Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Football Scrimmage Recap
8/22/2009 8:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 22, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The rain that was in the forecast stayed away, allowing the Bucknell football team to conduct its second intrasquad scrimmage of preseason camp Saturday afternoon under overcast skies at a very humid Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
While temperatures did not go much past 80 degrees, the humidity that has blanketed the Susquehanna Valley recently gave the Bison difficult conditions in which to play.
The scrimmage was mostly live, although the quarterbacks were protected by their red jerseys. The majority of the nearly two-hour session consisted of the offense taking control of the ball in its own territory and trying to drive against the Bison defense. The first team offense matched up against the first team defense, while the second teamers faced each other.
"I thought for the second straight scrimmage the defense played with high intensity, said seventh-year Bucknell head coach Tim Landis, who also put his team through a scrimmage last Sunday. "I see us improved defensively and I am excited about it. I'm sure Coach (Andrew) Cohen would say there are still things they can do better, but I am seeing what I was hopeful I would see from our defense. They are running to the ball and making plays, especially the first unit."
Among the standout plays by the defense were an interception by freshman T.J. Kelly, early sacks by junior Tyler Andersen and rookie Beau Traber and a third-and-short stop of Brandon Besant's run on the second series of the scrimmage. Traber also later intercepted a Lenny Magill pass.
The first-team defense came up big when toward the end of the scrimmage the clock, which was not used the majority of the afternoon, was set to two minutes to give the offense a chance to run a two-minute drill. Ahkiel White picked off a pass from C.J. Hopson on the second play. The offense, which was whistled for a couple penalties, was unable to advance much past midfield (after starting at its own 30) on its next two-minute series with Marcello Trigg under center.
A touchdown run by Ryan Smith as well as a drive that featured a 15-yard reception and a 15-yard touchdown run by freshman Robert Owoyele were among the highlights for the offense.
Immediately following a short five-minute halftime session where the team met in the locker room, the special teams unit worked on punting. Four more punts followed later in the "second half", while the scrimmage concluded with Drew Orth and Bill Predeville kicking extra points and field goals from varying distances and positions on the field.
The Bison will have a short turnaround until their next practice, which is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sunday morning. With just two weeks until the first game, Landis is continuing to plot out what needs to be done before the Sept. 5 opener at Duquesne.
"What we have to do in the next couple of practices is evaluate today's tape, make some adjustments and get back to basics on some things," commented Landis following the scrimmage. "Then, at some point, we really need to turn our attention to Duquesne. I have always been a believer that if you get extra time to prepare for a team that you should try and use it. Somewhere midway through this week we will really start to turn our attention to Duquesne. As far as heavy hitting and contact we have gotten that done over the first 18 practices."
Following Sunday morning's practice, the 19th of preseason camp, the team will have more than 48 hours away from the football field, something Landis only sees as a positive.
"Mentally and physically the break is going to do wonders," mentioned Landis. "Physically it will let the guys get over some of the pains from camp. Mentally they are fried on football right now and it will be good for them to step away from it for a little bit. I am going to emphasize to them to get away from it and just relax and maybe even read a book, or something."
Notes: A long kickoff return by Josh Lee to midfield started the scrimmage ... approximately 25 spectators were in the stands watching the scrimmage ... referees were officiating the scrimmage ... Bucknell has just two more practices before the start of classes on Wednesday ... A.J. Kizekai and Shaun Pasternak were named Preseason All-Americans by College Sporting News earlier this week.
