Murray State University Athletics
Football Conducts First Scrimmage
8/9/2008 5:00:00 AM | Football
The Murray State football team conducted its first scrimmage of preseason practice as the Racers battled it out for just over an hour Saturday afternoon on the turf at Stewart Stadium.
The defense controlled the early portion of the scrimmage as after Derrick Townsel hauled in a 13-yard reception on the first play from scrimmage, the offense only mustered one more first down in their first four series.
After working on special teams, the offense regrouped and came out to score four touchdowns the remainder of the scrimmage. Paul McKinnis started the drive with an 11-yard run before Jeff Ehrhardt hit Townsel for a 10-yard gain on third-and-nine. Kenny Benjamin set up a first-and-goal with a 10-yard grab over the middle. The defense would step up and hold the offense on the next three plays before Ehrhardt took the ball himself and forced his way into the endzone from two-yards out.
Tight end Zach Knight had the big play on the next series as Chris Franklin hit tight end Zach Knight on a 34-yard strike down the right seam. Running back Corey Borden would cap off the drive as he took an option pass from Franklin around right end for the 13-yard score.
A big play set up the next scoring drive as Prince Nwagbara broke off a 25-yard run to set the offense up inside the 10-yard line. After a pass interference call moved the ball to the two yard line, the defense stiffened as linebackers Nathan Williams and Tamar Butler, along with safety Taylor Lanigan helped stuff the next three running plays. A second pass interference call on fourth down gave the offense new life and Bryan Cardenas punched the ball in from one-yard out.
Cardenas was back at it again on the next series as he took an option pitch on fourth down and went down the left sideline for a 19-yard gain. Freshman wide receiver Ja-Vonta Trotter finished the drive by taking a pitch around left end for a three-yard touchdown run.
The team will return to the field tomorrow afternoon as they are scheduled to practice at 4:05 p.m. inside Stewart Stadium.
Head Coach Matt Griffin
On the first scrimmage of the preseason:
I think our defense came out and played a little bit faster the first couple series and that is generally how it goes in the first scrimmage. I do like the way our offense recovered in the back half of the scrimmage.
I think defensively we are playing with great enthusiasm and running to the football. You are hearing less coaching volume about little things, like pursuit, wrap and tackle, and that is a good thing.
Offensively, our composure wasn't very good coming out of the gate and that was a little disappointing, but we did wake up and continue to play. We talk to our guys everyday about playing the next play and that is what they did.
On where they go from here:
We are going to let the kids sleep in the next two mornings. We will practice once on Sunday and won't practice on Monday to give them a day off physically, which I think they need. We will spend a lot of time meeting and walking through all three phases. We will work a lot of corrections and come Monday night we will put in more installation, as far as scheme.
