(03/15/10)

  KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – The Texas A&M-Kingsville football team concluded its Spring season on Thursday night with an intra-squad scrimmage in Javelina Stadium.
   
The Javelinas finished the 2009 season ranked 16th in the nation and hosted an NCAA Division II Playoff game.  Head coach Bo Atterberry was pleased with the outcome of the game.  “I think we accomplished a lot,” said the coach.  “Anytime you split your team you challenge your depth, but I thought it was the most competitive we have been in the Spring game since I have been here.”
   
The game ended with the White team scoring a touchdown with 15 seconds remaining to win 20-19.  Quarterback Nate Poppell (Spring/U. of Mary) connected with Robert Armstrong (Cuero/Cuero HS) on a beautiful 12-yard pass into the corner of the end zone to win the game.  Due to classroom obligations, Poppell was only able to play one series, but he went 6-for-11 for 73 yards and the touchdown.
   
The biggest battle of the Spring season was for the #1 quarterback role with Poppell and Daniel Ramirez (Sinton/Sinton HS) each seeking to be the successor to Billy Garza.  Ramirez went 13-for-21 for 186 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in two quarters of action.  “It has been a great competition between Ramirez and Poppell all Spring,” said Atterberry.  “If I had to evaluate them right now based on what they have done this Spring in regards to completion percentage and everything else, Poppell would be the starter.  I have a lot of confidence in both to win games for us and probably won’t be able to name a starter until right before the first game of the season.”
   
Mitchell Swan (Converse/Judson HS) and Ryan Lincoln (Bastrop/Bastrop HS) led all players with five receptions apiece in the game for the Blue team.  Darryl Malone (Mesquite/North Mesquite HS) and Paul Fontenot (Dayton/Dayton HS) each had four catches for the White team.
   
The football program also started a new tradition this year where they invite back a former Javelina great to compete in the Spring game to help raise money for the Football Locker Room fund.  This year, James Jefferson, a defensive back and running back from 1982-85 play six series at defensive back and was in on one tackle.  Jefferson was an All-American for the Javelinas in 1985 and played professionally in the NFL and Canadian Football League.  His participation raised $2,100.
   
Atterberry was also impressed with the improvement of the red-shirt freshmen as a whole.  “The whole group has taken another step forward in learning,” said Atterberry.  “It’s not always what they can do physically, but what they can do mentally that gets them on the field.”
   
The Javelinas open up their season on the road at defending national champion Northwest Missouri State on September 2.
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