Carpenter, Defense Shine in Spring Finale
4/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Junior quarterback Cory Carpenter threw for 198 yards but the Bobcat defense finished the Sonny Holland Spring Classic with a 25-17 win over the offense to finish Montana State's spring drills on Wednesday.
Evin Groves capped the day's first drive, which covered 70 yards, with a six-yard run. The offense also scored on a 21-yard Eric Fisher field goal, and a 24-yard pass from Cory Carpenter to Michael Jefferson.
Kramer lauded Carpenter's play, but said he has considerable ground to cover before Montana State opens the 2006 season at Colorado on September 2. "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."
Carpenter finished Wednesday's scrimmage 19-for-28 with 198 yards, and threw the day's only touchdown pass. Jack Rolovich, a junior transfer from Hawaii, finished 4-for-9 passing for 27 yards with the day's only turnover, an interception.
Montana State's three tailbacks combined for 127 yards rushing, with sophomore Evin Groves leading the way with 53 yards on 17 carries. "Evin was very good today," Kramer said. "He searched a little for the longer run. I thought the offensive line blocked really well." Isaiah Taito rushed for 43 yards and Chase Gazzerro gained 31.
While surrendering several outstanding individual performances, the Bobcat defense took over a long stretch of the scrimmage. The defense registered six straight stops after the initial scoring drive, scoring seven points under a scoring system that rewarded two points for a three-and-out and one point for other stops.
"The defense came up with stop after stop after stop," Kramer said. The MSU defense registered eight straight stops to finish the scrimmage, and had nine three-and-out stops on the afternoon. Nine different Bobcats registered one sack each, while Epikopo King and Dane Fletcher each registered other tackles-for-loss.
Carpenter said he is happy with the progress MSU's offense made during the spring. "For a final day, we did some good things," he said. "It was a good way for the offense to cap off the spring."
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).
Evin Groves capped the day's first drive, which covered 70 yards, with a six-yard run. The offense also scored on a 21-yard Eric Fisher field goal, and a 24-yard pass from Cory Carpenter to Michael Jefferson.
Kramer lauded Carpenter's play, but said he has considerable ground to cover before Montana State opens the 2006 season at Colorado on September 2. "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."
Carpenter finished Wednesday's scrimmage 19-for-28 with 198 yards, and threw the day's only touchdown pass. Jack Rolovich, a junior transfer from Hawaii, finished 4-for-9 passing for 27 yards with the day's only turnover, an interception.
Montana State's three tailbacks combined for 127 yards rushing, with sophomore Evin Groves leading the way with 53 yards on 17 carries. "Evin was very good today," Kramer said. "He searched a little for the longer run. I thought the offensive line blocked really well." Isaiah Taito rushed for 43 yards and Chase Gazzerro gained 31.
While surrendering several outstanding individual performances, the Bobcat defense took over a long stretch of the scrimmage. The defense registered six straight stops after the initial scoring drive, scoring seven points under a scoring system that rewarded two points for a three-and-out and one point for other stops.
"The defense came up with stop after stop after stop," Kramer said. The MSU defense registered eight straight stops to finish the scrimmage, and had nine three-and-out stops on the afternoon. Nine different Bobcats registered one sack each, while Epikopo King and Dane Fletcher each registered other tackles-for-loss.
Carpenter said he is happy with the progress MSU's offense made during the spring. "For a final day, we did some good things," he said. "It was a good way for the offense to cap off the spring."
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).
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