Scrimmage Recap: 8/24/04

Yesterday afternoon was the final scrimmage of the 2004 training camp for WMU football. With a few key players held out with minor nagging injuries it was time for some of the less heralded players to shine.

The highlight of the scrimmage was a Robbie Haas engineered 80-yard touchdown drive with the second offense against the second defense. Nick Saad had several long carries, including a couple first downs, to help march the offense up the field.

The drive was capped by a simple slant route catch by Tony Scheffler, who had just subbed in, and a shake-n-bake move to leave Shawntey Lopez in the dust and run in for the touchdown almost untouched by the defense.

Saad also had a highlight reel run on a hand off from Blayne Baggett that turned into a 60-yard touchdown. Showing explosive speed Saad broke a tackle and then outran the remaining defense in the race for the end zone.

Haas led a second long drive with many of the third team players on offense against the third team defense. To move up the field Joe Chapple caught a short pass and then ran 15 yards up field in traffic for the first down.

The ball was then moved most of the rest of the way up field single handedly by freshman running back Mark Bonds. Bonds ran for three first downs to move the offense inside the red zone. Scoring on the drive was in the form of a soft pass from Haas into Eugene Childs’ waiting hands in the end zone for the touchdown.

Others making good plays on offense were Tyrone Walker with a 15-yard catch, Marc Orosz with a 10-yard run on third team offense, Nate Meyer hitting a 45-yard field goal and Kelly Martin earning a first down on an acrobatic catch of a Baggett thrown ball.

On defense the day was all about the young players. Redshirt freshman nose guard Dezmond Gray, playing while injured, came up with a backfield tackle on Daniel Marks and a sack of Baggett. Also earning a sack was sophomore cornerback DeRae Allen.

Coming up with the day’s only interception was third string linebacker Steve Robbins picking off a tipped pass from walk-on quarterback Charley Molnar.

Perhaps the most pleasant surprise of all camp has been the play of freshman Scooter McIntosh at safety. McIntosh came up with a pair of tackles for a loss on the second team defense playing against the first team offense. McIntosh was also solid on pass coverage smothering some of the Bronco’s most talented receivers.

Missing from the action yesterday were Ryan Cubit, Greg Jennings, Trovon Riley and Tyson DeVree. All stood on the sidelines to prevent aggravating nagging injuries and to give some of the other players a chance to shine in front of the coaches.

The quarterback race is almost over as well. Blayne Baggett took the snaps for the first team offense today, while Cubit nursed his injury, and made a strong case for being named starter. The announcement of who will be named starter is expected today or tomorrow after being delayed due to injuries to both players throughout camp.

The Broncos will break camp after an afternoon practice tomorrow, just one week before the first game of the season. The Broncos will return to the practice field this weekend to begin normal game week preparations in anticipation of Division-1AA opponent Tennessee-Martin on CommUniverCity Night.