Fresno State Athletics
Young Bulldogs Shine in Scrimmage
3/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 26, 2004
VISALIA, Calif. -- - For Fresno State head football coach Pat Hill, Friday's scrimmage was nearly perfect. After 89 plays that look less than one hour, Fresno State showed improvements in its running game and only committed two penalties, both areas Hill has been stressing.
"This is the best we've ever executed in the spring," Hill said following the scrimmage. "To be a good football team in the fall, which I think we are going to be, we must have success running the football. We have to become a tough football team and you do that by running the football. We proved tonight that we have an excellent group of backs behind a good offensive line that I think will make us an excellent running team. When you can run the football, it creates so many other options for your team."
Highlighting the ground game were junior Bryson Sumlin, who started the scrimmage with two off-tackle runs of more than 20 yards, and sophomore Wendell Mathis, who is getting more comfortable in the Bulldog offense. A Merced, Calif., native and UCLA transfer, Mathis got the bulk of the carries during the scrimmage and showed signs of great quickness, speed and instincts. He finished the scrimmage with 96 rushing yards on 12 carries.
Three Bulldog quarterbacks, junior Paul Pinegar, sophomore Jordan Christensen and freshman Tom Brandstater, shared equal time behind center. All three got repetitions with the first unit, while Brandstater and Christensen split time directing the second team. Brandstater had the crisper passes during the scrimmage, but Christensen accounted for two touchdown passes, both to tight end Duncan Reid, one for 19 yards and the other from 7 yards. Brandstater hit receiver Jermaine Jamison for a 7 yard touchdown on a beautiful fade pattern the right corner of the end zone.
Several Bulldogs had a good scrimmage on defense, including freshman linebacker Tyler Klutts, who made several big plays, and sophomore safety Vincent Mays, who excited the crowd with a 97-yard interception return for a touchdown on the only turnover of the scrimmage.
"We have had a lot of young players play well this spring," Hill said. "We are very pleased the development of the young guys. That is going to help our depth heading into the fall."
Two players suffered minor injuries in the scrimmage, starting linebacker Manuel Sanchez (hand) and defensive tackle Johnny Sotelo (knee). Both players are expected to return to practice next week.
Hill was also excited about the large crowd at Central Valley Christian High School, as nearly 2,000 attended the event.
"This was a great turnout," said Hill. "We have always had strong support in Visalia. Our fan base is growing througout the Valley. I've always felt we are a sleeping giant. This is the best crowd we've had for a spring scrimmage, so there's a lot of interest in Bulldog Football. We are expected a big year this year and our fans got a glimpse of that tonight."
Fresno State has one more week of spring drills, which concludes Friday, April 2, with the annual Spring Game at Bulldog Stadium. The Spring Game is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
Fresno State opens the 2004 season at Washington on Sept. 5.
