In a spring season centered around Western’s quarterback race, it was the return game that stood out during the annual Red-White Scrimmage.

Sophomore wide receiver Antionne Lightfoot had six returns for 210 yards to give the offense the field position it needed in its 68-36 victory.

Fans will notice many changes during Saturday’s Red-White scrimmage, including the new turf on the field and a new quarterback for the Toppers.

Among the changes, Western will hold its first scrimmage Saturday as a bowl-eligible member of the Football Bowl Subdivision.

In a unique scoring system, the White team (offense) beat the Red team (defense) 68-36 in the annual Red-White Scrimmage to conclude Spring Practice.

Even with Western’s depth at the running back position, it showed it has even more depth for running at the quarterback position during Saturday’s scrimmage.

Coach David Elson said Wednesday that it all starts up front.

Coach David Elson said Wednesday that it all starts up front.

“Any good, smart running back will tell you that you can’t (run the ball well) without his offensive line,” Elson said.

Western’s run game averaged four yards a carry on 428 carries a season ago.

Defensive coordinator Mike Dietzel said he’s not at all worried about the upcoming season after his promotion to defensive coordinator – after all, it’s not the first time he has had the position.

Dietzel returns to defensive coordinating in 2009, a post he held in 2004 and 2005.

Last season, coach David Elson gave the responsibilities of the safety positions to two red-shirt freshmen.

Now, safeties Ryan Beard and Mark Santoro are going into their sophomore years as they look to keep their starting jobs.

Maintaining their starting spots is far from a guarantee, however.

Western’s most experienced quarterback this spring has thrown 35 total career passes.

When the offense scored on a play that coaches deemed “was for the win,” players took time to celebrate the score in the goal-line drills as part of the Toppers first spring practice Saturday at Smith Stadium.

It’s that energy and enthusiasm that coach David Elson is looking for with spring practice underway.

Spring practice for the Hilltoppers’ football team begins Saturday. These are the five storylines to pay attention to. The open quarterback race: Western lost its two most experienced quarterbacks, senior David Wolke graduated, and sophomore K.J. Black was dismissed, creating a wide-open race at the quarterback spot.