TIGER PREY—Independence defensive tackle Thomas Watts (72) drags down Kentwood ballcarrier Tevin Goggins (3) while Tiger defensive end Caderra James (32) closes in during Monday’s three-way scrimmage with Varnado under the tank in Kentwood. Photo by John Lenz

KENTWOOD—The format may have kept the Independence Tigers from standing out early, but the Tigers came back to dominate in the final portion of their three-way spring scrimmage with Kentwood and Varnado Monday evening under the Tank.

As for the host Roos, they showed how dangerous they can be — but also how much their lack of numbers this spring is holding them back.

With each team running eight-play drives against the other, Indy scored on Varnado in its first series, thanks to a brilliant 69-yard bomb from Chris Carter to Elroy Duncan that set up a one-yard score by Marshall Bellazan.

When Indy and Kentwood matched up, both teams moved the ball but were halted by the eight-play format (unless the ball was advanced inside the opponent's 20) without scoring.

But the final part of the scrimmage was a timed 10-minute quarter against each of the other two teams, and that's when Indy shined brightest. The Tiger defense forced Varnado into three straight turnovers — interceptions by Duncan and Johnny Andry and a fumble recovery by Caderra James.

The offense scored on a 9-yard touchdown run by Reggie Sims and a 5-yard TD by Bellazan, with James Cervantes kicking two extra points.

Varnado came back and punched one in on the Tigers thanks to two big completions by quarterback Colton Owens, one a 35-yarder and the other a 10-yard touchdown pass to Denelius Holmes, and that's how it ended in a 14-6 Tigers victory.

Indy then came back to beat Kentwood 7-0. An interception by Indy's Bellazan of a Bobby Earl pass set the Tigers up at the Kentwood 36, and four plays later the Tigers pushed it in when quarterback Chris Carter slipped a tackle in the backfield and ran 17 yards to score the lone TD in Indy's 7-0 victory.

"I thought we did (well) the entire scrimmage," Tigers head coach Keith Carona said. "We moved it solidly and I thought we had good drives. When we see the film we're going to see a lot of positive plays. We've just got to improve on the negative plays."

Carona said his biggest concern was on defense, but the Tigers played solid on that side, though they did give up a few big pass plays.

"We had some guys step up," Carona said. "Caderra (James), Desmond (Hunter), Johnny Andry, the guys who are returning did a job. Cedric Milton, I thought he stood out."

It was enough to have Carona feeling optimistic about the Tigers’ chances this fall.

"I feel we've got a lot of talent and we've got a good football team," Carona said. "It's the same thing as every year — June 16th we start our summer workouts. They've got to commit themselves to getting in better condition when the fall rolls around.

"Last year at the end of the year I felt like we were one of the top teams in 3A. We have another tough schedule, but I think we can get back up to that level and hopefully do something."

Kentwood coach David Currier, meanwhile, thinks his team will be OK when it plays teams at its own level. But Varnado's 8-6 victory over the Roos in their timed quarter was an obvious indicator that Kentwood's thin numbers remain a concern.

"I thought that we had some people that can play, and I see that we do — Teven (Coggins), Bobby (Earl), Keyvonte Diamond, Romell Thomas," Currier said.

"But we had two (starting) linemen who left us in the spring, so that really hurts us at this point, and we have six guys who were ineligible for the spring. We've got to get ’em back."

Against Varnado, the Roos finally halted the Wildcats on a fumble after they drove to the Kentwood 31, then turned around and went 69 yards to score, the biggest chunk on Earl's 30-yard quarterback keeper.

But the Roos’ try for two on the PAT failed, leaving the door open for the Wildcats. Latarius Crumedy brook loose for a 32-yard touchdown run, then ran in what proved to be the game-winning conversion with 2:45 left in the mini-game.

By that point it was clear that the Roos were wearing down after playing both ways.

"It's mainly our numbers," Currier said. "When you get tired, it's hard to be explosive. Once we get to district and get to our league, we'll be OK, but we've got to survive going against Amite the second week and St. James the 10th.

"I thought offensive line was going to be a strength, but right now it's a weakness," Currier added. "We've got two guys that got pressed into duty when those two guys quit. They did well, but they need a lot of work, a lot of seasoning. I think it will come."