Redshirts shine in scrimmage
The waiting is over and the nerves have been erased.
Eastern Washington University football players who had the difficult task of sitting out last season’s run to the Big Sky Conference title and the second round of the I-AA playoffs as redshirts are now making their marks.
Two, freshman defensive end Jason Belford and junior wide receiver Brett Bergstrom, were big contributors Saturday morning during a 55-play scrimmage at Woodward Field that capped the Eagles’ third week of practice.
“It feels great,” said Belford, a 6-foot-1, 225-pounder from Lincoln High School in Tacoma. “Your redshirt year you have a lot to learn. Now to be out here with the ‘ones’ (first team) it feels so good to be surrounded by the older guys who help you learn.”
Belford, playing left end, had one of the five sacks by the defense, and helped the first team throttle the second-team offense.
Overall, the offense had a good day with 249 yards, most coming through the air. Standout seniors-to-be, quarterback Erik Meyer and wide receiver Eric Kimble, played sparingly. Meyer hit 5 of 9 passes for 70 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown pass to Kimble.
Sophomore backup QB Chris Peerboom led the way with 102 yards on 7 of 12 passing. Sophomore Toke Kefu led the running backs with 46 yards on nine carries.
Bergstrom, 6-2, 210-pound junior from North Bend, Wash., who sat out last year after transferring from Shasta (Calif.) Junior College, topped the receivers with four catches for 64 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown pass from No. 3 quarterback Alex Smart. He had a 38-yard hookup with Peerboom erased by a penalty.
“It feels good,” said Bergstrom, who started out this spring as a safety. “The change to offense is a big difference. I have to keep pushing forward and learn the plays. At first I wasn’t too happy. I love defense, and always will, but I’ll do whatever it takes to get on the field.”
The solid play of Belford, Bergstrom and several other redshirts left coach Paul Wulff satisfied heading into the final week of spring practice. The annual Red and White game will take place Saturday at Woodward Field.
“This was a good physical scrimmage,” he said. “I thought both sides of the ball made a lot of positive plays today and it was really encouraging. It was probably one of the best scrimmages we’ve had in a long time.”
Safeties Gregor Smith, a sophomore, and Brandon Keeler, a junior, led the hard-hitting scrimmage with some big hits and are part of the reason Bergstrom was moved to offense.
“There is a lot of competition at safety,” Bergstrom said. “What Coach Wulff said is we didn’t have a lot of big, tough wide receivers. I’m making good progress. Like I said, once I learn the plays it will get easier.”
“Bergstrom … really stepped up,” Wulff said. “We moved him in the middle of the first week of spring practice because of our depth issue at that time and he’s really starting to emerge. He has the ability to make plays. … He gives us a presence we don’t have in terms of a big, physical receiver.”
Belford also switched positions, moving from linebacker.
“I played a little defensive end when I was a freshman in high school,” he said. “Even at linebacker you’re always surrounded by big bodies, it’s not that big of deal.”
Putting that redshirt season behind him is a big deal.
“You work hard all week on the scout team and on Saturday you don’t get to play,” Belford said. “It’s kind of a bummer.”
“Belford is a kid we anticipate will help us out a lot,” Wulff said. “He’s learning the position, he’s got to continue to work. He’s a starter now and he’s playing well.”
Wulff also said linebacker Marcus Walker, wide receiver Sam Togar, offensive linemen Keith Grennan, Bryan Smith and Charlie Wulff and tight end Tim Calhoun have made noticeable contributions after sitting out last year.
Now they have one more week to solidify their spots on the depth chart.
“It wrapped up a good week of practice,” coach Wulff said. “Now again they set a standard heading into next week. We have to have a good week and finish on a high note.”