by Lee Cornell
Daily Lobo
Overshadowing the annual Cherry-Silver game on Saturday was a high ankle sprain sustained by sophomore running back DonTrell Moore.
Moore injured the same ankle in the Las Vegas Bowl against UCLA in the Lobos' last game. The injury came on the first play from scrimmage for the Cherry team when Moore took a hand off from quarterback Casey Kelly and scampered out of bounds for a three-yard carry on what looked like a harmless play.
Moore was carted off the field and later reappeared on the sidelines on crutches. Moore downplayed the recurring injury saying that all he needed was two or three weeks of rest.
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Although head coach Rocky Long was not happy about the injury, he did say that it gave some other guys a chance to show what they could do.
"It gave other running backs more repetitions," Long said. "I think that [running back] is one of the spots we're probably most concerned about, that and corners. So getting guys some repetitions in that spot is actually a benefit in this game."
While Moore looked on from the sidelines, two other running backs put together solid performances.
Junior transfer D.D. Cox had an impressive game, rushing for 55 yards on nine carries, including a 24-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to seal the game for the Silver, 26-6. Cox broke a tackle and then went untouched the rest of the way and raised his arm in celebration as he crossed the goal line. Cox said that he isn't going to start thinking about a starting position for next year quite yet, but was pleased with his performance.
Fullback Landrick Brody also looked good for the Silver, bashing his way to 25 yards on four carries. The five-foot-11-inch 230-pound junior said that coach Long told him to start lowering his shoulders more - which is exactly what he did on Saturday.
"I had a couple of good runs," he said. "My line was getting out in front of me real good."
Sophomore Daniel Ramirez carried the load for the Moore-less Cherry team, running for 26 yards on eight attempts.
The game got off to a quick start in the first quarter when senior wide receiver Adrian Boyd took a five-yard screen pass from quarterback Tali Ena and raced all the way to the end zone for an 80-yard touchdown and a 6-0 Silver lead just 1:13 into the game.
"I just try to make something happen every time I get the ball," Boyd said. "Some people would say I'm a big play guy but I just try to do what is expected of me when I can."
Boyd added that he ruffled some feathers with the Cherry team earlier in the week when he predicted a 21-point Silver victory - but his prediction was just one point off as the Silver squad was 20-point victor.
Senior kicker Katie Hnida made the extra point for a 7-0 lead. Hnida was 2-2 on the day.
Silver extended its lead to 14-0 toward the end of the first quarter when the Cherry fumbled a punt in the end zone and Hank Baskett fell on the ball for a defensive touchdown. That lead was extended to 16-0 on a safety after another muffed punt by Cherry in the end zone. The Silver took that lead into halftime.
In the second half, Silver extended its lead to 19-0 on a 29-yard field goal by Wes Zunker.
The Cherry team finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter when freshman quarterback Kole McKamey found wide receiver Rashaun Sanders in the end zone for a 45-yard touch down pass to cut the deficit to 19-6. McKamey finished with 128 yards on six of nine passing with a touchdown and an interception.
Ena finished with 119 yards on five of 13 passing while Casey Kelly threw for just five yards, completing one pass in six attempts in limited action. Sanders led all receivers with 113 yards on four catches and one touchdown. Boyd caught two passes for 91 yards and added a 20-yard punt return.
The annual game concludes spring practices.
