Fresno State Athletics
Hill Pleased with Dogs After First Fall Scrimmage
8/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 12, 2006
FRESNO, Calif. - Anytime a live football scrimmage doesn't result in any serious injuries, some head coaches would deem that a success. Not only did all of the Bulldogs escape in fine health, but Fresno State's head coach Pat Hill was equally pleased with his team's mental execution in Saturday's scrimmage, the first of fall camp.
The Dogs ran 118 plays in Bulldog Stadium in front of a crowd of more than 2,500. It was the annual Bulldog Fan Preview, the first opportunity for fans to sneak a peek at the 2006 squad.
"All in all, I was very pleased," said Hill following the scrimmage. "We didn't have any administrative penalties and didn't have to call a time out. For the first scrimmage, that's unheard of. I thought all three quarterback set a good tempo for the offense and did a good job leading. That's not easy for the first time out. We had some physical mistakes and some work to do, but from a mental standpoint, I was very happy."
The scrimmage was conducted in four separate segments, with each session designed to concentrate on various game conditions.
The MVP of the scrimmage, if one were selected, would have easily been kicker Clint Stitser, whose strong right leg looks to be as good as ever. Stitser missed the final six games of the 2005 season with an injury, but in Saturday's scrimmage he looked like an All-American, connecting on field goals of 34, 53, 41, 35 and 43 yards. He also boomed a couple kickoffs over the heads of the return men. Prior to his injury last season, he was on his was to an award-winning season. Stitser was ranked in the NCAA top 10 in both field goals and scoring, leading the WAC in both categories before being injured in the Idaho game.
Three Bulldog quarterbacks each had their share of opportunities to play. Sophomore Tom Brandstater spent his time working with the first-team offense. Brandstater completed 6-of-17 passes for 75 yards on the day, but showed a strong arm on several deep passes.
Fellow sophomore Sean Norton completed 8-of-11 passes for 101 yards with a touchdown and one interception. Norton connected with freshman receiver Chastin West on a 47-yard touchdown.
Freshman Ryan Colburn delighted fans with some big throws while working with the third unit. He completed 9-of-10 passes for 76 yards and threw one touchdown, a 16-yarder to freshman receiver Jason Crawley.
The biggest play of the scrimmage came from a freshman, running back Lonyae Miller, who raced 60 yards for a touchdown on his first carry of the scrimmage. Miller finished the scrimmage with 77 yards to lead all rushers and added 20 yards in receptions. Dwayne Wright carried eight times for 24 yards and had a 2-yard touchdown plunge. Junior Shannon Dorsey looked sharp with 40 yards on eight rushing attempts. Freshman Anthony Harding had 53 yards on the ground.
The defense, which dominated on the "compete zone" scoring system, was led by newcomer Trevor Shamblee. A linebacker, Shamblee, had two sacks and a tackle for loss. Fresno State's outstanding senior cornerback Marcus McCauley batted down the first two pass attempts that came his way. Sophomore defensive end Michael Stuart had a couple of sacks. Junior defensive tackle Jason Shirley added one sack.
The Dogs return to practice on Sunday and will hold their second scrimmage next Saturday in Bulldog Stadium. All remaining scrimmages will be closed to the public.
The Bulldogs open the 2006 season at home on Sept. 1 against defending WAC champion Nevada.
The Bulldogs will hold their Annual Kickoff Dinner Party, hosted the Fresno State Quarterback Club, on August 20 at 5 p.m. at the downtown convention center. The tailgate theme is open to the public. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children. For more information, contact the Quarterback Club Office at (559) 278-7160.
