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Some Guy
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HOSCHTON, Ga. -- Roddy White caught two touchdown passes from two different quarterbacks but it was the Falcons defense that won the first Friday Night Lights scrimmage at Mill Creek High School.
The inter-squad game -- the first event of Allstate All-Access Weekend -- drew more than 10,200 fans to this suburban Atlanta stadium. Head Coach Mike Smith developed a unique scoring system for the scrimmage, which came down to the final play.
With the score tied at 28 Smith offered to award the game-winning point to the side that converted on fourth-and-4. Quarterback Joey Harrington broke the huddle, took the snap and faced pressure from the defense. His pass fell incomplete, giving the defense the victory in what could be the first of many preseason matches under the Friday night lights.
"This was a great crowd," Smith said in a post-scrimmage address to the stadium. "I appreciate you coming out."
Smith and the team's four quarterbacks wore microphones for the event. The offense and defense faced off in separate series begining with the two first teams going head-to-head. A kickoff return for a touchdown by Jerious Norwood brought the crowd to its feet, but first-teamers practicing against each other in a live scrimmage added an electric atmosphere.
Players were thrilled with the support and happy to bring back some of their own high school memories.
"This is probably the nicest football facility I've seen," rookie quarterback Matt Ryan said. "It's a lot of fun for us to get out here tonight."
"I didn't know the fans would be out here with so much enthusiasm," added running back Michael Turner. "It feels good to be back playing football on a Friday night."
The offense started slow and quarterback Chris Redman's second pass was intercepted by linebacker Michael Boley (a three-point play under Smith's scoring system). But the team's balanced out as the scrimmage continued.
Harrington led a scoring drive finished off with the first of two White touchdown grabs. Ryan opened the second half with the first-team offense and promptly hooked up with White on a 60-yard bomb for a score.
Fans were also treated to halftime contest, frisbee dog performances, a skydiving team and fireworks. The Falcons will also host a free event tomorrow at the Georgia Dome. Roam the Dome will feature a mock game and glimpses of the team's newly-renovated home.
But it will be tough to top the passion of playing on Friday night.
"Our guys have come out and competed every day," Smith said. "I'm really excited about our guys. They're excited about the game of football and they're great to be around."
Other highlights and news from the field included:
Ryan got his first work of the evening with the second-team offense only he had to work against the first-string defense. His first play of the evening was a play-action pass under pressure from Boley. The quarterback was flagged for intentional grounding.
Chevis Jackson worked as the first-team nickel back.
Rookie defensive end Kroy Biermann got the first sack of scrimmage, exploding over the right side and sending Shockley running out of the pocket.
Chauncey Davis picked up a point for the defense with a sack of Redman.
Jamaal Anderson picked up a sack and forced a fumble; he swatted the ball out of Redman's extended throwing hand (a four-point play).
Fireworks came out again when Shockley hit Jason Snelling on a short pass on the next series. The second-year man sprinted down the sideline for what appeared to be a 60-yard touchdown. But Smith called the play back on a holding penalty.
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NFL 2008-2009 (Read 64,818 times)
