some spots, three.

"We're a run stopping defense. That's what we do," said Steve Williams, a 225 pound senior linebacker who has earned All-KCAC honors the past two seasons.

"We're going to stop the run (first); you're not going to go out and pound us, that's bred into us as players. We're going to play pass second. We're going to get pressure and we're just going to play hard."

When the offense did try to run the ball, they gained only 54 yards in 29 carries, including an 11 yard scramble by Platt, an average of less than two yards per carry.

The Swedes will open the 2014 season September 6 when they host Southwest Assemblies of God in a 6 p.m. non-conference game.