The Defense Shines in First Fall Camp Scrimmage for Weber State Add Comment    Sep 03, 2010

The Defense had its way on Saturday in the first full scrimmage of 2010 Fall football for the Weber State University Wildcats. The purple clad defense allowed just one score during the 90 minute, 75 play scrimmage, and stopped three drives with interceptions.

     It was a defensive scrimmage the entire morning. They made a lot of big plays and controlled the tempo of the game, said Weber State head football coach, Ron McBride. Except for one nice drive, the offense was basically non-productive. It baffles me because over the last couple of day, they had been moving the ball very well. We took a couple of steps backwards, so I will look at the film and determine what we need to do to correct it.

    The defense set the tone for the day on the very first series of the morning when a pass from Cameron Higgins was batted in the air by a couple of defensive linemen and linebacker Nick Webb rushed in and picked it out of the air.

    The defense then made two more stops before the offense finally found pay dirt on the fourth series.  Starting at their own 30, they marched 70 yards in just four plays. The key play in the drive was a 56-yard run by freshman running back ALEMA KEY (6-0, 215 / Springville, Utah). He took it to the 12-yard line.  Key got the call on the next play and dashed in for the touchdown.  He led all ball carriers with five rushes for 86 yards.

     VAI TAFUNA (6-1, 245 Sr. RB) had 13 carries for 55 yards and red-shirt freshman JOSH BOOKER (6-0, 215) carried 11 times for 53 yards.

     Veteran quarterback, CAMERON HIGGINS (6-2, 215 Sr.) took most of the reps, completing 11-22 passes for 129 yards.  MIKE HOKE (6-2, 215 Soph.) looked sharp hitting 5-6 passes for 42-yards.  Red-shirt freshman JORDAN ADAMCZYK (6-1, 200) was 2-7 for 30 yards.

      The quarterbacks had everyone involved with six receivers catching at least two passes.  JORDAN CLEMENTE (6-4, 215 Rs.Fr.) led the pack with three catches for 43 yards. SHAYDON KEHANO (5-11, 175 Fr.) and ERIK WALKER (5-10, 170 Fr.) each caught three passes for 32 and 31 yards, respectively.

     Defensively, just about everyone got into the act.  ANTHONY MORALES (6-0, 225 RsFr.) had the most tackles with eight (two unassisted).  University of Utah transfer MAURICE NEAL (6-2, 235 Jr.) had three nice unassisted stops from the strong side spots. WILLIE OKWUONU (6-0, 195 RsFr.) five tackles, three unassisted, playing at cornerback.

     The only negative about the defense today was the fact they received three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, said McBride. We obviously want them to play with spirit and enthusiasm, but they also need to learn to control those emotions. Those are the penalties which lead to losing a game.

     The Wildcats resume practices on Monday, August 16th.   Next Saturday, August 21st, will be the Wildcat Fanfest for the final major scrimmage of Fall camp.

-Utah College Sports News staff and wire reports

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Utah College Sports Wire