Spring football game shows players’ growth
By Hannah Gordon
April 28, 2003 9:00 p.m.
Saturdays in September might go something like this next
season:
“Hey, Matt, call it. Heads or tails?”
At the spring game Saturday, sophomore quarterback Matt Moore
called heads and lost.
Sophomore quarterback Drew Olson then made the most of his
“start” by completing 9-of-11 passes for 107 yards.
The two quarterbacks rotated on the “white team,”
which consisted of the first-team offense and second-team defense.
They played against the “blue team,” made up of the
first-team defense and second-team offense.
Moore completed 4-of-9 passes for 49 yards. He looked shaky at
first, but both Moore and Olson were clicking at the end of the
game and led the white team to a 13-0 victory over the blue.
“Overall, it was a good spring game. The offense did well,
and the offensive line did a real good job,” Olson said.
“I had hoped one guy would jump out early in
spring,” quarterbacks coach Steve Axman said. “But
I’ve actually been really pleased with how they’ve each
progressed. It’s a dogfight, and it’s making them both
better.”
The passing game was balanced by a potent run game led by
sophomore tailback Tyler Ebell. Ebell showed he has no intention of
giving up his spot as starting tailback, gaining 65 yards and a
touchdown on 13 carries.
Fullback Manuel White also showed off his huge frame and soft
hands when he rushed for 35 yards on just four carries and caught
three passes for 18 yards.
“I got an opportunity to show what I can do,” White
said. “In practice we’re out there beating each other
up but we had a lot of fun today.”
The blue team defense did not have as much fun.
“The tables turned for once,” junior corner Matt
Ware said. “We did not play as well as we should have.
It’s all gaps and little stuff.”
It was the defense’s first opportunity to show fans the
new Tampa Bay-style system, which the players are still
mastering.
Although the first-team defense was disappointed with its
performance, it should be pleased with its depth, given that the
second-team defense completely shut down the second-team offense
run by sophomore quarterback John Sciarra, who went 3-of-7 for 23
yards.
“I was surprised, I thought the defense would be more in
control throughout the scrimmage,” head coach Karl Dorrell
said.
Sophomore receiver Craig Bragg, who had two catches for 36
yards, echoed that sentiment.
“The accomplishment is that we can move the ball, because
our defense is really good. We saw how things can work for
us.”
Senior wide receiver Tab Perry caught two passes for 49 yards.
Sophomore tight end Marcedes Lewis caught two passes for 21 yards.
Senior tailback Akil Harris had 22 yards on seven carries.
Ңbull;Ӣbull;Ӣbull;
The Westwood Bruin Touchdown Club Spring Breakfast, will be held
this Friday at 7 a.m. Karl Dorrell will speak at the event, which
is open to the public for $30 and $20 with a BruinCard.
