Young QBs Shine Saturday
4/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
The future of the Bobcat football program looked solid on Montana State's unofficial "Turn Ahead the Clock Day."
With senior All-America signal caller Travis Lulay in street clothes, sophomore quarterbacks Rick Coppack and Cory Carpenter combined to throw for 198 yards on 21-for-30 passing with a touchdown and an interception. "Pretty good," was Mike Kramer's assessment following the 75-play scrimmage. "I don't want to stand on the table and anoint one of them the answer, but I like both these guys. They played well."
Senior receiver Tramaine Murray, a transfer from Washington State, was the main beneficiary of the accurate passing. Murray caught six passes for 80 yards, and showed explosiveness after the catch. Freshman Mike Brown caught three passes for 40 yards. "The young wide-outs were really good, I can't even name just one as a standout," Coppack said. "Tramaine Murray was very good. Everyone did their jobs today."
The Bobcat defense held Carpenter in check on the first two series of the day. The offense went three-and-out in the first series, and gained just one first down in the second. Carpenter then engineered a 65-yard touchdown drive on the next series, capped by a three-yard Jason Gathing run. Murray caught a pair of passes on the drive, but Carpenter made the big play with his legs, scampering 33 yards on a quarterback draw.
"I was feeling pretty mobile today," Carpenter laughed, "even if the coaches don't always think I am."
Coppack's start was equally shaky. The defense stopped the offense on three plays on Coppack's first series, on four plays on the second, and forced an interception for the day's only turnover on the third. Then Coppack marched the offense 45 yards for a score, carrying two yards himself for the score. Murray caught an 11-yarder and Brown a 16-yarder on the drive.
The Bobcat ground game, displayed on an extensive basis for the first time this spring, was productive. Senior starter Justin Domineck gained 42 yards on seven carries, scoring a pair of touchdowns, while Jason Gathing also scored twice. Evin Groves did not disappoint in his first public appearance, gaining 35 yards on seven carries and scoring a touchdown. Groves showed outstanding burst and elusiveness.
"I liked all three tailbacks," Kramer said. "Justin looked good. Evin Groves has excellent quickness and good change-of-direction ability. Literally the most improved player on the offense since last year is Jason Gathing. He continues to improve."
The day's down note came on defense, where nose tackle Andy Matakis suffered an ACL injury that is expected to shelve him for several months. Matakis' backup Louis Saucedo also saw his spring end with a knee injury, which is not expected to be as serious. Offensive linemen Brant Birkeland and Zack Wolf also missed the scrimmage and are likely finished for the spring with injuries.
RUSHING: Justin Domineck 13-42-2, Jason Gathing 7-15-2, Evin Groves 7-35-1, Rick Coppack 6-27-1, Cory Carpenter 5-23.
PASSING: Rick Coppack 18-12-1, 107, 1 TD; Cory Carpenter 12-9-0, 91, 0.
RECEIVING: Tramaine Murray 6-80, Mike Brown 3-40, Tyler Lulay 3-22-1, Justin Domineck 2-10, Nick Parker 2-8, Toby Rundle 2-17, Evin Groves 1-10, Jason Gathing 1-7, Ty McDonald 1-4.
KICKING: Tyler Bolton 7-7 PATs, 2-4 FGs (made 27, 23; Missed 32, 41).
DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS: Toph Grenfell-1 Int; Clive Lowe-4 TL; Sean Neill-1 sack; Aaron Papick-1 sack, 2 TL; Jason Macciola-1 TL; Wes Mauia-1 TL; Mac Mollohan-1 PB; Kahiam Hunter-1 PB; Epi King-1 PB.
SCORING SUMMARY
Jason Gathing three-yard run (Bolton), 8 plays-65 yards-Cory Carpenter at quarterback
Rick Coppack two-yard run (Bolton), 5-45-Rick Coppack
Justin Domineck four-yard run (Bolton), 6-45-Carpenter
Tyler Bolton 23-yard FG, 5-25-Coppack
Tyler Lulay 10-yard catch from Rick Coppack (Bolton), 6-25- Coppack
Tyler Bolton 27-yard field goal, 4-25- Coppack
Evin Groves nine-yard run (Bolton), 4-25- Coppack
Justin Domineck seven-yard run (Bolton), 3-15-Coppack
Jason Gathing seven-yard run (Bolton), 3-15-Coppack
With senior All-America signal caller Travis Lulay in street clothes, sophomore quarterbacks Rick Coppack and Cory Carpenter combined to throw for 198 yards on 21-for-30 passing with a touchdown and an interception. "Pretty good," was Mike Kramer's assessment following the 75-play scrimmage. "I don't want to stand on the table and anoint one of them the answer, but I like both these guys. They played well."
Senior receiver Tramaine Murray, a transfer from Washington State, was the main beneficiary of the accurate passing. Murray caught six passes for 80 yards, and showed explosiveness after the catch. Freshman Mike Brown caught three passes for 40 yards. "The young wide-outs were really good, I can't even name just one as a standout," Coppack said. "Tramaine Murray was very good. Everyone did their jobs today."
The Bobcat defense held Carpenter in check on the first two series of the day. The offense went three-and-out in the first series, and gained just one first down in the second. Carpenter then engineered a 65-yard touchdown drive on the next series, capped by a three-yard Jason Gathing run. Murray caught a pair of passes on the drive, but Carpenter made the big play with his legs, scampering 33 yards on a quarterback draw.
"I was feeling pretty mobile today," Carpenter laughed, "even if the coaches don't always think I am."
Coppack's start was equally shaky. The defense stopped the offense on three plays on Coppack's first series, on four plays on the second, and forced an interception for the day's only turnover on the third. Then Coppack marched the offense 45 yards for a score, carrying two yards himself for the score. Murray caught an 11-yarder and Brown a 16-yarder on the drive.
The Bobcat ground game, displayed on an extensive basis for the first time this spring, was productive. Senior starter Justin Domineck gained 42 yards on seven carries, scoring a pair of touchdowns, while Jason Gathing also scored twice. Evin Groves did not disappoint in his first public appearance, gaining 35 yards on seven carries and scoring a touchdown. Groves showed outstanding burst and elusiveness.
"I liked all three tailbacks," Kramer said. "Justin looked good. Evin Groves has excellent quickness and good change-of-direction ability. Literally the most improved player on the offense since last year is Jason Gathing. He continues to improve."
The day's down note came on defense, where nose tackle Andy Matakis suffered an ACL injury that is expected to shelve him for several months. Matakis' backup Louis Saucedo also saw his spring end with a knee injury, which is not expected to be as serious. Offensive linemen Brant Birkeland and Zack Wolf also missed the scrimmage and are likely finished for the spring with injuries.
RUSHING: Justin Domineck 13-42-2, Jason Gathing 7-15-2, Evin Groves 7-35-1, Rick Coppack 6-27-1, Cory Carpenter 5-23.
PASSING: Rick Coppack 18-12-1, 107, 1 TD; Cory Carpenter 12-9-0, 91, 0.
RECEIVING: Tramaine Murray 6-80, Mike Brown 3-40, Tyler Lulay 3-22-1, Justin Domineck 2-10, Nick Parker 2-8, Toby Rundle 2-17, Evin Groves 1-10, Jason Gathing 1-7, Ty McDonald 1-4.
KICKING: Tyler Bolton 7-7 PATs, 2-4 FGs (made 27, 23; Missed 32, 41).
DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS: Toph Grenfell-1 Int; Clive Lowe-4 TL; Sean Neill-1 sack; Aaron Papick-1 sack, 2 TL; Jason Macciola-1 TL; Wes Mauia-1 TL; Mac Mollohan-1 PB; Kahiam Hunter-1 PB; Epi King-1 PB.
SCORING SUMMARY
Jason Gathing three-yard run (Bolton), 8 plays-65 yards-Cory Carpenter at quarterback
Rick Coppack two-yard run (Bolton), 5-45-Rick Coppack
Justin Domineck four-yard run (Bolton), 6-45-Carpenter
Tyler Bolton 23-yard FG, 5-25-Coppack
Tyler Lulay 10-yard catch from Rick Coppack (Bolton), 6-25- Coppack
Tyler Bolton 27-yard field goal, 4-25- Coppack
Evin Groves nine-yard run (Bolton), 4-25- Coppack
Justin Domineck seven-yard run (Bolton), 3-15-Coppack
Jason Gathing seven-yard run (Bolton), 3-15-Coppack
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