JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 19, 2024) – The ETSU football team capped off practice with the Ballad Health Spring Game on Friday night as Blue defeated Gold, 28-3, at Bank of Tennessee Field at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium.
Quarterbacks
Jaylen King and
Cole Doyle both threw two touchdowns as Blue generated 412 yards of total offense en route to the blowout victory. King was 10-of-14 for 86 yards, while adding six carries for 22 yards, and Doyle finished 7-of-10 for 131 yards.
Overall, Blue put up 412 yards of total offense (217 passing/195 rushing), while the defense held Gold to 102 yards (-9 rushing/111 passing). Defensively, Blue generated two turnovers – an interception by
Cam Sims – while Tyreek Nark forced a fumble and
Teddy Wilson came up with the recovery.
King started the first series of the game and drove the Bucs 75 yards ending with an eight-yard strike to tight end
Jonathan Burns, giving Blue the early 7-0 lead. King completed passes to three different receivers on the drive, including the first three completions going to
AJ Johnson.
With the Blue offense making a statement on the opening drive, the defense took to the field and redshirt senior defensive back
Cam Sims produced a turnover as he picked off
Gino English on a 2nd-and-10 play from the Gold 37-yard line.
Blue was unable to capitalize off the turnover as defensive back
Jimmy Bowdry picked off Doyle to end its second drive of the evening.
In the second quarter, Blue scored two touchdowns as Johnson hauled in an eight-yard pass from King, while Doyle hit
Cameron Lewis for a six-yard score near the end of the half, putting Blue ahead, 21-0.
After both teams were held scoreless in the third quarter, Gold got on the scoreboard when
Ewan Johnson connected on a 25-yard field goal. Blue capped off the scoring plays when Doyle connected on a 60-yard pass to
Justin Franklin, making it 28-3.
Seven different receivers hauled in a catch for Blue with Johnson pacing the group with four receptions and 33 yards. Franklin (72 yards), Lewis (56 yards) and
Hakeem Meggett (15 yards) all tallied three catches on the night.
Bryson Irby led the running backs with nine carries for 79 yards, while
Trey Foster totaled 54 yards on eight carries. UConn transfer
Devontae Houston finished with 40 yards on five carries.
Defensively, Blue totaled 24 tackles, five tackles for loss and one sack. Linebacker
Nick Hunter accounted for the sack, while also generating two tackles for loss. Defensive back
Tywan Royal led Blue with three hits on the night.
Gold was led by wide receivers
Xavier Gaillardetz and
Holden Cassell. Cassell had four receptions for 23 yards and Gaillardetz finished with three receptions for 51 yards. English was 6-for-11 for 49 yards and
William Riddle was 6-for-9 for 59 yards. Linebacker
Blake Howard led all players with eight tackles (one TFL).
The Bucs open the
Tre Lamb era on Saturday, Aug. 31 when ETSU travels to Boone, N.C. to take on Appalachian State.
To purchase season tickets for the upcoming 2024 ETSU football season, visit
ETSUTickets.com or call 423-439-3878.
For more information on Buccaneer football, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the football page.
