Bobcat Offense Erupts in Final Scrimmage
8/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Starting quarterback Cory Carpenter threw for 139 yards and a touchdown as Montana State's offense brought the team's fall camp to an end with three touchdowns on the final four varsity drives in Thursday's final preseason scrimmage.
"I liked how Cory played," Kramer said. "He's starting to settle down and realize he's not going to get rolled up on every drive." Carpenter finished 14-for-23 with one touchdown, leading the Bobcat offense to 420 yards on 70 plays and three touchdowns.
Kramer said he saw improved presence from his quarterbacks in the scrimmage, particularly in terms of getting the ball out in the rhythm of the play. "The recognition factor has been OK," he said of his signal callers' plays during fall camp. "The issue is that the alarm goes off and (the quarterbacks are) still in bed. What I mean by that is that they're taking their steps on time and seeing the play, but getting the ball out just a tick too slow. We don't need a quarterback with a strong arm, we need one with a quick mind. They both improved (in that area) today."
The Bobcat offense scored its first touchdown on a 51-yard Evin Groves scamper on MSU's 15th series of the scrimmage. MSU's defense forced a three-and-out possession against the second offense on the ensuing offensive series, but Carpenter engineered a 73-yard touchdown drive, capped by a Michael Jefferson eight-yard touchdown catch. Reserve quarterback Jack Rolovich led a 76-yard scoring drive on the final full drive of the afternoon, with Aaron Mason scampering 27 yards for a score.
Groves' touchdown run boosted him to a 96-yard afternoon on nine carries. Mason also ran for 48 yards on seven tries. Jefferson caught seven passes for 66 yards and the touchdown. Tyler Lulay caught five balls for 42 yards. "Michael Jefferson put a stamp on this football program today that hopefully will bode well for this program. Evin found some creases and was able to get off a good run when the offensive line got a push. And Cory really started getting in a groove."
The lasting impression of the scrimmage may be the offensive eruption at the end, but the Bobcat defense controlled the first three-quarters of the event. The first defense forced three three-and-outs the first six times the starting offense had the ball, and Arnold Briggs and Dan Fletcher each ended drives by the second offense with interceptions, the day's only two turnovers.
Montana State begins preparing for its season opener on Friday. The 'Cats open the 2006 season on September 2 at Colorado.
RUSHING: Evin Groves 9-96-1, Aaron Mason 7-48, Brandon Grimsley 3-1, Tyler Lulay 1-0, Blayde Becksted 3-23.
PASSING: Corey Carpenter 22-14-0, 139, 1; Jack Rolovich 18-12-2, 113, 0; Jordan Rasmussen 3-2-0, 14, 0.
RECEIVING: Michael Jefferson 7-66-1, Tyler Lulay 5-42, Tyler Bolton 2-36, Josh Lewis 2-23, Ty McDonald 2-13, Derek Green 2-10, Evin Groves 1-12, Kyle Begger 2-13, Joe Schreibeis 1-1, Deon Toliver 1-5, Brnadon Grimsley 1-4, Mark Desin 1-10, Brandon Bostick 1-20.
DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS: Sacks -- Bryant Matthews, Aaron Papich, Dane Fletcher (2), Reyshawn Bobo, Dane Fletcher, Matt Peebles. Pass Breakups -- Bryant Matthews, Brandon Hoffenbacker, Josh Peterson, Andre Fuller, Kory Austin, Matt Peebles. Interceptions -- Arnold Briggs, Dane Fletcher.
"I liked how Cory played," Kramer said. "He's starting to settle down and realize he's not going to get rolled up on every drive." Carpenter finished 14-for-23 with one touchdown, leading the Bobcat offense to 420 yards on 70 plays and three touchdowns.
Kramer said he saw improved presence from his quarterbacks in the scrimmage, particularly in terms of getting the ball out in the rhythm of the play. "The recognition factor has been OK," he said of his signal callers' plays during fall camp. "The issue is that the alarm goes off and (the quarterbacks are) still in bed. What I mean by that is that they're taking their steps on time and seeing the play, but getting the ball out just a tick too slow. We don't need a quarterback with a strong arm, we need one with a quick mind. They both improved (in that area) today."
The Bobcat offense scored its first touchdown on a 51-yard Evin Groves scamper on MSU's 15th series of the scrimmage. MSU's defense forced a three-and-out possession against the second offense on the ensuing offensive series, but Carpenter engineered a 73-yard touchdown drive, capped by a Michael Jefferson eight-yard touchdown catch. Reserve quarterback Jack Rolovich led a 76-yard scoring drive on the final full drive of the afternoon, with Aaron Mason scampering 27 yards for a score.
Groves' touchdown run boosted him to a 96-yard afternoon on nine carries. Mason also ran for 48 yards on seven tries. Jefferson caught seven passes for 66 yards and the touchdown. Tyler Lulay caught five balls for 42 yards. "Michael Jefferson put a stamp on this football program today that hopefully will bode well for this program. Evin found some creases and was able to get off a good run when the offensive line got a push. And Cory really started getting in a groove."
The lasting impression of the scrimmage may be the offensive eruption at the end, but the Bobcat defense controlled the first three-quarters of the event. The first defense forced three three-and-outs the first six times the starting offense had the ball, and Arnold Briggs and Dan Fletcher each ended drives by the second offense with interceptions, the day's only two turnovers.
Montana State begins preparing for its season opener on Friday. The 'Cats open the 2006 season on September 2 at Colorado.
RUSHING: Evin Groves 9-96-1, Aaron Mason 7-48, Brandon Grimsley 3-1, Tyler Lulay 1-0, Blayde Becksted 3-23.
PASSING: Corey Carpenter 22-14-0, 139, 1; Jack Rolovich 18-12-2, 113, 0; Jordan Rasmussen 3-2-0, 14, 0.
RECEIVING: Michael Jefferson 7-66-1, Tyler Lulay 5-42, Tyler Bolton 2-36, Josh Lewis 2-23, Ty McDonald 2-13, Derek Green 2-10, Evin Groves 1-12, Kyle Begger 2-13, Joe Schreibeis 1-1, Deon Toliver 1-5, Brnadon Grimsley 1-4, Mark Desin 1-10, Brandon Bostick 1-20.
DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS: Sacks -- Bryant Matthews, Aaron Papich, Dane Fletcher (2), Reyshawn Bobo, Dane Fletcher, Matt Peebles. Pass Breakups -- Bryant Matthews, Brandon Hoffenbacker, Josh Peterson, Andre Fuller, Kory Austin, Matt Peebles. Interceptions -- Arnold Briggs, Dane Fletcher.
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