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Quarterback battle brewing in Oxford

Raudabaugh, impressive in White team’s 13-7 win, says QB competition brings out the best in everybody.

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 10:59 AM Sunday, April 19, 2009

OXFORD — One major question was answered Saturday, April 18, at Miami University’s annual Red & White Spring Game at Yager Stadium.

The early frontrunner for this year’s starting quarterback position is senior-to-be Daniel Raudabaugh.

But this is a competition that remains close and is by no means over.

The final scrimmage of the spring season pitted the White Team (first-string offense and second-string defense) against the Red Team (second-string offense, first-string defense).

Raudabaugh was impressive as he helped lead the White to a 13-7 victory over the Red as first-year head coach Mike Haywood unveiled the 2009 RedHawks.

Raudabaugh completed 11-of-14 passes for 145 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions while playing only in the first half.

“A lot of it comes from getting a push from other guys,” Raudabaugh said, referring to the competition with the other quarterbacks in spring camp — Zac Dysert, Mike Scherpenberg and Clay Belton.

“I’ve been in a quarterback competition here before, with Mike (Kokal, in 2007) and Clay (last year),” he said. “Competition brings out the best in everybody. ... Whoever ends up being the guy, we’re going to support and help each other out.”

Dysert, who was redshirted as a freshman last fall, is the No. 2 quarterback right now and he also helped himself Saturday, completing 11-of-15 passes for 129 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions.

“I’m giving them a little pressure, a little competition,” Dysert said, referring to the “push” that Raudabaugh was talking about.

He played the first half with the Red squad and guided the team on a 65-yard scoring drive on the first possession, which was capped by a 5-yard touchdown run by redshirt freshman Danny Green.

“That was nice,” Dysert said, “to go down and put pressure on the other team a little bit.”

In the second half, Dysert played with the White team, and so did Green, who finished with 52 yards on 20 carries.

“We wanted them to get in there and get snaps,” Haywood said of Dysert and Green. “They don’t have a lot of experience. They are two outstanding athletes and we wanted to create an opportunity for them to play.”

Trevor Cook kicked a 34-yard field goal for the White early in the second quarter, and in the waning moments of the first half, Raudabaugh fired a 20-yard touchdown pass to Chris Givens.

Cook completed the scoring with a 48-yard field goal in a second half dominated by defense.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.

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