Silver shimmers in spring scrimmage

The price of silver was high on Saturday.
Led by junior linebacker Joe Stoner, Silver blew past Cherry 41-0 in the annual spring game at University Stadium — 31 points coming in the third quarter.

Silver’s defense was about as penetrable as Fort Knox.
Stoner picked off quarterback Stump Godfrey in the third quarter and scampered 52 yards for a touchdown. The defense held Cherry to nine first downs and 128 yards.

Stoner said Silver played statement football.
“We went out there, flew around, got to the ball and got turnovers,” Stoner said. “Coach (Toby) Neinas told us before the game, ‘Get two or more turnovers and you’ll win the game.’”

In total, the Silver squad, with the No. 1 defense and No. 2 offense, caused four turnovers — two interceptions and forced fumbles. Even though it had the No. 1 offense, Cherry looked more like second-teamers against the Lobos’ top defenders.

Both teams posted first-half goose eggs on the scoreboard, but Stoner’s touchdown gave Silver a 21-point lead. Stoner, a running back in high school, got into the end zone with dazzling footwork.

“I just reverted back to high school after I caught the ball,” he said.
Stoner’s interception wasn’t the only turnover of the game.

With 10 seconds left in the third quarter, walk-on quarterback Kevin Chavez got sacked inside the 10-yard line and lost control of the ball.
Joe Harris, who converted from linebacker to defensive lineman, fell on the ball in the end zone for Silver’s second defensive touchdown. Harris also recovered a fumble earlier in the quarter.

Stoner said pregame preparation made the difference Saturday.
“We’ve worked hard in the weight room, and that shows a lot to what we’ve done during winter training,” he said.

Deflating defense has been the theme during head coach Mike Locksley’s first two seasons.

Last year, the Lobos were 119 out of 120 Division I teams. UNM gave up 44.3 points per game and 465 yards per contest, and the pass defense had only four interceptions in 2010.

Since then, former coordinator Doug Mallory left for Indiana, and George Barlow assumed defensive duties. He introduced a 4-2-5 scheme, different than the 4-3 UNM employed last year.

Locksley said the team has adjusted to the defense.
“The quickest way to get beat on defense is in the back end,” he said. “I thought today and all spring they got better from practice one to practice 15. I think the fact that we have simplified some things back there coverage-wise allows our athletes to go back there and make plays.”
Stoner said the switch from the 4-3 to the 4-2-5 wasn’t jarring.

“It wasn’t too hard because I’m still playing linebacker,” he said. “I played this system in high school, so a lot of things I do, I remember from high school.”