Leaf, Receivers On Same Page Price Pleased With Final Tuneup To Opener Against Ucla

Tackling was forbidden and the opposition was provided by the scout team, but Washington State football coach Mike Price was pleased nonetheless with the progress shown by his offense during Saturday morning’s scrimmage.

“When Drew Bledsoe was the quarterback here and we went to the Copper Bowl, we were behind by seven points against the scout team in the same mock scrimmage,” Price said. “So believe me, I’ve seen it all.

“I’ve coached teams where we couldn’t move the ball against air. I’m pleased.”

In what was the Cougars’ final scrimmage before the season opener against UCLA in six days, quarterback Ryan Leaf lit up Martin Stadium with a 22-for-30 showing that yielded 279 yards and four touchdowns.

“Against the scout team, it’s difficult to judge how effective you are,” Leaf said, “but the receivers ran their routes right and I was on time and accurate. It was just really good timing.”

Junior Nian Taylor and senior Kevin McKenzie, free to roam the middle without consequence, each caught six passes.

Senior Shawn Tims added five catches and junior tight end Love Jefferson made three, including a relatively difficult grab for a short touchdown.

The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Jefferson said he caught at least 50 passes per day during the off-season. His development has been vital because the Cougars lack experienced depth at the position.

“He’s a big target and he’s really blocking,” Price said. “He’s blocking Shane Doyle, Dorian Boose, those guys, and he’s holding his own.

“And he’s catching the ball so much better than he was a year ago. I think his whole self-confidence has improved.”

The first-team defense, meanwhile, allowed only three points. The highlight was LeJuan Gibbons’ 30-yard interception return for a touchdown.

The starting units faced off on the morning’s final series, a so-called “Mayday” situation in which the offense was given possession at its own 30-yard-line - with less than 2 minutes remaining and no timeouts.

Leaf led the offense down to the 23, where new placekicker Rian Lindell hurriedly nailed a 40-yard field goal as time expired.

Moments later, and with teammates counting down from 10 seconds, Lindell nailed a 43-yarder that kept the Cougars from having to run wind-sprints afterward.

Notes

Tailback Michael Black, who missed most of last week with a sprained left ankle, ran the ball three times without making any severe cuts.

Black wore a yellow non-contact jersey as a precaution, but he is expected to return Monday and be near full strength for the opener.

Cornerback Dee Moronkola, also nursing a sprained ankle, was held out entirely.

Sophomore linebacker Steve Gleason, perhaps the Cougars’ most reckless hitter, managed to contain himself.

“Getting this close to game time, it’s good to have a scrimmage like this,” Gleason allowed. “It’s hard, though - you’ve got to go full speed against the O-lineman and then somehow you’re supposed to stop before you hit a running back.

“It’s almost impossible.”

The Cougars will not practice today. They’ll practice in full pads Monday and Tuesday before scaling down Wednesday.

One priority this week: Improving the goal-line offense, which was stopped nine straight times during a scrimmage last Wednesday.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: COMING UP Football ‘97: Season preview pages will appear this week for Washington State (Monday), Washington (Tuesday), Eastern Washington (Wednesday) and Idaho (Thursday).