Defense shines in first scrimmage
8/13/2009 8:45:00 PM | Football
By Cody Stark, Huntsville Item Assistant Sports Editor
University of Houston transfer quarterback Blake Joseph set up touchdowns with a pair of 65-yard passes to highlight play by the offense in the first game condition scrimmage of the 2009 Sam Houston State preseason football camp.
But it was the Bearkat defense that highlighted the team's first intrasquad scrimmage Thursday night at Bowers Stadium.
Redshirt freshman Mike Littleton and Kilgore College transfer Victor Carmichael each recorded interceptions as the defense forced five turnovers and blocked a punt.
"I thought it was OK. I like the pace that we played at, but we turned it over a few times and had some stupid penalties on the offensive side of the ball," SHSU head coach Todd Whitten said. "We did make some plays and had some young guys, especially on the defensive side of the ball, that made some nice tackles.
"I was pleased all in all, but hopefully from an offensive standpoint we will see a good step up when we scrimmage again a week from now."
The Sam Houston offense did manage to find the end zone four times and freshman kicker Miquel Antonio split the uprights on a 52-yard field goal attempt. But the scoring drives were set up on a long pass plays.
In his first play of the scrimmage, Joseph hit senior wide receiver Jake Lebens for a 52-yard gain before the Houston transfer eventually took it in from the 1-yard line on a quarterback sneak.
A few series later after the defense recovered a fumble, Joseph hit senior Jason Madkins for a 65-yard reception down to the 2 where senior running back James Aston punched it in.
Toward the end of the scrimmage, Joseph hit fullback Matthew Powledge in the flat and the former Huntsville standout raced down the right sideline for 65 more yards. That eventually led to a 7-yard Lebens' touchdown grab.
Other than that, the defense shut things down. The offense didn't have a scoring drive longer than five plays. The other touchdown came when freshman quarterback Tyler Copeland found Blinn College transfer Brandon Closner from 13 yards out.
"We did hit some big plays, but the biggest deal was that we didn't put together drives," Lebens said. "That's going to come. We are only a week into practice and we are still coming together. We have to eliminate the mistakes, put things on the same page and start executing."
The defense came out firing from the start, bringing multiple blitz packages. Senior defensive end Chris Brown, who recovered a fumble, junior Coty Gatewood and redshirt freshman Marlowe Poitier all registered sacks.
After the defense forced a three and out on the fifth series, freshman defensive back Kenneth Jenkins broke through and blocked a punt that sophomore Calvin Caad recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.
"I think we kind of shocked the offense with how we came with all those blitzes in the first scrimmage," said Littleton, who also had two pass breakups and a tackle for loss. "We executed right, got some interceptions, sacks and forced some fumbles. We did good."
The defense also shut down the running game Thursday. The longest run of the day came on a 17-yard keeper by freshman quarterback Kyle Webster.
The biggest plays the running backs made where Powledge's long reception and a one-handed grab by Aston on a pass from quarterback Bryan Randolph that went for 29 yards.
"I thought the defense controlled the line of scrimmage. That was apparent," Whitten added. "We had trouble, strictly in the run game, getting plays started. If you can't get a running play started, you are going to be in trouble."
The Bearkats scrimmage for the final time Wednesday night at 6.
Sam Houston State will open the 2009 season on Thursday Sept. 3 with a 6 p.m. home game against Western Illinois at Bowers Stadium.
Scrimmage notes
Special teams turning around - It looks like the Bearkats might have found the long-range kicker they desperately needed last season. Freshman Miquel Antonio from Lovelady showed off his leg Thursday by connecting on a 52-yard field goal that would have been good from longer out. He just pushed a 42-yard attempt wide-left, but his kickoffs easily reached the end zone.
Senior Taylor Wilkins was perfect on his extra-point attempts Thursday and running back James Aston had a 50-yard kick return.
