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Many players stand out as Tribe concludes spring football

  • Your 2011 leaders
    Your 2011 leaders  Coach Jimmye Laycock stands with his captains for the 2011 season. Linebacker Jake Trantin (32), defensive end Marcus Hyde (52), offensive lineman James Pagliaro (68), and running back Jonathan Grimes (34) were elected to serve by team vote.  Courteasy Terrence Riggins
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The William & Mary football team concluded its spring practice season with the annual Green and Gold Game before more than 1,000 fans at Zable Stadium on Saturday afternoon, April 16.

Players on both sides of the ball provided a number of highlights, as the offense found the end zone four times while the defense piled up six sacks.

Offensively, four quarterbacks saw action. Raphael Ortiz led the group by completing 5-of-11 passes for 102 yards with a touchdown. His 54-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Joey Brady as the second-quarter clock expired proved to be the longest offensive play of the day. Michael Graham also threw a touchdown pass, a 13-yard strike to tight end Alex Gottlieb, to conclude the scrimmage.

A trio of Tribe running backs combined to rush for 141 yards and two touchdowns. Jarrell Cooper registered 66 yards (on 13 carries) and posted runs of 22 and 21 yards, while Darnell Laws rushed for 55 yards (on 17 carries) with a touchdown. Meltoya Jones also found the end zone on a 1-yard run.

Middle linebacker Jack Trantin helped lead an impressive defensive showing and finished the afternoon with a sack and a forced fumble. Defensive lineman Nick Zaremba also came up big with a pair of sacks, while Samuel Johnson posted a sack and a tackle for a loss. Linebackers Dante Cook and Airek Green also added sacks, while Alex Goodman and Mike Reilly both posted 1.5 tackles for loss (TFL) apiece.

Punter Tyler Bailey provided a highlight on special teams with an 82-yard punt early in the scrimmage.

At the completion of the game, the team announced the captains for the 2011 season (as derived from a team vote): running back Jonathan Grimes , defensive end Marcus Hyde, center James Pagliaro, and linebacker Jake Trantin.

Another major team award was announced Saturday, as Grimes was selected to receive of the John A. Stewart Winter Warrior Award, which is given annually to the player, or players, who best exemplify the qualities of dedication, effort, and achievement that defined Stewart's career at the College. Awardees are judged on their improvements both on the field and in the off-season training program.