By Bill Vilona
GoArgos.com Senior Writer 

Defense ruled Thursday night in UWF's Blue and Green Spring Football game. 

That suited the Argos just fine, even though coach Kaleb Nobles admitted his quarterback background makes it a little more challenging to accept. 

"As the offensive play caller, no, it doesn't make me feel as good," he said, laughing, after the offense scored on just one possession in the non-situational portion of the 70-minute scrimmage at Pen Air Field, which wrapped up 15 days of UWF's spring practice session. 

"But we still did some good things on offense," said Nobles, who enters his second year as head coach. "We have definitely grown in a year. 

"Last year's spring game was not good on offense at all and we have gotten a lot better since then. But our defense is really good. We feel like our guys are playing to iron sharpens iron (team motto) every day, so we know our defense has a chance to be really good."

The Argos defense thwarted eight of the nine possessions in the scrimmage, often with blitzes leading to sacks or strong coverage in the second day that did not allow a long pass completion the entire way. 

"We had a couple mistakes here and there, but overall I thought we did a really good job," said junior linebacker Walker Robinson, a Fort Walton Beach High graduate. "Communication is still something we need to work on, but our D-line played amazing. A lot of sacks this time. 

I believe it's a culture we built starting last spring. And I think we are building it the right way and we didn't miss a beat from the fall."

TJ Lane, a redshirt freshman running back from Middleburg, was the Argos top offensive performer with 39 yards rushing on eight carries and he scored the only touchdown of the non-situational portion of the scrimmage when he reversed course on a shotgun formation handoff from the 5 and went the other way into the end zone. 

"I am ready for the opportunity," Lane said. "It is a big opportunity and I need to take advantage of it and it is a great chance.  I have to step up and make my other teammates believe in me."

The score was set up by the longest play of the scrimmage when Lane flipped the ball on a double reverse to senior receiver Zac Offord, a Ocala-North Marion High grad, who went 39 yards to the 5.

The Argos used all four quarterbacks on their depth chart in the spring game. Tony Bartalo, a transfer from Charleston Southern, started the scrimmage and threw a touchdown in the red-zone portion of the scrimmage. Michael Rich Jr., the backup last season to Pee Wee Jarrett, had two touchdowns in the red zone situational portion and threw for 24 yards in the regular part of the scrimmage. 

Marcus Stokes, a redshirt freshman, had a group-best 39 yards passing and threw a touchdown in the red zone portion. Kaden King played the fourth offensive series in the game. 

Nobles said he will let Bartalo, Rich and Stokes continue the quarterback derby through preseason practices. 

"Yeah, our (quarterback) room is competitive," said Nobles, who was UWF's starting quarterback in the program's inaugural 2016 season. "We've got three guys who are competing for the job. And I know the popular question all summer is going to be who is the guy? 

"And we probably won't make an announcement until the guy runs out September 5 and takes the first snap (in first game). But everyone in that room has done good things in their own right, so I'm excited. 

"They are really good players, good kids, good leaders and obviously one guy is going to play and get the majority of snaps. They know it will be a one man show when we start fall."

In the first five offensive possessions, there were five sacks, exemplifying the aggressive style of play that Argos defensive coordinator Kavell Conner, a Clemson grad and former NFL defensive lineman for six seasons, had UWF's defense playing last season. 

"We put in a couple new blitzes and we just perfected it and I think we showed that (Thursday)," Robinson said. "Coach Conner is a great defensive coordinator. He dials up great plays. We all love him. We all trust him. We bought in and I think it is showing."

As UWF's team now looks to the final month of classes, then summer workouts, Robinson said he can sense the team getting even closer together.

"I think this summer, we're going to have a lot more guys getting jobs here," he said. "And working out here (at UWF) and I think that is going to beneficial in our success this fall."

The other important element of the spring game was quickly noted by Nobles as he exited the field. 

"No major injuries," he said smiling. "A very good sign. Our group is competitive. Our guys like to play football, they like to go against each other. 

"When you practice against each other 14 (prior) times, it can get chippy at times, but our guys have kept their cool. They have grown as a team. And I'm excited about the future with this bunch."
Here's how the next five months shape up.
 
Countdown To 2024 Season
March 23-April 1 – UWF and the entire campus is on spring break
April 1 – Football team resumes weight room workouts for the next three weeks.
Late-April through early May – Team will take break to focus on final exams and end of spring semester. 
Early June – Summer workouts begin
August 7-8 – Start of preseason practice
Sept. 5 – UWF season-opener at home vs. McKendree University at Pen Air Field.