Murray State University Athletics
Racers End Fall Camp With Scrimmage
8/21/2008 5:00:00 AM | Football
The Murray State football team capped of it's 2008 Fall Camp with a spirited scrimmage Monday evening under the lights at Stewart Stadium.
The team worked on all facets of the offense, defense and special teams during the two-hour session. The scrimmage included working on the two-minute offense, as well as the four-minute offense.
"We came out and covered the rest of the situations. We got a lot of young guys some reps and I was please with the way they responded," said head coach Matt Griffin. "We have some good young players that I am really excited about. In the front end we got our veterans in there for a set number of reps and I think both sides executed and competed in those reps. It was good to end camp healthy."
The offense came out on the first three drives and were able to move the ball down the field. Once they crossed midfield, the defense stiffened and did not allow the offense get inside the 30-yard line.
The Racers went into their bag of tricks on the fourth series as Charlie Jordan took a handoff to the right and pulled up and threw a strike to wide receiver Patrick Robertson who made a few guys miss on his way to a 65-yard touchdown reception.
After the offense was unable to get anything going on the next two series, Nico Yantko led a nine-play drive that covered 65 yards and culminated with a Yantko touchdown run from six yards out. On the drive Yantko connected on all four pass attempts for 39 yards.
The offense used a solid ground attack to win the four-minute drill as they were unable to keep the ball moving on the ground and run out the clock.
In the first possession in the red zone, quarterback Jeff Ehrhardt hit Derrick Townsel on an 11-yard strike to set up a first and goal. After a pair of Ehrhardt runs put the ball on the one, the sophomore signal caller dove over the top on a sneak for the short TD run.
A holding penalty slowed the offense on its next possession in the red zone before the defense ended the drive with a pair of nice plays from its linebackers. On second down, Josh McWherter broke up a pass and Terrence Wilmer did him one better by intercepting the next pass and returning in 20 yards down the right sideline.
The punt return teams put together two solid returns as Townsel took the first punt back 82 yards for a touchdown and Ja-Vonta Trotter followed by taking the second punt 76 yards to the house.
The Racers open the 2008 season on Aug. 28 as they play host to Lambuth. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Stewart Stadium.
PASSING - Ehrhardt 10-15-0-96, Franklin 9-14-1-51, Yantko 4-4-0-39, Jordan 1-1-0-65
RUSHING - Borden 8-73, Jordan, 4-14, Nwagbara 3-37
RECEIVING - Robertson 4-87, Townsel 4-37, Ard 3-22, Benjamin 2-20
