Defense makes big plays in second scrimmage
8/15/2010 10:00:00 PM | Football
Handcuffed in last Thursday's opening scrimmage playing plain vanilla, the Bearkat defense was turned loose Sunday night and came up with several big plays.
In the 14th practice of Sam Houston football preseason camp at Bowers Stadium, the Kats held a hour and 45 minute scrimmage in which the defense intercepted two passes, put pressure on the quarterback and recovered two fumbles.
"The defense really opened up the cubbard, ran a bunch of things tonight and gave our offense some problems," head coach Willie Fritz said. "But we're going to see that stuff so we have to work against it. We did a good job of inserting things offensively and defensively and picking up the pace."
Freshman cornerback Cory Hamlett returned an interception 35 yards to the 22-yard line and senior Victor Carmichael made another interception in the end zone.
"When you start camp, you're coaching to the lowest common denominator," Fritz said. "But at this point we need to start coaching to the highest common denominator. The guys that can't learn from their mistakes, can't make adjustments, they aren't going to play. You have to start concentrating on the guys who are going to play."
Held scoreless during the first half of the scrimmage, the Bearkat offense found a spark late in the practice.
Freshman quarterback Brian Bell threw touchdown passes of 38 and 35 yards to Trey Diller and Brian Closner. Junior Greg Sprowls hit Vincent Dotson for a 35-yard score and senior Bryan Randolph scrambled and found Closner for a 21-yard tally.
"We had some nice throws but, from a defensive stand point, you hate to see us give up a long ball," Fritz said. "We have a very aggressive defense but we also work on not giving up the big plays."
Ridgeway Frank led the Bearkats on the ground, rushing 11 times for 56 yards. Quarterback Tyrik Rollison also broke for a nifty 30-yard run after a fake handoff.
Sam Houston will continue preseason camp Monday and looks to scrimmage again Thursday night.
"We're going to continue to expand things in the kicking game and offensively and defensively and work to correct mistakes," Fritz said. "We're going to start paring it down and work with the guys who are going to play for us
Preseason camp will run to the opening day of classes August 25. The Bearkats expect to hold four full-contact scrimmages during preseason work. The third scrimmage is slated for Friday morning at 9 a.m.
Sam Houston opens the 2010 season Saturday, Sept. 4 against the Baylor Bears at Waco. The first home game will be Saturday, Sept. 25 when Gardner-Webb visits Bowers Stadium for Bearkat "Family Weekend."
The game Sept. 25 will feature a guest appearance by the Houston Texans Cheerleaders, a fireworks display and special halftime activities.
Other home games will be Oct. 16 (Homecoming) vs. Southeastern Louisiana, Nov. 6 vs. McNeese State and Nov. 20 vs. Texas State. The final three home games will kickoff at 2 p.m.
Season tickets for Bearkat football at Bowers Stadium are available through the new exciting "2-2-2" offer, order your tickets now by going to the Bearkat tickets page on www.gobearkats.com or call (936) 294-1729.
The "2-2-2" offer also includes two corner tickets to the "Battle of the Piney Woods" game with Stephen F. Austin at Reliant Stadium in Houston on October 23.
Fans also may visit the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House located in the south end zone of Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
