Scrimmage Live Blog, Aug. 17

Kent State's first scrimmage of the preseason is underway.

Colin Reardon was out first at quarterback with the first-team offense. After two three-and-outs, Fisher is in now, also playing with first-team players around him. He just engineered the first first down of the session.

Rather uneventful so far, but the defense is outplaying the offense at the moment.

Remember, this is the Jersey Scrimmage, so the winning team earns the right to wear the blue "home" jerseys in practice for the next year. The defense has been in blue based on last year's win.

As I'm watching this, I have my bags packed.

Should Corey Conners win his semifinal at the U.S. Amateur at Brookline, head golf coach Herb Page will be on our way to Massachusetts for tomorrow's final.

At the moment (which is 10:38 a.m.) Conners is all-square with Matt Fitzpatrick of England with both players just making the turn. Conners had been 2-up through five holes before Fitzpatrick battled back with wins at holes 6 and 8.

UPDATE, 10:49 a.m. ... The third quarterback in is Nathan Strock. The defense is still in control, as Strock comes close to picking up a first down with his legs.

Reardon is now back in, but with the second-team line and receivers. He'll start his second drive with a short field at the defense's 40-yard line.

So far we haven't seen Dri Archer. Trayion Durham has only been in for one play.

UPDATE 10:53 a.m. ... First first down by a Reardon-led drive, and on a nice cat ch by tight end Casey Pierce on a ball that had been tipped at the line.

Back to Fisher at quarterback. Second-team offense is with him. Drive opens with a run play and a nice tackle by linebacker Reno Reda for a three-yard loss.

Fisher follows with a nice 15-yard pass for a first down to Joe Ziccardi on a crossing pattern.

Anthony Meray has looked good as the primary ball carrier in today's scrimmage.

UPDATE 10:58 a.m. ... Fisher with an athletic play to pick up about 4 yards. He actually ran about 50 after a snap sailed over his head. The senior sprinted towards the opposite goal line, scooped up the football and turned it up the field, turning a potential 20-yard loss into a short gain.

Jontey Byrd with a nice tackle for a 5-yard loss.

Brett Maxie is in at quarterback, and his connection for a short gain is nullified by an ineligible lineman downfield.

No Tyshon Goode today, either, by the way.

UPDATE 11:04 a.m. ... The second turnover of the game as another bad shotgun snap is recovered by the defense. The defense is leading 15-4 in what we've always jokingly called a modified stableford scoring system.

Yet another bad snap, this time corralled by Maxie with a leaping grab, but the offense loses another 5 yards.

Also ... just noticed Conners has fallen one down in his semifinal match at the U.S. Amateur.

UPDATE 11:05 a.m. ... Brett Maxie throws the first interception of the scrimmage. Freshman safety Kevin Bourne makes the easy pick, and turns in a nice return of close to 20 yards.

As I type, another turnover, this time of an exchange under center between Tad France and Maxie.

UPDATE 11:12 a.m. ... Time for some Red Zone work, and Fisher is in with the ones. A chance for the offense to cut into the defense's commanding 24-4 lead.

First scoring opportunity, and unfortunately for the offense it took starting the drive from the 25. Of course, a lot of weapons sitting out in Archer, Durham and Goode. Haven't seen Erjavec or Humphrey, either. Pretty much the entire first team at the skill positions are not participating.

After three plays, its 3rd-and-7, and time for an Anthony Melchiori field-goal attempt of 39 yards ... which is ... wide right.

UPDATE 11:22 a.m. ... The first offensive touchdown of the day ... Colin Reardon on a 12-yard bootleg to the left. Reardon has looked good on the run all day long. Melchiori converts the kick.

Brad Miller had a field-goal attempt blocked a few minutes ago.

UPDATE 11:24 a.m. ... It took an hour and a half, but the first-team offense is finally on this next red-zone drive, at least at the skill positions ... Archer in. Durham in. Humphrey in. Goode in.

And on the first play ... a hold by freshman offensive lineman Wayne Scott.

Add in a sack of Reardon, and the offense faces a third-and-28. Pass for Humphrey at the sideline goes incomplete, but this unit will get another shot with a reset, first down at the 16.

UPDATE 11:30 a.m. ... Another offensive touchdown. This time Dri Archer around the left end and untouched for 8 yards. That cuts the defense's lead to 30-21.

UPDATED 11:37 a.m. ... An 8-yard touchdown run by Julian Durden has put the offense into the lead at 33-32. All of these points have been in red zone and short yardage.

As I type, Durham bulls in easily from one-yard out, and its 39-32.

The offense is now rolling up the points in short yardage. Fisher to Erjavec on a 1-yard scoring pass, play-action rolling to the left. 45-32 offense.

Meray adds to the lead (now 51-32) with a 2-yard plunge up the middle.

UPDATE 11:44 a.m. ... A little longer drive now, with offense starting at own 45 ... and we get our first glimpse of the The Archer, reversing field and running for 20-plus.

Reardon follows with a nice throw to Tristan Boykin for another 10 yards, down to the 6-yard line.

Reardon then found Erjavec open in the back of the end zone, but the drop sets up a third down.

The scrimmage ends with a sack by Devante' Strickland... No points on the drive, but a 53-34 comeback win by the offense.