Appalachian State’s football team went through their first two-a-day practices for the 2012 season Wednesday.

Included was the first team 130-play scrimmage of the season, which was in the afternoon. The first team offense ran 16 of the scrimmage’s 35 series against the first team defense. The second teamers played in 11 sets of downs.

Starting quarterback Jamal Jackson led the Mountaineers to four of the offense’s five touchdowns. He completed 10-of-19 passes for 288 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Jackson led the offense to three straight touchdowns, including a 67-yard catch-and-run to Tony Washington, and a 66-yard strike down the sideline to Sean Price. Jackson also connected with Price for a 65-yard touchdown.

Price caught three passes for 177 yards. His third catch went for 46 yards after he adjusted to an underthrown Jackson pass and went over a defender to catch it.

Backup quarterback Kameron Bryant drove the Mountaineers to a nine-play, 65-yard touchdown drive capped when he scored on a 2-yard run. Bryant set up the score with a 19-yard completion to Jey Yokeley, which pushed the ball inside the 25-yard line.

Appalachian Stat’s defense forced two turnovers and 15 three-and-outs. Nine of those were staged in the final 14 possessions. The defense also allowed just 72 yards in the final 50 plays of the scrimmage.

Freshman defensive tackle Greg Milhouse forced a fumble that redshirt freshman defensive back Chris Shaffer returned for a touchdown. Defensive end Ronald Blair had three sacks and five tackles for a loss, while All-American linebacker Jeremy Kimbrough had five tackles for a loss.

Freshman linebacker Tashion Singleton, sophomore defensive back Doug Middleton and redshirt freshman Davanta Harris each had a sack.

Redshirt freshman Dew Davis also intercepted a pass on the first second-team series.

The scrimmage ended with work in the red zone. Appalachian State scored on two of its three red-zone chances.

 

INJURY UPDATE

Several players did not participate in the scrimmage because of a variety of small injuries. The included offensive lineman Matt Privette (head), Receiver Andy Shuler (knee), offensive lineman Jackson Smigiel (back), cornerback Rodger Walker (illness(, linebacker Jamal Ware (back), Dante Blackmon (knee), defensive lineman Thomas Bronson (knee), offensive lineman Tucker Lee (finger(), and Alex Gray (thigh) did not play.

Privette, Shuler, Smigiel, Walker and Ware are all listed “day to day.” Blackmon, Bronson and Lee will undergo further evaluation before playing status can be determined.

Grant was listed as being out four to six weeks. Offensive lineman Tyson Fernandez (foot) was injured during the offseason and is expected to be out an addition four to six weeks.

 

TANYI TRANSFERS

Former Appalachian State defensive end Lanston Tanyi transferred to Colorado State and will play this season.

Tanyi graduated from Appalachian State after a difficult 2011 season that saw him suspended for must of the season for unspecified reasons. Since he is a graduate student at Colorado State, he will be allowed to play for the FBS school right away. If he was an undergraduate, he would have to sit out a year.