Wichman sharper in scrimmage

Quarterback Steven Wichman didn’t like his performance in Idaho’s first spring football scrimmage last Saturday, so he spent extra time last week with quarterbacks coach Jonathan Smith brushing up on the offense.

The payoff came Saturday as Wichman looked sharp while completing 13 of 19 passes for 147 yards in the Vandals second scrimmage, held at Post Falls High.

“I felt really comfortable in the pocket as opposed to last week,” said Wichman, who is battling for the starting job with rising senior Michael Harrington. “I felt some pressure (from the rush) sometimes, but I was able to step up and deliver the ball.”

Wichman was stung by two dropped passes, including a picture-perfect toss deep down the field to junior tight end Luke Smith-Anderson, who couldn’t make the catch before two defenders arrived on the scene. Wichman read the coverage correctly, then fired a pass that traveled perhaps 40 yards in a hurry – piercing a brisk crosswind – and landed on Smith-Anderson’s fingers.

“That’s how Steven is,” coach Nick Holt said with a shrug. “All the quarterbacks are getting better.”

“Ruined my weekend,” said Smith-Anderson, who prowled the sideline in disgust after the play.

Actually, it was a good weekend for Smith-Anderson, who is the least of Idaho’s concerns. The former Lake City High standout has bulked up to 265 pounds, but said he ran a faster 40-yard time than a year ago. Smith-Anderson enjoyed playing for the first time on Post Falls’ field; it wasn’t yet built when he finished high school.

And the talented tight end also enjoyed the road trip north from Moscow. “On the drive up I could point out where I live to some of the guys.”

For injury and school reasons, the Vandals were minus a bunch of players, including four potential starters on the offensive line. The seven offensive linemen available performed admirably in the two-hour scrimmage and probably slept soundly Saturday night.

“They were gassed, but we ran the ball pretty well and they did a really nice job,” Wichman said.

By design, Harrington took limited snaps so Wichman could work with the first- and second-team offenses. Harrington completed 5 of 10 attempts for 76 yards. Freshman T.J. Conley showed good scrambling ability, completed 4 of 6 passes and also punted well despite the breezy conditions. Brian Nooy, last year’s No. 2 quarterback, directed a scoring drive in the second half.

Area products Jeff Edwards, Tracy McCormick and Ryan Heacock had solid days. Edwards, a defensive tackle from Lake City High, ended the first-team offense’s opening possession with a sack. Heacock, a Central Valley product, had a 28-yard reception. McCormick, a Post Falls graduate, had four catches, drawing one of the bigger ovations with a reception in the right flat that gave the offense a first down.

“It was fun to be out here running around,” said McCormick, who said he’s about 90 percent recovered from tearing his ACL last year.

The Vandals had some problems lining up and substituting punctually, but were fairly clean once the ball was snapped. There were just six penalties and one turnover.

Tight end Keith Greer had receptions of 47 and 32 yards as he continues to bounce back from surgical complications that nearly cost him his life in September 2003. Greer also threw a block that cleared the path for Jayson Bird’s 21-yard touchdown run.

Antwaun Sherman, a 5-foot-7, 175-pound speedster, returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and also scored the scrimmage’s first TD on a 5-yard sweep. Tracy Ford, another elusive player with a build similar to Sherman, probably had the play of the day. He soared to catch a pass over the middle and hung on to the ball despite going head over heels after absorbing a hit from Brandon Mascorro.

The defense had its moments, too. The unit came up with seven sacks. Jevon Butler, contending for a starting safety job, made a diving interception. Cornerback Chris Meadows spilled Bird short of the first down on fourth-and-1. Jaron Williams continues to impress at middle linebacker.

Idaho concludes spring drills with the annual spring game Friday at 7 p.m. in the Kibbie Dome.