Viks Hold First Scrimmage

The Portland State football team ran a 50-play scrimmage on Saturday afternoon, and saw good play from its first-unit offense and defensive front.

The Vikings gained just 13 yards in their first two drives, but then quarterback Sawyer Smith led a sustained scoring drive, completing five of eight passes along the way. The offense went 70 yards in 14 plays. Transfer tailback Mu'Ammar Ali ran three times for 18 yards and made a key block on Brandon Jones' 13-yard reverse play. Kelena Ho'okano took the ball over the goal line on a one-yard run. Smith hit five different receivers on the drive for 40 yards.

After that, the defense ruled as the second and third units were unable to mount scoring drives. PSU's defensive line made six sacks, though none against the first unit. Miami transfer Dave Howell and Oregon transfer Brian Truelove got to the quarterback twice each.

The second unit had two big offensive plays. Oregon State transfer fullback Olaniyi Sobomehin took a screen pass and broke two tackles, going 27 yards. Redshirt freshman tight end Matt Leunen caught a 25-yard pass over the middle from JC transfer Danny Morales.

On defense, Aaron Dickson, Micheal Dorsey and Philip Humphrey all had three tackles.

Smith completed seven of 12 passes during his 20-play stint. Ali gained 22 yards on five carries and caught one pass for six yards. Ho'okano had four carries for 18 yards.

Portland State will scrimmage again next Saturday morning at Stott Community Field. The time and details are yet to come.

Backup QBs Shine In Scrimmage

The offense gained 273 yards and had four touchdown passes as the Eagles finished their second scrimmage of the session Friday afternoon. Chris Peerboom sat out with an injured knee, which game the pair of redshirt freshman a chance to show their stuff. Matt Nichols would throw 3 touchdows but would also throw 3 interceptions, and Johs Powell finished with 129 yards and 1 TD.

"I thought they did well in a controlled situation," said Wulff. "They made pretty good decisions but sometimes the ball was not quite as accurate as it could be. That's to be expected with their youth. With more repetitions they'll both become more accurate, but they're operating the offense well." - Coach Wulff.

Scoring Plays:
Aaron Boyce 15 pass from Josh Powell
A.J. Jimmerson 4 pass from Matt Nichols
Alex Smart 5 Pass from Matt Nichols
Charles Searcy 5 pass from Matt Nichols

Total Offense: 44 plays, 273 yards (includes 4 sacks for minus 28 yards)

Rushing: Ryan Cole 5-37, Dezmon Cole 4-32, Dale Morris 3-23, AJ Jimmerson 10-27, Toke Kefu 4-5, Matt Nichols 3-Minus-15, Josh Powell 4-minus-22, Totals 33-87

Passing: Matt Nichols 6-13-57 (3 Interceptions), Josh Powell 6-8-129, Totals 12-21-186

Receiving: Brynsen Brown 3-67, Alex Smart 3-65, Aaron Boyce 2-24, Tyler Coleman 1-12, Tony Davis 1-11, Charles Searcy 1-5, Toke Kefu 1-2, Totals 12-186

Leading Tacklers: Adam Macomber 4, Jacob Kragt 4, Makai Borden 3, Nick Denbeigh 3, (six players with 2 tackles)

Sacks: Jacob Kragt 3, Mikai Bordon 1/2, Aaron Cartwright 1/2

Interceptions: Anthony Dotson 1, Robert Pearson 1, Bryan Jarrett 1.

Passes Broken Up: DeNique Ford 1, Robert Pearson 1, Adam Macomber 1, Lance Witherspoon 1

Defense Shines In Bobcats' Final Scrimmage

Cory Carpenter had an efficient day, and WR transfer Michael Jefferson also put up good numbers, but the day would belong to the defense in a 25-17 victory Wednesday afternoon at Bobcat Stadium. The Bobcat offense marched down the field and scored to go up 7-0, but then the defense would register six straight stops, and would finish the scrimmage with eight straight. The rushing trio of Evin Groves, Isaiah Taito and Chase Gazzero would finish with 127 yards on 31 carries. While Coach Kramer was happy with Carpenter's 19-for-28, 198 yard and one TD performance today, he noted that he has a ways to go before their opening at Colorado, September 2nd. "A lot of the nuances of the position (of quarterback) that Cory is not able to get to yet," Kramer said. "We'll needs all 29 practices (next August) to get he or Jack ready."

RUSHING: Evin Groves 17-53-1, Isaiah Taito 7-43, Chase Gazzerro 7-31, Dustin Baxter 3-14, Terrance Foster 3-22, Michael Jefferson 1-2.
PASSING: Cory Carpenter 28-19-0, 198, 1; Jack Rolovich 9-4-1, 24, 0; Colin Beeson 6-2-0, 13, 0.
RECEIVING: Michael Jefferson 5-97-1, Brandon Bostick 3-28, Deon Toliver 2-17, Ty McDonald 2-13, Derek Green 2-11, Elliott Barnhart 2-9, Evin Groves 2-6, Terrance Foster 1-4, Joe Schreibeis 2-7, Luke Holden 1-23, Mike Brown 1-7, Chase Gazzerro 1- -1, Isaiah Taito 1-7.

DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS: Sacks - Andre Fuller, Ryan Cerise, Clive Lowe, Jesse Anderson, Wes Mauia, David Siataga, Will Claggett, Aaron Papich (one each). Tackles for loss - Epikopo King, Dane Fletcher (one each). Pass Breakups - Dylan Mee, Braxton Thelan, Derrick Davis, Josiah Lusby, Marcosus LeBlanc (one each).

Pictures from this thread can be found here (taken by me and longhorn_22).

Bears Conclude Spring Season

I'm a couple days late on this one, but here it is nonetheless. Saturday afternoon, the Blue team proved to be too much for their White opponent as they eeked out a 14-10 victory. Redshirt freshman running back Patrick Ealy led all offensive players with 100 yards on 8 attempts with one score. Ealy also hauled in 4 receptions for 13 yards and a TD. He was the lone offensive highlight on a defensively dominated game, as White's lone TD was a 55 yard interception return by CB Jeromy Jones. It looks like Andre Wilson (who had a 47 yard dash) and Ealy will be battling for the starting RB spot. Overall there were 3 interceptions and 2 lost fumbles.

The Bears host UC Davis Sept. 2 to kick off their first season in the Big Sky.

White Defeats Purple

The Purple squad could only muster up 7 points in a 21 point loss to the White squad Saturday afternoon. Senior QB Ian Pizzaro looked sharp in the first half, and was used sparingly in the second. Returning RB Adrian Conway was held in check, rushing 17 times for only 18 yards. Pizzaro tossed 2 TDs on a 12-19, 136 yard day. Transfer Marky Filipe had a nice day, rushing 11 times for 48 yards. "Coach Ron McBride expected more out of his purple team - "their tempo wasn't real good," he said - but was in fine spirits following the game. "

A little off topic, but I like the way this scrimmage was played. I believe scrimmages should be a contest, and not a set up, situational scrimmage like most of the Big Sky teams seem to utilize. Weber played a more traditional-style spring game, with two offenses and two defenses. Assistants drafted players Friday, and the two teams were comprised of each assistant's picks. I think that is a good idea myself, but hey, who am I?

ISU Spring Game VIII

Transfer QB Matt Gutierrez had a 189 yard effort on 15 of 26 passing with 1 TD and 1 INT in the aptly named Spring Game VIII yesterday. In front of a crowd of 1,140, the offense squeaked by the defense in a narrow 16-12 victory. There was no mention of the top two returning running backs, Josh Barnett and Ken Cornist. Backup QB Luke Butler led all rushers with 45 yards (47 on one play). Gutierrez's INT was the only turnover of the afternoon. ISU's quarterbacks went 20-for-37 on the day combined, and the offense gained 323 yards on 62 plays.

Another good article on the scrimmage can be found here.

Balance Key For Eagles

The Eagles ran and threw the ball well in their 2nd scrimmage of the spring. Returning starter Ryan Cole led all running backs with 50 yards on just 5 carries, and the Eagles had 166 total on the ground for the day. The quarterbacks also had a good day, throwing for a combined 218 yards on 16-27 passing with no interceptions. It looks as if Chris Peerbom is penciled in for starter right now, but is getting pressure from redshirt freshman Matt Nichols.

Coach Wulff :

"In our first scrimmage our offense was struggling, which is typical for the first scrimmage, but today they made some strides and improved," said Wulff. "Both sides of the ball did some great things today in our first full scrimmage and both sides did some things that weren't so good. I'm really happy overall and now we have some things that we can build off of in our next practice."

Viks Conclude First Week Of Practice

Portland State finished up their first week of practice, and all eyes have been on the lines. Transfers Dave Howell (Miami-FL) and CJ Niusulu (UCLA) add depth to an already veteran defensive line. Coach Walsh feels "We have ten guys on the d-line who can play on a high level in the Big Sky," Walsh said. "At the end of spring, if we can block those guys, we are going to be pretty good."

Portland State practices three more weeks this spring, 12 practices in all, ending in the annual spring game on Saturday, May 13. The game will take place at Gresham High School at 6 p.m.

Three-Sport Star Takes Scholarship To Play Football At UNC

The University of Northern Colorado has signed Indio High School standout Gio Machado. Machado is a 6'5, 175 pound wide receiver and holds school records with 67 catches and 965 yards in his senior season. Sounds like a solid athlete and could be a long threat for the Bears in years to come.

Cats Should Be In Good Hands

According to offensive coordinator Don Bailey, the Bobcats are ahead of schedule in finding a quarterback to replace all-conference and Payton finalist Travis Lulay. "When it's all said and done I think we'll be pretty good at quarterback," Bailey said. The wideouts, who had a case of stonehand syndrome at the first scrimmage, have been playing much better as of late, and there are still three potential starters who have not yet seen the field - Tyler Lulay, UNLV transfer Donnell Wheaton, and JC transfer Josh Lewis. Lulay and Wheaton are still injured as far as I know, and Lewis will enroll in the fall.

Short Blurb On PSU

From the Portland Tribune:

Portland State opened spring practice Wednesday loaded with linemen.
“The defensive line is extremely talented and deep, and probably bigger size-wise than it’s ever been,” coach Tim Walsh says. “The offensive line is extremely experienced and 11 or 12 deep, and we’ll only travel nine. So we’ve got numbers and quality on both sides of the ball, enough that we can get a lot of physical reps in this spring. That’s going to make guys even better.”
• Eighty-five players turned out for the first of 14 workouts. “For us, that’s a ton,” Walsh says. “We’ve got about 14 more players coming in the fall, and we’re only allowed 90, so we’ll have to cut some guys.”
• Quarterback Sawyer Smith, who missed the 2005 finale with a fractured thumb, looks fully healed and ready to show progress in his ability to move the offense through the air. “He got better as the year went on last fall,” Walsh says, “and people don’t realize he finished second in the Big Sky in passing efficiency, when you count only conference games.”
• PSU is looking for receivers, including someone to replace last year’s top threat, Shaun Bodiford. A leading early candidate is senior Tremayne Kirkland, a transfer from Nevada-Las Vegas. “He looks like he’s going to be the real deal at wideout,” Walsh says.

Eagle Offense Fails To Score In First Scrimmage

The Eagle offense could only muster up 74 yards of total offense on Monday, the first scrimmage held by Eastern. But head coach Paul Wulff is happy with where the team is at, regardless of the meak output from his offense.

"I couldn't be happier with the way things are going at this point ... There's no question that there is a long way to go, but I'm excited the way our veterans and our young redshirt players have been doing so far. If every player can take it upon themselves to improve during each practice, then by the end of the spring we will be a much better football team than we were today."

Eastern Washington University will conclude its second week of spring
football practice with a scrimmage on Friday (April 21) at 3:30 p.m. It
will take place on the EWU Sports and Recreation Center practice fields
(not Woodward Field as originally planned).

Eastern will also scrimmage on Saturday, April 29 at 11 a.m., then will
conclude spring practices with the annual Red-White Game at 2 p.m. on
May 6. Both of those scrimmages will take place at Woodward Field.

For a complete practice and scrimmage schedule, and a wrap-up of the
first week of practice, go to:
http://www.ewu.edu/x38154.xml

Vikings Set To Begin Spring Practice Wednesday

PSU is all set to begin spring practice on Wednesday, the 19th. The Viks return 6 starters on both sides of the ball, along with 43 letterwinners. A gaggle of transfers hope to help PSU finish on top of the Sky in '06.

Wildcats Should Be Running Wild

Last year, the suprising Weber State Wildcats were a team that loved to run the ball. Last year they averaged 157 yards on the ground per game, using a combination of now SR Zach Hall, JR Adrian Conway (who was injured for 5 games last year), and now departed Sione Havili. Conway is receiving the bulk of the carries, but no one has been slated to start yet. In the mix is Souther Utah transfer Marky Filipe, who left SUU 2 years ago after disagreements with the new Thunderbird headcoach, Wes Meier. Get ready for a healthy dose of Wildcats running straight at you this year.

MSU Quarterback Picture May Be Shaping Up

According to head coach Mike Kramer, junior QB Cory Carpenter has demonstraded that he is "a ways ahead of Jack... Jack has a lively arm, but he doesn't understand the nuances of what we want." Jack of course is junior QB transfer Jack Rolovich, from Hawaii. All of the QBs looked a lot better than last week's scrimmage in Great Falls, where they completed less than 50% of their passes. In quite a wind frenzy (I was there), Carpenter was 11-16 for 122 and 1 TD, Rolovich was 10-15 for 117, and Colin Beeson was 3-4 for 35. Last week the running game shined, this week it was the passing game that combined for 278 yards.

The Bobcats will hold their annual "Sonny Holland Classic" scrimmage next Friday at Bobcat Stadium, which will wrap up spring ball.

UM Wraps Up Spring Practice With A Scrimmage

The Grizzlies held out many of their key players, including QB Josh Swogger, in their final scrimmage of the spring. It was a chance for backup players to get some reps, and QBs Clint Stapp and Cole Berquist took advantage of the opportunity. Berquist was 4 of 8 for 56 yards, and Stapp was 6 for 7 for 47 yards, including the games only touchdown to redshirt freshman Marc Mariani. Pictures can be found at Montana Grizzlies Scrimmage Pictures.

PSU Finds A Familiar Face

The Vikings' new offensive coordinator, Jeff Hoover, talks about returning to coach at PSU. The article also has a few comments from head coach Tim Walsh about the passing game. It sounds like Sawyer Smith will be the head man again this year, although he only averaged 155 yards per game through the air.

EWU Postpones Scrimmage/New Defensive Ends Coach

Another team is forced to postpone spring practices/scrimmages due to bad weather. The newest victim is the EWU Eagles. The scrimmage has been moved to Monday, at 3:50 PM.

Wulff announced that offensive lineman Chris Perkins left the team this week. A six-game starter at tackle in 2005, Perkins is a 2003 graduate of Cheney, Wash., High School.

Also, "After nine years at Central Washington University, Brian Strandley has joined the Eastern Washington coaching staff as a defensive ends coach. Strandley is a 1995 graduate of the University of Idaho where he was a four-year starter from 1991-94."

Weather Slows Weber Spring Progress

Weather has been a problem for the Wildcats early this spring. Last week they were forced to scrimmage at a local junior high.

The article also talks about the quarterback position. McBride says it is senior Ian Pizzaro's job to lose, but JR transfer Shawn Woods has also been impressing in spring practice. Woods transfered from Dixie State and played in 2 games last year, throwing for 109 yards on 11 attempts.

Weber Holds Scrimmage

New talent had a chance to shine during Weber's first scrimmage of 2006. McBride used this as an opportunity to scope out new talent, and played senior QB Ian Pizzaro and junior RB Adrian Conway sparingly.

EWU Begins Spring Practice - Experience Key

The EWU Eagles began their spring practice yesterday, and a host of returning players helped the practice go swimmingly. The first scrimmage will be held Friday at 4 PM on the practice fields.

Lewis Becomes More "Approachable"

Not a real interesting article, but might be a worth a read if you are an ISU fan, and I know there are a few of you lurking around here. The article talks about Coach Lewis' relationship with the players.

New Offensive Coordinator For Portland State

Okay so this isn't exactly "new" news, but I hadn't updated this bad boy for awhile and this was worthy of being posted, so here goes. On 4/3, the Vikings named Jeff Hoover their new offensive coordinator.

Hoover will take over the Viking offense during spring football drills, which begin on April 19. He has spent 15 seasons in collegiate coaching, including five under Walsh with the Vikings. Following his time at PSU, Hoover spent five seasons as the offensive line coach at Utah State. Last year, he was the offensive coordinator and line coach for Henderson State in Arkansas.

Bobcats Land Two Transfers

The Bobcats landed two transfers this week: RB/S Taylor Rank of South Carolina, and DE/LB Reyshawn Bobo, from Washington State. Rank, who had initially been recruited by Montana State, Montana, Portland State, Washington, and several other IA schools, decided to transfer from South Carolina to Montana State, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported this morning. He will be a redshirt-freshman who looks to add depth to the MSU running game, or possibly play S if needed. Bobo comes in as a junior from Washington State, where he rarely saw the field. His specialty is at pass-rushing, where the Bobcats were not very strong last year.

Bears Hold First Scrimmage

Northern Colorado held its first scrimmage as a member of the Big Sky Conference, and it was a situational scrimmage. A pair of red-zone TDs were scored as the Bears get used to their new head coach and style.

Lumberjacks Conclude First Week Of Practice

New offensive coordinator Keeth Matheny is making his presence felt as the Jacks had a 2 hour workout on campus Saturday morning. QB Jason Murrietta returns for his senior season, and we'll see if he can revert back to his freshman form.

Griz Defense Ahead Of Offense

The Grizzly defense looked strong Saturday during a situational scrimmage held in Kalispell, Montana. Swogger finished 8-19 for 101 yards, including the days only TD, a 28 yard TD strike to fellow transfer Chris Chambers. The Griz also had a pair of nice special teams returns by specialist Ryan Schulte and Tuff Harris. 2,500 were on hand to witness the scrimmage.

MSU Ground Game Shines

Sophmore DB turned RB Chase Gazzerro rushed for 123 yards on 21 carries and one score, and slated started SO Evin Groves added 92 more on 20 carries and the Bobcats rushed for 233 yards on the ground in the annual Triangle Classic held in Great Falls, Monana, in front of a crowd of more than 3,000. The passing game was held in check by good defensive play and a number of receiver drops.

ISU First Scrimmage Details

Idaho State got a first look at transfer QB Matt Gutierrez and the 2006 version of the Idaho State Bengals, and he did not disssapoint. He was 10-20 for 111 yards and 2 TDs, including a 43 yard touchdown toss to junior wideout Akilah Lacey.

Eagles Start Spring Practice Tomorrow

Eastern Washington will beging their spring practice tomorrow, 4/10. The big question for the Eagles, of course, is who is going to replace Payton award-winner Erik Meyer, Erik Kimble, and Big Sky defensive MVP Joey Cwik.