TRINITY - Spencer Brown took the handoff, dropped back, and fired the ball to Neil Lloyd. Good for 17 yards.
Next, a 13-yard pass to Joe Nordon.
Then a 5-yard completion to Anthony Napolitano.
The Gold team was down 6-0 to the Black in Mitchell's intrasquad spring scrimmage Monday night at Mustang Stadium, and Brown had only a few minutes left to guide the Wing T offense 60 yards to the end zone.
The drive stalled. Brown was sacked and threw an incompletion. The Black team fumbled after the coaches awarded it extra downs.
But if coach Scott Schmitz has his way, it could be the start of something new for the run-proficient Mustangs.
With a host of new receivers ready to step up and a rapidly improving Brown, Mitchell hopes to add a new offensive dimension as the team fights to return to the playoffs.
"The thing with Spencer is he's really developed into a better passer since last year," Schmitz said. "He's seeing the field better, he's making better reads.
"We'll still be a running team. People say there's not a lot of versatility with the Wing T. I think your imagination limits yourself. I think we can do something with the pass next season."
The Gold scored on a long drive engineered by backup QB Chris Watts, defying a tough defensive stand. The scoring play came on Lee Dorsey's 1-yard plunge into the end zone after he ran into Watts at the line of scrimmage. Watts 2-point run was called back.
A THIN LINE: Schmitz wanted to find backups for the offensive line. Be careful what you wish for.
Starting tackle Jeremy Lane was lost after tearing the medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Starting guard Mike Tonsich was out after cutting his foot on glass. Brian Littlejohn moved from tackle to guard, and Kyle Hagerty filled in at guard.
"I think we've found some depth on our line," Schmitz said. "We had to. We had some injuries. It gave some kids a lot more reps than they would have gotten."
KEEP AN EYE ON: Junior Steve Riley is new to the program, but he already impressed the coaching staff at tight end and defensive end.
"He's going to help us next (season)," Schmitz said. "Doggone it, I wish he would have come out the year before. He could have helped us last season."
But from the junior-varsity ranks it is sophomore linebacker Troy Adams who could have the biggest impact on Mitchell's defense, which will switch to a 4-4 scheme in the fall.
Adams showed a nose for the ball during the scrimmage, spending the night with his arms wrapped around whoever had the ball. He also intercepted Watts before the half, juking his pursuers on a dazzling return.
"Troy's work ethic over the summer will determine what type of linebacker he'll be in the fall," Schmitz said. "He told me he's going to be in there (in the weight room), he told me he'll work hard.
"If that's the case, then I think we've got a pretty good linebacker there."
TO BE CONTINUED: Fall practice begins Aug. 12, and full-contact drills start Aug. 15. Mitchell will play host to Springstead in a preseason Kickoff Classic at 7 p.m. Aug. 29 at Mustang Stadium.
