BRISTOL – Like in last year’s spring game, Dashannon Gamble once again became the front runner for the starting quarterback position for next season.
Gamble completed 9-of-17 passes for 120 yards and had 17 carries for 49 yards, leading the Gold squad to a 16-6 victory over the Blue in the Bucs’ Blue/Gold game which concluded their spring practice on Saturday at the Stone Castle.
“Dashannon Gamble stepped up today and he has a chance to bring some excitement to our offensive football team,” said head coach Paul Hamilton. “After the way he played today, he’s the guy that has to be beaten come August.
“When the lights go on he’s ready to play and he brings confidence to the offense.”
Hamilton, however, has not ruled out the possibility that Virginia Tech-transfer Jason Davis and senior Jatavis Sanders could still be in the running for the starting spot when fall rolls around.
“I feel pretty good about Dashannon and Jatavis and we just need to bring Davis along,” Hamilton said.
Davis completed just 3-of-17 passes for 10 yards with one interception, while Sanders was unable to participate in the game due to a hand injury.
The Blue/Gold game was Gamble’s first opportunity in a game situation in six months and he attributes his play to his teammates.
“It was a great opportunity to get out and play,” Gamble said. “My teammates played as good as I did.
Gamble also recognizes that the Bucs’ defense could be one of the best in the conference next season and that the starting quarterback position is still not set in stone.
“We have the best defense in the conference, we can be the team to beat in the Southern Conference,” Gamble said. “We’ve (Davis, Sanders and Gamble) been battling all spring, today was a big confidence builder, but they all work just as hard as I do.”
Gamble led the Gold squad on the first score of the game with rushes of five and 11-yards before Andrew Nuckolls’ 25-yard touchdown run to give the Gold a 7-0 lead.
The Blue team came right back with a 40-yard run by Leeshaun Taylor and five and 11-yard runs by Mondo Miller, leading to a 36-yard field goal by Jon Godfrey to make the score 7-3.
Neither side was able to get into the endzone the rest of the afternoon as the Gold squad added field goals of 39, 27 and 23-yards by Scott Salmons and the Blue squad added a 29-yard field goal by Godfrey to make the game’s final score of 16-6.
Miller led the way on the ground with 20 rushes for 60 yards, while Nuckolls had four carries for 43 yards and one touchdown. Marcus Barnes had seven carries for 28 yards also for the Blue and Gold squads.
“It was good to get out there and play today,” Hamilton said. “I’m proud of our defense and Gamble took big steps on the field.
“He scares you every time the ball is snapped, I’m proud of the way he threw the football.

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