VERSAILLES – Versailles competed in its final seven-on-seven scrimmage of the season on Monday when the Tigers played host to Eaton.
Versailles had some struggles Monday evening, coach Adam Miller said, but also showed some positive flashes during the passing scrimmage.
“A lot of ups and downs,” the Versailles football coach said. “We definitely saw some bright spots, but we also saw some areas we need to improve. That’s the good thing about going against somebody new and not your own guys is people expose you, and that’s how you get better. You correct those mistakes, and so we’re kind of using this as a learning tool.”
The teams began the scrimmage with each offense getting four 10-play series starting at their opponents’ 40-yard line.
Eaton started off the scrimmage with the ball and scored a touchdown on its ninth play of the evening. One play later the Tigers intercepted a pass on the Eagles’ final play of the possession.
In Versailles’ first possession of the night, the Tigers scored a touchdown on their eighth play.
Eaton then got the ball back and took six plays to score a touchdown. After scoring, the Eagles took a second shot from the same spot 16 yards from the end zone and scored again.
During Versailles’ second possession the Tiger offense scored touchdowns on its first and sixth plays of the series. The Tigers then threw an interception on play 10.
Versailles’ defense intercepted an Eaton pass on the first play of the Eagles’ third possession. Eaton then scored back-to-back touchdowns on plays six and seven.
Versailles’ third possession resulted in no score.
It looked like Eaton’s 10th possession also would be scoreless, but the Eagles got it into the end zone on the 10th play of the series.
In Versailles’ final possession of the 10-play series, the Tigers scored a touchdown on play four and threw an interception on play seven.
The teams then switched to a down-and-distance format in which each offense had to gain 15 yards in three plays to gain a first down to continue a drive.
Eaton didn’t need to pick up any first downs on its first drive as the Eagles scored in two plays. Eaton then marched down the field and scored again during its second possession.
Versailles’ offense didn’t have the same success as the Tigers failed to score on any of their first three possessions.
Versailles’ defense finished the night strong by intercepting the first pass of Eaton’s third possession and then holding the Eagles scoreless during their fourth possession.
In the final series of the night, Versailles’ offense scored a touchdown to wrap things up.
The highs and lows of Monday’s scrimmage weren’t too surprising as Versailles hasn’t had much practice since its first seven-on-seven at Tippecanoe earlier this month.
“We still have our highs and our lows so I don’t know that we made huge strides since then but we really haven’t practiced since then either,” Miller said. “It’s been a progression.”
Versailles and the rest of the state’s teams officially can start practicing on Saturday, which the Tigers are eagerly anticipating.
“We’re ready for Saturday,” Miller said. “We’re anxious to get the pads on and actually play some football instead of throwing it around all the time.”
