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Spartan Football Stages Second Preseason Scrimmage
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Aug. 22, 2004

EAST LANSING, Mich. - With temperatures near 60, Michigan State second-year football coach John L. Smith sent his team through a 138-play "controlled" scrimmage in Spartan Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 21. The 2-hour scrimmage featured 49 running, 58 passing and 31 special teams plays.

The first-team offense produced only one touchdown on its eight possessions. Quarterbacks Damon Dowdell (6-1, 222, Sr.), Drew Stanton (6-3, 225, So.) and Stephen Reaves (6-1, 206, R-Fr.) each took turns running the first unit.

Dowdell completed 7-of-14 throws for 111 yards and one interception. On the first play from scrimmage, he fired a 39-yard strike to Carl Grimes (5-9, 180, Fr.), but the drive stalled three plays later.

Stanton connected on 8-of-12 attempts for 81 yards, including a 16-yard TD toss to tight end Eric Knott (6-3, 249, Sr.) that finished off a seven-play, 67-yard scoring drive. He started the scrimmage with a hot hand, completing his first five passes for 59 yards.

Reaves, who took the majority of snaps with the second-team offense, hit 8-of-17 throws for 162 yards and two scores. On his first series with the second unit, he rifled a 65-yard TD strike to Irving Campbell (5-11, 185, R-Fr.). Reaves later capped an eight-play, 65-yard drive with a 34-yard TD pass to tight end Kellen Davis (6-6, 230, Fr.).

"We have a long, long way to go," Coach Smith said. "The defense competed better today than it did in the first preseason scrimmage. The defense was a little porous, giving up too many big running and passing plays.

"Offensively, we didn't get the results we had hoped for. There's still no separation at the quarterback position. None of the quarterbacks moved the team consistently, and they all struggled to put the ball in the end zone. All three of those guys had chances to make plays today, but nobody did it consistently enough to stand out. At the rate things are going, we might be able to name the starter on Thursday night before the season opener."

Brian Hoyer (6-2, 199, Fr.), who took 32 snaps with the third-team offense, completed 5-of-11 attempts for 53 yards and two interceptions.

Running backs Jehuu Caulcrick (6-0, 235, R-Fr.) and Tony Howard (5-10, 193, Fr.) combined to rush for 115 yards on 19 carries. Caulcrick paced the ground attack with 73 yards on 11 attempts, including five runs covering 10 or more yards. Howard gained 42 yards on eight rushes, including runs of 11 and 17 yards.

"We ran the ball better today," Smith said. "By design, Jehuu Caulcrick and Tony Howard got the bulk of the carries. After a quiet first scrimmage, Jehuu stepped up and had a productive day. Tony broke a couple of good runs, but like most freshmen, he's still a little tentative hitting the hole."

Fifteen different receivers caught at least one pass. Campbell, Jamar Jones (6-3, 207, R-Fr.) and Jerramy Scott (5-10, 188, So.) had three receptions each for 95, 51 and 26 yards, respectively. Grimes and Davis had two catches each for 47 and 43 yards, respectively.

"Carl Grimes is a great competitor, who wants the ball in his hands," Smith said. "He catches the ball well and runs good routes. Carl is going to be a legitimate playmaker in this offense."

Strong safety Greg Cooper (5-11, 184, So.) led the first-team defense with five tackles. Linebacker Ronald Stanley (6-0, 234, Sr.) and free safety Jason Harmon (5-11, 202, Sr.) posted four tackles each. Defensive end Clifton Ryan (6-2, 288, So.) recorded two tackles for losses (8 yards).

"Ronald Stanley and Jason Harmon are our most consistent playmakers on defense," Smith said. "Brandon McKinney has been solid up front. Clifton Ryan has had a good preseason camp, and he's becoming a force to be reckoned with. Jaren Hayes is getting more and more comfortable at the cornerback position. Jaren has gained confidence in his ability to play corner and now, he's enjoying the position. Greg Cooper had an outstanding scrimmage."

Defensive end Nick Smith, who produced six tackles including three for losses (17 yards) in the Aug. 18 scrimmage, earned some playing time with the first team on Saturday. Smith responded by registering his third sack of the preseason, a 7-yarder against Reaves.

"Nick Smith continues to make steady progress," Smith said. "In time, Nick is going to be a big-time player."

Linebacker Kaleb Thornhill (6-1, 232, R-Fr.) paced the second-team defense with five stops.

"Kaleb Thornhill is improving each practice, and he's beginning to make plays," Smith said.

Linebacker Eric Andino (6-4, 212, Fr.), who saw action with the third team, produced a scrimmage-best nine tackles and recovered a fumble.

"Eric Andino is another promising linebacker prospect," Smith said. "Eric seemed like he was all over the field making plays today."

The Spartan defense forced five turnovers, including two fumbles and three interceptions. Linebacker David Herron Jr. (6-1, 251, So.), BANDIT Kiel Beltinck (5-9, 200, So.) and cornerback Mike Bell (5-11, 187, Fr.) each picked off a pass.

"I said it after the first scrimmage and I'll say it again," Smith said. "Our injured players need to get off the sidelines and back on the field. We aren't good enough for some of our top players to miss a lot of practice time. We need to be building cohesiveness on both sides of the ball."

Under NCAA legislation, prohibiting consecutive days of double sessions, the Spartans continue alternating between double and single workouts through Friday, Aug. 27. The team has practices scheduled for 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 22.

Michigan State opens the 2004 season Saturday, Sept. 4 at Rutgers. ABC Sports will televise the game on a regional basis with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. EDT.

Additional Preseason Football Notes:
* Defensive end Michael Bazemore (6-3, 256, Jr.), who recorded a 6-yard sack against Damon Dowdell during the first series Saturday, sprained his shoulder on the play and back-up center John Masters (6-4, 274, R-Fr.) sprained his ankle midway through the scrimmage. Both Bazemore and Masters expect to be sidelined for about a week.
* More than 5,000 fans attended "Meet The Spartans" at Meridian Mall in Okemos, Mich., on Saturday night (Aug. 21).
08-24-2004 08:59 PM
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