The Weatherford Kangaroos outscored Fort Worth Brewer 28-26 at home Thursday, Aug. 20, in their final tune-up before the regular season kicks off.
The scrimmage format kept score throughout, and the Kangaroos came out victorious thanks to a walk-off touchdown catch from Gunner Ellis that fired up the team and the home crowd.
The scrimmage started with eight-minute running-clock sessions. Weatherford’s first-team defense looked solid, forcing three 3-and-outs before the Bears picked up a couple of first downs.
The Weatherford offense struggled to start as Brewer pressure caused trouble. The Kangaroos worked to get a handle on what they were facing and did earn one first down in two separate drives.
The second-team defense for Weatherford suffered a coverage bust and gave up a long touchdown pass. The next drive saw the Kangaroos struggle with containing the Bears’ mobile quarterback, allowing him to take off on a long run that eventually led to a short touchdown run.
However, the Weatherford defense recovered to force two straight 3-and-outs to end the session.
Quarterback Matthew Gilbert gave the Weatherford second-team offense when he took off around the left sideline for a 70-yard touchdown run. The next drive saw quarterback Grady Kness find Eli Garrett on a deep crosser for a 35-yard touchdown pass to end the session with the Kangaroos up 14-13.
The next session was dominated by one long scoring drive that stress-tested the Kangaroo No. 1 defense’s stamina.
The Weatherford first-team offense put together two sustained drives that featured several big plays and first downs, but failed to score.
Both second team Kangaroo squads were up next. The defense gave up some first downs but kept Brewer out of the end zone, and the offense struggled, gaining one first down.
The next phase of the scrimmage went into live 12-minute quarters.
Weatherford took the ball first, and despite gaining a first down on the first play was forced to punt. The defense forced a 3-and-out, but the Kangaroos threw an interception on a screen pass that put the Bears deep in Weatherford territory.
With the clock continuing to run instead of stopping like in a game, the second quarter started with the Kangaroos trying to keep Brewer out of the end zone. Eventually the Bears’ mobile quarterback was able to score on a short run.
Weatherford responded with its first-team offense having its best drive of the scrimmage. It ended with running back D.J. Quimby getting loose up the middle for a 23-yard touchdown run.
After the Kangaroo defense forced a 3-and-out, the second team offense took the field. With time running down, Kness lofted a pass into the end zone where Ellis jumped up to catch the 27-yard pass that put Weatherford ahead 28-26.
Besides the “win” during the scrimmage, other positive takeaways were no noticeable long-term injuries, no cramping and no fighting.
First year Weatherford head coach Marshall Williams said he saw some positives and some things to work on and was glad his players had to overcome some things after dominating the first scrimmage at Haltom City the previous week.
“What I’m really proud of with the kids is they played harder for longer today and proved to be in better shape, and now it’s time to go watch the video and learn from that,” Williams said.
The Weatherford Kangaroos start their season at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at home against Burleson Centennial, with the Senior Night ceremony starting at 6:30 p.m.
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