BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Jesse Chaiken grabbed two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown in Union County’s spring scrimmage against Jacksonville’s University Christian on May 16.
Drew Simmons also picked off a University Christian pass while Ibn Williams recovered a fumble, and Connor Bresee sacked the opponent’s quarterback twice, once with the assistance of Anthony Holmes.
Wyatt Elixon and Drew Simmons also grabbed interceptions.
Each team scored twice in the scrimmage format, giving each team a predetermined number of snaps and no kicks.
Coach Andrew Thomas said he was pleased with the defensive performance.
“We forced five turnovers on defense,” he said. “Not really keeping score in the format we were in, but we moved the ball offensively.”
Thomas added that quarterback Trenton Klein missed virtually all of spring practice because he was on the baseball team.
“We had a few screw-ups here and there, but for a spring game and only having our quarterback a few days — he had not had many reps — he did pretty well. So, it was a good night for the most part.”
Thomas added that his primary goal for the spring was to get his squad more physical.
“The biggest thing was just trying to get more physical,” he said of the afternoon sessions, “and we banged it hard for the past couple of weeks and felt like we did that. But we can still get tougher, and we’ll keep working at that.”
Union County’s offense put together an eight-play, 75-yard drive during the first half, highlighted by a Klein to Gavin Jenkins 39-yard pass. Four plays later, with fourth-and-goal from the 4, Simmons finished off the drive with a run.
The Tigers’ second offensive TD came with Jason Buie catching a hard-to-reach ball thrown by Klein. The 22-yard reception capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive.
