LEESBURG — In his Spruce Creek debut, running back Marvin Scott dominated from the second he touched the ball.
Scott gashed Leesburg for 200 yards and four touchdowns on just 12 carries en route to the Hawks' 35-0 victory on Tuesday night, the first spring game involving a Volusia/Flagler program. The rising junior, who claims an offer from Marshall, rushed for nearly 4,800 yards over the last three seasons at Warner Christian.
"I kind of expected to him to have a really good night. He was as good as advertised," Hawks coach Andy Price said. "He made some plays out of nothing. He's got a low center of gravity and had some real physical runs, athletic-looking with a little burst of speed, as well."
Lightning forced a premature ending to the ball game. With the running clock secured, and a 30-minute delay set to transpire, the teams called the game with 4:04 left in the third quarter.
Marvelous Marvin
Two of Scott's first three carries resulted in touchdowns.
On a 3rd-and-11, Scott exploded through a hole, raced toward the right sideline and outran the Leesburg defense for a 71-yard score. Following a quick 3-and-out for the host Yellow Jackets, Scott froze a linebacker in the hole and raced 25 yards to the end zone on his next handoff.
"I think it was a good way to set the tone for this year," Scott said. "It's been good (through the spring). We just have to work hard and keep our heads up."
Scott punctuated the Hawks' third drive with a 5-yard score, following a pair of fourth-down pickups. His final touchdown was a 25-yarder off the right edge, and the Leesburg defense hardly put a finger on him.
"We were really waiting to see, when we turned him loose and give him the opportunity, what he'd do to somebody else's group," Price said.
Defensive standouts
While Scott stole the show, the Hawks' defense pitched a shutout in the opening half and made its fair share of plays.
Aaron Walton came away with an interception off a deflection, the lone takeaway for Spruce Creek. Zach Cummins, CJ Robinson and Oscar Mendez recorded a sack apiece.
The defense also made a pair of fourth-down stops. Robinson chased down Leesburg quarterback A.J. Graham on a 4th-and-10, leading to only a modest gain. Late in the second quarter, Camari Nelson blew up a handoff to Jatavian Solomon, leading to a 5-yard loss on 4th-and-5.
One notable absence for Spruce Creek was rising senior cornerback Travon Killins, who claims eight Division I offers. Price said Killins has missed all of camp with a groin pull.
Ace in the hole?
With three-year starter Kyle Minckler set to graduate and head to Ottawa (Kan.) University, the Hawks' quarterback position is up for grabs.
Rising sophomore Andrew Acebal staked his claim to the starting gig, completing 4 of 7 passes for 61 yards and a touchdown. Acebal led a successful two-minute drive at the end of the first half, tossing a 36-yard score to Hayden Flood.
"I just tried to take command as best I could, to be a leader," said Acebal, who added 27 yards rushing on five attempts. "I (want to) show on the field how I can take charge, air it out, run the ball, get my reads right, and know all the plays and where everyone's going."
Jason McCoy started the game under center, but threw a pair of interceptions. The second of those picks came in the end zone immediately after an 18-yard run by Dallas Lovelace.
Price anticipates the quarterback battle will continue into August ahead of the team's regular-season opener against Seabreeze on Aug. 24.