Bulldogs close spring practice
The white team edged the red team 18-17 in the annual Spring Game on
Friday night
By EDDIE HUGHES
Running back Kreig Peters tries to get away from a defender (above).
Quarterback Tom Brandstater (below) threw for 148 yards on nine
completions. Photo by Joseph Hollak
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A soggy field didn’t keep the Fresno State football team from a
crisp performance in its annual Spring Game.
The Bulldogs concluded spring practice with a 91-play scrimmage, lasting
one hour and 15 minutes in intermittent rain at Bulldog Stadium on Friday
night.
The white team (defense) beat the red team (offense) 18-17 in the compete-zone
portion of the scrimmage, where the offense starts from the 25-yard line
and is awarded points for touchdowns, extra-points and field goals, as
in a normal game. The defense was awarded points for holding the offense
to a field goal, stopping a drive or creating a turnover.
The white squad won when safety Josh Sherley swooped in front of receiver
Paul Williams in the end zone and intercepted a Paul Pinegar pass, giving
the white team seven points.
Pinegar, a senior who was MVP of Fresno State’s MPC Computers Bowl
win over Virginia, completed 8 of 12 passes for 116 yards in the scrimmage.
“I like the way Paul executed,” Fresno State coach Pat Hill
said.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Tom Brandstater showed accuracy throwing
downfield, completing 9 of 14 passes for 148 yards. Both quarterbacks
had one touchdown and one interception.
Hill said Brandstater is coming along very well but that there is no quarterback
controversy.
“I’m looking to be the backup,” Brandstater said. “Paul
is a great quarterback. He’s the leader of this team. If I have
to play, I’m ready to play.”
The most impressive offensive performance might have come from wide receiver
Paul Williams, who had three catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
On one throw from Brandstater, Williams slowed and out-jumped the defender
to pull in the catch.
Breaking onto the scene at an already crowded running back position, sophomore
Clifton Smith, a converted cornerback, led the team in rushing. Smith
had eight carries for 66 yards and a touchdown.
Smith took a direct snap out of shotgun formation for 36 yards and a
touchdown.
Senior Wendell Mathis wasn’t far behind with 64 yards on 13 attempts,
and senior Bryson Sumlin added another touchdown on the ground.
Sumlin led the Bulldogs with 1,104 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2004 and
Mathis had 995 yards and 12 touchdowns. Junior Dwayne Wright, who led
the team with 1,038 yards in 2003 before injuring his knee early last
season, did not participate in the scrimmage.
Mathis, who is coming off a hamstring injury he got during spring practice,
said he doesn’t mind all the competition.
“Nothing is ever locked up around here,” he said. “There’s
something to prove every time on the field.”
Fresno State finished last season ranked No. 22 in the nation and is expected
to be in the top 25 again to start 2005. The Bulldogs were ranked 15th
in an early ESPN poll.
Fresno State opens the season at home on Sept. 10 against Weber State.
A challenging non-conference schedule also includes games at Oregon and
USC and at home against Toledo. Western Athletic Conference rival Boise
State also visits Bulldog Stadium.
Fresno State resumes practice when fall camp opens in August.
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