Offense, Defense Share Spotlight in Saturday Scrimmage
8/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Mark Iddins and Cody Kempt aren't making things easy on Rob Ash.
”My first reaction is that we still have two guys in the race," Ash, Montana State's second-year head coach, said of his team's quarterback competition after Saturday's 110-play scrimmage in Bobcat Stadium. "I would have liked for one guy to establish himself, but I don't think that happened."
Iddins finished the day 10-for-12 passing with a touchdown and an interception, while Kempt was 14-for-23 for 124 yards. Kempt also scored on a two-yard run.
"I thought yesterday Cody edged a little bit ahead," Ash said, "but Mark Iddins had a great day today, so I'd say it's back into a dead-even tie... I thought they both played really well, and we have to go at least another week now and keep working both of them to see what happens."
Ash was pleased with the strides taken by his offense Saturday, particularly in the passing game. "I thought both quarterbacks played well, I thought we protected the ball well. We only had one interception on the day, that was really good ball security on the part of our quarterbacks. They ran well, did good things, so that was good. I thought DeSean Thomas looked good at receiver, and I thought Mark Desin looked good at receiver, and I thought our tight ends played well and caught the ball well."
On the day, the Bobcat offense gained 240 yards in the air and rushed for 107 yards on 36 carries. Ash said Montana State's deep, experienced defensive front serves the stop unit well. "The defensive line is experienced and tough. Kolone and Fletcher and Bartsch, they're tough, they're good, and the linebackers are good, so it's not a surprise to me that we're not moving up and down the field."
Ash and his staff scripted several situations for his team, including drives that started at the five going in and the one coming out. One of the series with the offense operating deep in its own territory provided Ash one of his highlights of the day. "(Tyler) Lulay made an excellent play on that little screen pass (on a third down from the one) and got a first down. The (offense) got two first downs and moved out of there. That was a nice job by the one offense. It was one of their better (drives) of the day."
Sophomore defensive tackle Dan Ogden was in on several key plays, registering two tackles for loss, one of which was a safety, and blocking a kick. All-America linebacker Bobby Daly broke up a pair of passes and roamed sideline-to-sideline for tackles.
The Bobcats take Sunday off from practice before returning for a pair on Monday.
* * *
A handful of key Bobcats missed Saturday's scrimmage with injuries. Center Jim Verlanic's high ankle sprain continues to improve, but he is several days away from returning, as is receiver DeAndre Green (shoulder). Linebacker Chase Gazzerro and safeties Jordan Craney and Kevin Retoriano also sat out with minor injuries. Each remain day-to-day.
* * *
Ash also announced Saturday that sophomore offensive lineman Jeff Miller is academically ineligible for the 2008 season. Ash indicated Miller intends to remain in the program and return as a junior in 2009.
RUSHING
Demetrius Crawford 7-14; Aaron Mason 9-6; CJ Palmer 8-16; Blayde Becksted 3-6; Cody Kempt 4- -6-1; Rick Haluscka 3-26; Darius Bell 1-0.
PASSING
Mark Iddins 13-10-1, 116, 1 TD; Cody Kempt 23-14-0, 124, 0; Darius Bell 2-0-0; Mark Desin 1-0-0; Byron Campbell 1-0-0.
RECEIVING
DeSean Thomas 6-67, Joe Schreibeis 4-51, Mark Desin 4-34, Jesse Anderson 1-3-1, Blayde Becksted 1-4, CJ Palmer 1-5, Tyler Lulay 1-11, Derek Green 1-8, Kyle Begger 1-3.
DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS
Brian Bignell - 1 sack; Tyler Bolton - 1 FR; Jeff Brown - 1 PB; Ryan Cerise - 1 TL; Jason D'Alba - 1 sack; Bobby Daly - 2 PB; Dane Fletcher - 1 sack; Chris Kolone - 1 PB; John Laidet - 1 sack; Dan Ogden - 1 TL, 1 safety, 1 blocked kick; Tanner Ripley 1 PB; Jared Rohrback - 1 PB; Brad Smith, 1 PB; Isaiah Taito - 1 TL; Beau Watkins - 2 PB.
”My first reaction is that we still have two guys in the race," Ash, Montana State's second-year head coach, said of his team's quarterback competition after Saturday's 110-play scrimmage in Bobcat Stadium. "I would have liked for one guy to establish himself, but I don't think that happened."
Iddins finished the day 10-for-12 passing with a touchdown and an interception, while Kempt was 14-for-23 for 124 yards. Kempt also scored on a two-yard run.
"I thought yesterday Cody edged a little bit ahead," Ash said, "but Mark Iddins had a great day today, so I'd say it's back into a dead-even tie... I thought they both played really well, and we have to go at least another week now and keep working both of them to see what happens."
Ash was pleased with the strides taken by his offense Saturday, particularly in the passing game. "I thought both quarterbacks played well, I thought we protected the ball well. We only had one interception on the day, that was really good ball security on the part of our quarterbacks. They ran well, did good things, so that was good. I thought DeSean Thomas looked good at receiver, and I thought Mark Desin looked good at receiver, and I thought our tight ends played well and caught the ball well."
On the day, the Bobcat offense gained 240 yards in the air and rushed for 107 yards on 36 carries. Ash said Montana State's deep, experienced defensive front serves the stop unit well. "The defensive line is experienced and tough. Kolone and Fletcher and Bartsch, they're tough, they're good, and the linebackers are good, so it's not a surprise to me that we're not moving up and down the field."
Ash and his staff scripted several situations for his team, including drives that started at the five going in and the one coming out. One of the series with the offense operating deep in its own territory provided Ash one of his highlights of the day. "(Tyler) Lulay made an excellent play on that little screen pass (on a third down from the one) and got a first down. The (offense) got two first downs and moved out of there. That was a nice job by the one offense. It was one of their better (drives) of the day."
Sophomore defensive tackle Dan Ogden was in on several key plays, registering two tackles for loss, one of which was a safety, and blocking a kick. All-America linebacker Bobby Daly broke up a pair of passes and roamed sideline-to-sideline for tackles.
The Bobcats take Sunday off from practice before returning for a pair on Monday.
* * *
A handful of key Bobcats missed Saturday's scrimmage with injuries. Center Jim Verlanic's high ankle sprain continues to improve, but he is several days away from returning, as is receiver DeAndre Green (shoulder). Linebacker Chase Gazzerro and safeties Jordan Craney and Kevin Retoriano also sat out with minor injuries. Each remain day-to-day.
* * *
Ash also announced Saturday that sophomore offensive lineman Jeff Miller is academically ineligible for the 2008 season. Ash indicated Miller intends to remain in the program and return as a junior in 2009.
RUSHING
Demetrius Crawford 7-14; Aaron Mason 9-6; CJ Palmer 8-16; Blayde Becksted 3-6; Cody Kempt 4- -6-1; Rick Haluscka 3-26; Darius Bell 1-0.
PASSING
Mark Iddins 13-10-1, 116, 1 TD; Cody Kempt 23-14-0, 124, 0; Darius Bell 2-0-0; Mark Desin 1-0-0; Byron Campbell 1-0-0.
RECEIVING
DeSean Thomas 6-67, Joe Schreibeis 4-51, Mark Desin 4-34, Jesse Anderson 1-3-1, Blayde Becksted 1-4, CJ Palmer 1-5, Tyler Lulay 1-11, Derek Green 1-8, Kyle Begger 1-3.
DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS
Brian Bignell - 1 sack; Tyler Bolton - 1 FR; Jeff Brown - 1 PB; Ryan Cerise - 1 TL; Jason D'Alba - 1 sack; Bobby Daly - 2 PB; Dane Fletcher - 1 sack; Chris Kolone - 1 PB; John Laidet - 1 sack; Dan Ogden - 1 TL, 1 safety, 1 blocked kick; Tanner Ripley 1 PB; Jared Rohrback - 1 PB; Brad Smith, 1 PB; Isaiah Taito - 1 TL; Beau Watkins - 2 PB.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
