Mckenzie Runs Up The Score WSU Receiver Hauls In Three Tds, Including One Intended For Tight End

After making seven receptions for 104 yards and three touchdowns, Washington State receiver Kevin McKenzie felt compelled to make a confession.

By all accounts, the junior-college transfer had scored one too many TDs in Saturday morning’s football scrimmage at Martin Stadium, having completed his hat trick by stepping in front of tight end David Knuff to grab quarterback Steve Birnbaum’s 9-yard pass in the end zone.

“It was for Knuff,” McKenzie confessed. “I ran the cornerback off and then came back inside. The cornerback set - that’s why I thought the ball was for me, because I thought the quarterback was reading the corner. And then once I caught it, I looked and I saw Knuff like this in the back of the end zone, so I was like, ‘Ahh, man.’ I apologize to him. Because, you know, tight ends, they don’t get too many touchdowns.”

In recent seasons, neither have WSU receivers. Saturday, McKenzie waited just one play before addressing that deficiency, turning Birnbaum’s short pass into a 63-yard score that included a broken tackle inside the 5-yard-line.

“I thought Terrell Henderson was going to tackle me, because he grabbed me from behind, but I kept my balance and everything,” McKenzie said. “I was kind of determined.”

So was Birnbaum, who improved dramatically upon the previous week’s 13-for-29, 174-yard effort.

“Last week, we didn’t even score on the ground or in the air,” said Birnbaum, who completed 18 of 26 passes for 219 yards and no interceptions, providing no reason to rush incumbent QB Ryan Leaf back from shoulder surgery. “Today, I threw three touchdowns and the running backs scored (one).

“Just putting in the new plays - we put in third-and-long situation, goal-line situation - it was good.”

Leaf hasn’t suited up for either spring scrimmage, allowing Birnbaum to gain more experience than a freshman might otherwise expect.

“Ryan Leaf has worked with Steve and helped him, and they communicate,” WSU coach Mike Price said. “That’s good to have that communication between the quarterbacks. Some years we’ve had excellent communication like that, and some years we haven’t. When Drew Bledsoe and Mike Pattinson were here, they could communicate real well and work together and help each other get better, and these kids are seeming to do the same thing.”

According to Price, Leaf won’t play until April 27, the date of the final spring scrimmage. The right-hander threw along the sideline Saturday and did not appear limited by off-season surgery to his left shoulder.

The 111-play scrimmage featured 10 quarterback sacks, including three by defensive tackle Gary Holmes and two apiece by end Shane Doyle and linebacker Johnny Nansen.

“We put in some new blitzes this week and we brought it today,” Nansen said. “It worked pretty well.”

Birnbaum absorbed eight of the sacks, but was kept in one piece thanks to the endangered-species tag bestowed by Price in the form of a yellow jersey.

Notes

Running backs Miguel Meriwether and James Curtis suffered left knee injuries of undetermined severity. Meriwether’s injury, suffered on his first carry, appeared more serious. Curtis aggravated a basketball-related injury and is expected to undergo arthroscopic surgery this month, trainer Mark Smaha said.

JC transfer Michael Black carried 15 times for 58 yards, including a 15-yard TD run. “I’m starting to get the hang of the running formations,” he said, adding that the running back position appears to be “wide open.”

Curtis carried seven times for 57 yards, including a 39-yard run.

Defensive back Tray Crayton returned after missing the first week of spring to work on academics. Kwame Stewart and Da’vid Evans remain on academic alert, Price said.

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