Kramer Says Results Mixed in Final Scrimmage
9/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
With several of his projected starters shelved by injuries, Mike Kramer walked away from Montana State's final fall scrimmage on Thursday with several unanswered questions.
There's one spot, though, that left no doubt in Kramer's mind. "The defensive front seven is ready to roll," Kramer said with just over a week before MSU's season opener against Adams State. "I really like how they played. Darryl Rogers had a couple of sacks, Epi King really ran to the ball well. The defense applied years of knowledge to the way they prepared and played (Thursday)."
Wide receiver Brandon Roosevelt, tailback Morris Milton and fullback Jason Gathing were held out with injuries, and receiver Rick Gatewood went down with a sprained ankle on the scrimmage's first play. The offensive personnel shortage left Kramer wanting to see more before the season opener. "We did not get done today what we needed to get done to give me a modicum of confidence going into the game," he said. "It will be an anxious week for us."
The Bobcat offense had its moments on Thursday. Junior quarterback Travis Lulay engineered three scoring drives. The Bobcat offense drove 66 yards on seven plays, capped by a 28-yard scoring strike to Chaz Guinn. Justin Domineck capped the team's second scoring drive with a one-yard run -- he accounted for all 37 yards on the drive -- and Lulay hooked up with Guinn on a 25-yard scoring pass.
Lulay finished the scrimmage 10-for-17 passing for 164 yards and two touchdowns, while Domineck carried 11 times for 60 yards and Guinn caught four passes for 66 yards and a pair of scores. Tailback Jimmy Beal carried 10 times for 26 yards.
Kramer was pleased with his team for eliminating many of the mistakes it showed in Saturday's first scrimmage. "I thought it was (cleaner)," he said, "especially in the kicking game. Last time we had seven penalties in the kicking game, and today we had one. The execution was much better."
While Travis Lulay punted well and Travis Doroski kicked off consistently inside the five yard line, Kramer indicated that the place-kicking situation was not resolved. "We'll take that battle into next week," Kramer said. "That job is still open, and we'll decide it based on my feeling at the end of next week as to who will perform better in game situations."
Kramer said the Bobcats will practice on Friday and Saturday, take Sunday off, practice light on Monday, then enter a typical week of game preparation.
SCRIMMAGE STATISTICS
Rushing: Justin Domineck 11-60-1, Jimmy Beal 10-26.
Passing: Travis Lulay 17-10-0, 164, 2; Rick Coppack 11-6-0, 62, 0.
Receiving: Chaz Guinn 4-66-2, Matt McCullough 2-47, Eddie Sullivan 2-12, Rick Gatewood 1-16, Blake Wolf 1-9, Kellen Alley 1-35, Tyler Lulay 1- -10, Justin Domineck 1-5, Jaren Stensland 1-5.
Defensive Highlights: Sacks -- Clive Lowe 2, Daryl Rogers 2, Aaron Papich, Nick Marudas; Forced Fumbles -- Clive Lowe, Brandon Eggart; Pass Breakups -- Roger Cooper, Kory Austin.
There's one spot, though, that left no doubt in Kramer's mind. "The defensive front seven is ready to roll," Kramer said with just over a week before MSU's season opener against Adams State. "I really like how they played. Darryl Rogers had a couple of sacks, Epi King really ran to the ball well. The defense applied years of knowledge to the way they prepared and played (Thursday)."
Wide receiver Brandon Roosevelt, tailback Morris Milton and fullback Jason Gathing were held out with injuries, and receiver Rick Gatewood went down with a sprained ankle on the scrimmage's first play. The offensive personnel shortage left Kramer wanting to see more before the season opener. "We did not get done today what we needed to get done to give me a modicum of confidence going into the game," he said. "It will be an anxious week for us."
The Bobcat offense had its moments on Thursday. Junior quarterback Travis Lulay engineered three scoring drives. The Bobcat offense drove 66 yards on seven plays, capped by a 28-yard scoring strike to Chaz Guinn. Justin Domineck capped the team's second scoring drive with a one-yard run -- he accounted for all 37 yards on the drive -- and Lulay hooked up with Guinn on a 25-yard scoring pass.
Lulay finished the scrimmage 10-for-17 passing for 164 yards and two touchdowns, while Domineck carried 11 times for 60 yards and Guinn caught four passes for 66 yards and a pair of scores. Tailback Jimmy Beal carried 10 times for 26 yards.
Kramer was pleased with his team for eliminating many of the mistakes it showed in Saturday's first scrimmage. "I thought it was (cleaner)," he said, "especially in the kicking game. Last time we had seven penalties in the kicking game, and today we had one. The execution was much better."
While Travis Lulay punted well and Travis Doroski kicked off consistently inside the five yard line, Kramer indicated that the place-kicking situation was not resolved. "We'll take that battle into next week," Kramer said. "That job is still open, and we'll decide it based on my feeling at the end of next week as to who will perform better in game situations."
Kramer said the Bobcats will practice on Friday and Saturday, take Sunday off, practice light on Monday, then enter a typical week of game preparation.
SCRIMMAGE STATISTICS
Rushing: Justin Domineck 11-60-1, Jimmy Beal 10-26.
Passing: Travis Lulay 17-10-0, 164, 2; Rick Coppack 11-6-0, 62, 0.
Receiving: Chaz Guinn 4-66-2, Matt McCullough 2-47, Eddie Sullivan 2-12, Rick Gatewood 1-16, Blake Wolf 1-9, Kellen Alley 1-35, Tyler Lulay 1- -10, Justin Domineck 1-5, Jaren Stensland 1-5.
Defensive Highlights: Sacks -- Clive Lowe 2, Daryl Rogers 2, Aaron Papich, Nick Marudas; Forced Fumbles -- Clive Lowe, Brandon Eggart; Pass Breakups -- Roger Cooper, Kory Austin.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
