Bobcats Solid in Spring Scrimmage
4/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
I’m relieved, Kramer laughed after his team finished its 76-play scrimmage. "The most important thing is that we got through it. I’m ecstatic that we made 80 plays on the 15th practice after going into spring ball with only seven (healthy) offensive linemen, two of whom are converted tight ends, and three of whom are walk-ons, with one returning all-conference player (Brent Swaggert) who played every position this spring."
Montana State’s defense forced two turnovers and registered four sacks and three other tackles-for-loss, but sophomore quarterback Travis Lulay was effective moving MSU’s first offensive unit against the defense that has allowed the fewest yards in the Big Sky in the last two straight seasons. Lulay was 16-for-28 passing for 171 yards and threw the day’s only touchdown.
"Travis was moving the ball today against a high-quality defense that really knows what he’s trying to do," Kramer said. "Today is as uphill as it will ever be for Travis. The defense really wanted to play, they really wanted to set the tone and the tempo. They wanted to have a summer where they could feel they did things right. Travis looked into the teeth of that and still moved his club."
Tight end Blake Wolf, a fourth-year junior next fall, was a central focus of the Bobcat offense on Saturday. He caught four passes for 60 yards, including catches of 27 and 20 yards. "It was a matter of Blake being in a position to accept responsibility that he has to catch the ball," Kramer said. "We challenged him this week to work to get open, and he found some openness and didn’t drop the ball. He took every rep in the spring as the tight end. He was the only one."
Lulay credited Wolf with being a big part of MSU’s offense during the scrimmage. "The tight end is something we can use," he said. "When Blake’s making plays like that for us like he did today, I don’t know how many catches he had, but that’s just another weapon."
Senior safety Kane Ioane was spectacular in leading the MSU defense. He two pass breakups and a tackle-for-loss. Defensive end Adam Cordeiro had a forced fumble, which was recovered by Jay Hackett, and a tackle-for-loss. DeAngelo Wall intercepted a Brent Owens pass.
Montana State’s ground game showed flashes of life on Saturday. David Mayfield carried seven times for 52 yards, including a scintillating 40-yard run. Mike Williams added 38 yards on 11 carries, and was effective both on the perimeter and between the tackles. Jimmy Beal, who spent only the second half of the spring at running back, gained two yards and left early with an ankle injury. The negative mark was Mayfield’s fumble inside the 10 yard line.
"We wiggled free for some nice gains, but I’ll carry through the summer a fumble in the red zone," Kramer said. "David understands that. You do not fumble in the red zone. I can not be more emphatic about that. Michael showed some promise today. He had a real rough spring, because he was injured with his wrist and he had a bad hamstring. But today he showed flashes of the player he can become."
Lulay led the Bobcat offense on one sustained drive in each half. On his third possession of the first half, Lulay engineered a 67 yard drive that culminated in a six-yard scoring pass to junior college transfer Eddie Sullivan. On his second possession of the second half, Lulay moved the team from its own 20 to deep in the defense’s territory before Mayfield’s fumble. Backup quarterback Brent Owens was 8-for-15 on the afternoon.
Kramer will carry positive feelings from spring ball throughout the summer, he said, and looks forward to opening the season on August 30 at Wyoming. "I thought we were very effective today. I thought it looked good today. I feel good about the way we played and the things we did offensively and defensively, and I’m anxious to get to Laramie."
RUSHING: Mike Williams 11-38, David Mayfield 7-52, Jimmy Beal 5-2. Total: 23-92. PASSING: Travis Lulay 28-16-0, 171, 1 TD; Brent Owens 15-8-1, 48, 0. Total: 43-24-1, 219, 1.
RECEIVING: Brandon Roosevelt 6-53, Blake Wolf 4-60, Corey Smith 3-20, Jesse Wegner 3-12, Ryan Elliott 2-13, Eddie Sullivan 2-18-1, Matt McCullough 1-7, Jimmy Beal 1-3, David Mayfield 1-20, Mike Williams 1-11.
DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS: Kahiam Hunter 1 PB, 1 sack; Adam Cordeiro 1 TL, 1 FF; Ray Sebestyen 1 sack; Kane Ioane 2 PB, 1 TL; Claude Boiteau 1 sack; Grant Elliott 1 PB; Jay Hackett 2 PB, 1 FR; Brandon Eggart 1 PB; Demond Goins 1 PB; Nick Barbero 1 sack.
Montana State’s defense forced two turnovers and registered four sacks and three other tackles-for-loss, but sophomore quarterback Travis Lulay was effective moving MSU’s first offensive unit against the defense that has allowed the fewest yards in the Big Sky in the last two straight seasons. Lulay was 16-for-28 passing for 171 yards and threw the day’s only touchdown.
"Travis was moving the ball today against a high-quality defense that really knows what he’s trying to do," Kramer said. "Today is as uphill as it will ever be for Travis. The defense really wanted to play, they really wanted to set the tone and the tempo. They wanted to have a summer where they could feel they did things right. Travis looked into the teeth of that and still moved his club."
Tight end Blake Wolf, a fourth-year junior next fall, was a central focus of the Bobcat offense on Saturday. He caught four passes for 60 yards, including catches of 27 and 20 yards. "It was a matter of Blake being in a position to accept responsibility that he has to catch the ball," Kramer said. "We challenged him this week to work to get open, and he found some openness and didn’t drop the ball. He took every rep in the spring as the tight end. He was the only one."
Lulay credited Wolf with being a big part of MSU’s offense during the scrimmage. "The tight end is something we can use," he said. "When Blake’s making plays like that for us like he did today, I don’t know how many catches he had, but that’s just another weapon."
Senior safety Kane Ioane was spectacular in leading the MSU defense. He two pass breakups and a tackle-for-loss. Defensive end Adam Cordeiro had a forced fumble, which was recovered by Jay Hackett, and a tackle-for-loss. DeAngelo Wall intercepted a Brent Owens pass.
Montana State’s ground game showed flashes of life on Saturday. David Mayfield carried seven times for 52 yards, including a scintillating 40-yard run. Mike Williams added 38 yards on 11 carries, and was effective both on the perimeter and between the tackles. Jimmy Beal, who spent only the second half of the spring at running back, gained two yards and left early with an ankle injury. The negative mark was Mayfield’s fumble inside the 10 yard line.
"We wiggled free for some nice gains, but I’ll carry through the summer a fumble in the red zone," Kramer said. "David understands that. You do not fumble in the red zone. I can not be more emphatic about that. Michael showed some promise today. He had a real rough spring, because he was injured with his wrist and he had a bad hamstring. But today he showed flashes of the player he can become."
Lulay led the Bobcat offense on one sustained drive in each half. On his third possession of the first half, Lulay engineered a 67 yard drive that culminated in a six-yard scoring pass to junior college transfer Eddie Sullivan. On his second possession of the second half, Lulay moved the team from its own 20 to deep in the defense’s territory before Mayfield’s fumble. Backup quarterback Brent Owens was 8-for-15 on the afternoon.
Kramer will carry positive feelings from spring ball throughout the summer, he said, and looks forward to opening the season on August 30 at Wyoming. "I thought we were very effective today. I thought it looked good today. I feel good about the way we played and the things we did offensively and defensively, and I’m anxious to get to Laramie."
RUSHING: Mike Williams 11-38, David Mayfield 7-52, Jimmy Beal 5-2. Total: 23-92. PASSING: Travis Lulay 28-16-0, 171, 1 TD; Brent Owens 15-8-1, 48, 0. Total: 43-24-1, 219, 1.
RECEIVING: Brandon Roosevelt 6-53, Blake Wolf 4-60, Corey Smith 3-20, Jesse Wegner 3-12, Ryan Elliott 2-13, Eddie Sullivan 2-18-1, Matt McCullough 1-7, Jimmy Beal 1-3, David Mayfield 1-20, Mike Williams 1-11.
DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS: Kahiam Hunter 1 PB, 1 sack; Adam Cordeiro 1 TL, 1 FF; Ray Sebestyen 1 sack; Kane Ioane 2 PB, 1 TL; Claude Boiteau 1 sack; Grant Elliott 1 PB; Jay Hackett 2 PB, 1 FR; Brandon Eggart 1 PB; Demond Goins 1 PB; Nick Barbero 1 sack.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
