The White Settlement Brewer Bears finished up the spring season for 2017 with a spirited spring scrimmage at Bear Stadium last night. Coach Wade Griffin, heading in to his 4th season in Bear Country, unveiled a few new wrinkles for Brewer fans to witness in the Bears final spring practice.
From the 1st whistle, a swarming fast pursing Bears defense put the clamps on Brewer’s offense for the 1st two possessions. Marcel Paige (DE) (6’1,210) (1st Team All District) was disruptive along with Keyvon White (DE) (6’0, 220). Speedy outside LB Branson Dail (6’0,210) had several key tackles for loss in the 1st quarter. The Bears defense was also defending the pass well in the 1st half of the scrimmage.
QB Carson Ingram was harassed by Paige and White during the 1st couple of possessions. In the secondary Laurent Swanson (CB/FS), Preston-Hampton Kelley (FS), and Jeshaun Patton (CB) had several pass breakups to stall out several of the Brewer Bear offensive possessions early on. The Bears “Perfect Swarm” Defense brought their intensity to the surface to establish their dominance ahead of Brewer’s Offense until the middle of the 2nd quarter.
During the 2nd quarter, QB Carson Ingram and Receiver Jahrod Taylor (6’3,175) started to heat things up. Ingram, a returning starter for the Bears, stepped through traffic to hit Taylor on a fade route down the sideline, were Taylor won a jump ball over great coverage for a momentum changing play. Ingram’s completion to Taylor set up RB Christian Calton, who shook off several defenders showing his power and elusive running ability for the Bear offense’s 1st score on his gallop to pay dirt. Calton, also a member of the 4x100m men’s track team and 100m finalist at the Regional finals in Lubbock this year, put all of his skills on display in the one run. Calton will turn heads in 2017.
After Calton dazzled the Bear faithful, it was time to call RB Curtis Taylor’s number. Two possessions later, Carson Ingram dropped back to pass and hit Taylor on a quick slant between two safeties for the Bear offense’s 2nd score. Taylor, who also is a member of Brewer’s fleet footed 4x100m team, went 0-100 real quick.
Taylor, playing WR in the slot for the first time, left several defenders reaching and gasping for air as he galloped in the end zone for six points. But Ingram (5’10, 180) wasn’t done. After a quick timeout to rehydrate, he opened the 2nd half with a touchdown toss to (6’3, 175) wide out Jaden Cartwright, who high pointed the football over the cornerback defending on the play for a 2nd half TD.
Ingram will have two high flyers on the outside in Jahrod Taylor and Jaden Cartwright, who both are 6’3 and can go up and win on fade routes and the deep blue. A couple of their bright spots on offense were RBs Jaelynn Herod and Justin Davis, who scored on TD runs in the 4th quarter.
QB Carson Ingram who wore the famous red practice jersey most starting QB’s wear during practice, threw caution to wind and scrambled often on QB keepers or when protection broke down. Brewer unveiled a more wide open offensive attack. New Offensive Coordinator Marshall Williams, who came over to Brewer from Lucas Lovejoy, was pleased with the final outcome. “From day one to day 18 which is today, has been night and day to these guys”, he said.
“We started from day one working on fundamentals and the basics of Quarterbacking and WR playing in our new offense. Nothing here was broken, we are trying to get the ball in the hands of our explosive players and use their speed and athleticism to our advantage.”
Every high school football team in Texas participating in spring football is attempting to use spring practice to jumpstart their players heading into the fall season. The Brewer Bears ended spring practice by turning up the heat on defense and unleashing what could be an offense with speed to burn.
If Coach Wade Griffin and his group of hungry Bears have their way, the DFW metroplex will know the Brewer Bears are looking to restore the roar in Bear country.
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