Ewu Offense Runs All Over Defense
Spring football
A 224-yard rushing effort was just what second-year head coach Mike Kramer expected as Eastern Washington concluded its first week of spring practices with a 94-play scrimmage Saturday.
“I’m satisfied,” said Kramer, whose team will practice three more weeks before concluding with the Red-White Game as part of the 14th-Annual RedWhite game on May 13. “For the most part we played with a lot of enthusiasm, but we’re not very proficient yet.”
The Eagles lost much of their firepower from last year’s pass-oriented offense that ranked sixth in NCAA Division I-AA. This year, the strength is the running game, as the 107 yards of senior David Lewis led four running backs who rushed for at least 36 yards.
“That’s us,” Kramer proclaimed. “The running game is back at EWU. We still have to improve a lot, and our offensive line still isn’t as good as its going to be.”
The offense, operating against a defensive front that lost four senior starters, scored four times in the scrimmage, which included 46 rushes and 48 passes.
The defense allowed only 45 yards in its first 22 plays, including just one first down.
The first score of the day was a 34-yard interception return for a touchdown by Maurice Perigo. Lewis then scored on an 8-yard run to cap an 11-play, 70-yard drive.
The offense also scored on an 8-yard run by Mike MacKenzie, a 12-yard touchdown pass from Walla Walla Community College transfer Scott Bond to Adam Fisher, and a 38-yard scoring strike from Brian Sherick to Jerrold Jackson.
Sherick, a 1993 graduate of University High, was 6 of 20 for 54 yards.
Huskies’ QB controversy
University of Washington football fanatics have yearned for a more high-powered offense. Saturday, it was unveiled in the annual Spring Game at Husky Stadium.
With Damon Huard commanding a spread, or shotgun, offense for the purple squad and Shane Fortney displaying his versatile talents both in the pocket and on the run for the white team, the scoreboard operator had little time to rest.
After falling behind the White team, composed mostly of second-and third-stringers, 27-24, late in the first half, the Purple team revved up for a 51-39 victory in front of a sunbathing crowd of 5,000.
“It was tremendously satisfying progress to be able to move the ball that way. I was pleased just with the overall productivity,” Huskies coach Jim Lambright said.
Both quarterbacks were so impressive that Lambright and offensive coordinator Bill Deidrick are thinking of using Fortney as a change of style on certain series.
“I absolutely love the fact that you have two quarterbacks with that sort of competence,” Lambright said. “I think you go back to a program … with an automatic series for both QBs. Then you advertise it and Arizona State (UW’s first opponent on Sept. 2) has to prepare for two quarterbacks.”
Whereas Huard adapted to the shotgun offense by completing 75 percent of his passes in four spring scrimmages, Fortney excels when he can provide the threat of breaking a big run on his own or hitting a receiver 60 yards down field.
Fortney did both Saturday.
The 6-foot-3, 227-pounder started the scoring with a 40-yard scamper untouched around left end. After Huard led quick-strike scoring drives of 49 and 51 seconds for a 14-6 Purple lead, Fortney rifled a 69-yard touchdown pass to another spring sensation, redshirt freshman Andre deSaussure. Fortney dropped back to his own 31 before connecting with deSaussure at the other 10-yard line over Lawyer Milloy and Brooks Beaupain.
“I learned the offense a lot better. There is nothing I don’t know,” Fortney said. “It’s all really basic. (UW assistant Bill) Dedrick has really simplified everything. He’s a great coach. I love the way he runs things. Since he’s been here, I’ve gotten so much better.”
Fortney, a sophomore to be, hooked up with deSaussure again in the third quarter for a 65-yard touchdown pass and a 27-24 lead. He threw for three scores on 14-of-23 passing for 322 yards. He led the White team in rushing with 60 yards.
“Shane Fortney, I believe, is a great quarterback,” said deSaussure. “Damon Huard is a good QB, too. But I feel Shane Fortney may have that edge. He can run the ball and pick up yards. He’s just … a stronger guy.”
Idaho defense rules
After the offense grabbed the spotlight in the first two spring football scrimmages, the Idaho defense responded Saturday.
The No. 1 offense scored only when given possession with first-and-goal from the defense’s 7 and first-and-10 from the 25. The only TD during the regular scrimmage was a 40-yard interception return by Montrell Williams.
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