PaladinFan
March 28th, 2007, 07:49 PM
March 24, 2007
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- After putting his team through a 78-play scrimmage on Saturday in Paladin Stadium, Furman head coach Bobby Lamb said he was probably most impressed with the way his team handled the football during the one hour and 45 minute session.
"I saw a lot of good things out there today, but the one aspect that I'm most pleased with is the manner in which we handled the football on all of our snaps," said Lamb. "We worked three centers and three quarterbacks and didn't have one bobbled snap, a bad handoff, or a fumble by any of our running backs. That's been something (clean exchanges) we've stressed all spring because we had some problems in that area early last season."
The efficient ball handling by Paladin centers, quarterbacks, and running backs underscored some quality work turned in by first and second team offensive units that generated three touchdowns, including a pair of scoring strikes despite the absence of a trio of injured receivers.
The defense, meanwhile, registered a pair of interceptions, including a 29-yard return for a touchdown by defensive end Paul White, and four sacks despite being shorthanded in the interior line, where Ricky Jones, Gaines Burnett, and Daniel Leagans combined to play the entire scrimmage. Corey Ray, a rising sophomore, was expected to be available but was held out after being involved in a minor traffic accident Friday evening.
"Corey and his brother got t-boned down at Cherrydale last night. They were wearing their seatbelts and weren't seriously injured, thank goodness, but were a little sore this morning so we held him out."
With special emphasis on the passing game, Furman's quarterback trio of Renaldo Gray, Jordan Sorrells, and Cody Worley turned in solid performances. Gray, a rising senior, completed 10-of-17 passes for 102 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown strike to Joe Watson. Sorrells, a rising sophomore, went 11-of-17 for 148 yards and score, which came on an 11-yard toss to Ryan McKie, and Worley, a redshirt freshman, completed 2-of-5 for passes for 22 yards. Sorrells and McKie threw one interception each.
The Paladins' leading receiver during the scrimmage was rising senior Patrick Sprague, who grabbed four passes for 69 yards. Sophomore walk-on Tate Zeigler collected four catches for 57 yards. Former Greeenville Eastside High School standout Keiron Williams, who was not expected to participate in Saturday's scrimmage due to a mild hamstring strain, hooked up with Sorrells on a 40-yard reception near the end of the session. In all 13 players recorded receptions.
Paul White's 29-yard interception return for a touchdown following a batted pass highlighted the defensive effort. Free safety Chris Stone, another product of Eastside High School, returned a pickoff 20 yards.
Sacks were posted by defensive ends Shaun van Rensburg, Wallace Artis, and Jay Jay Mars, and linebacker Hunter Twitty.
"I thought our first team defense looked solid," added Lamb, "We've got a lot of leadership on that side of the football. Players like Andrew Jones, we know what they can do, so we got him out of there pretty early."
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- After putting his team through a 78-play scrimmage on Saturday in Paladin Stadium, Furman head coach Bobby Lamb said he was probably most impressed with the way his team handled the football during the one hour and 45 minute session.
"I saw a lot of good things out there today, but the one aspect that I'm most pleased with is the manner in which we handled the football on all of our snaps," said Lamb. "We worked three centers and three quarterbacks and didn't have one bobbled snap, a bad handoff, or a fumble by any of our running backs. That's been something (clean exchanges) we've stressed all spring because we had some problems in that area early last season."
The efficient ball handling by Paladin centers, quarterbacks, and running backs underscored some quality work turned in by first and second team offensive units that generated three touchdowns, including a pair of scoring strikes despite the absence of a trio of injured receivers.
The defense, meanwhile, registered a pair of interceptions, including a 29-yard return for a touchdown by defensive end Paul White, and four sacks despite being shorthanded in the interior line, where Ricky Jones, Gaines Burnett, and Daniel Leagans combined to play the entire scrimmage. Corey Ray, a rising sophomore, was expected to be available but was held out after being involved in a minor traffic accident Friday evening.
"Corey and his brother got t-boned down at Cherrydale last night. They were wearing their seatbelts and weren't seriously injured, thank goodness, but were a little sore this morning so we held him out."
With special emphasis on the passing game, Furman's quarterback trio of Renaldo Gray, Jordan Sorrells, and Cody Worley turned in solid performances. Gray, a rising senior, completed 10-of-17 passes for 102 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown strike to Joe Watson. Sorrells, a rising sophomore, went 11-of-17 for 148 yards and score, which came on an 11-yard toss to Ryan McKie, and Worley, a redshirt freshman, completed 2-of-5 for passes for 22 yards. Sorrells and McKie threw one interception each.
The Paladins' leading receiver during the scrimmage was rising senior Patrick Sprague, who grabbed four passes for 69 yards. Sophomore walk-on Tate Zeigler collected four catches for 57 yards. Former Greeenville Eastside High School standout Keiron Williams, who was not expected to participate in Saturday's scrimmage due to a mild hamstring strain, hooked up with Sorrells on a 40-yard reception near the end of the session. In all 13 players recorded receptions.
Paul White's 29-yard interception return for a touchdown following a batted pass highlighted the defensive effort. Free safety Chris Stone, another product of Eastside High School, returned a pickoff 20 yards.
Sacks were posted by defensive ends Shaun van Rensburg, Wallace Artis, and Jay Jay Mars, and linebacker Hunter Twitty.
"I thought our first team defense looked solid," added Lamb, "We've got a lot of leadership on that side of the football. Players like Andrew Jones, we know what they can do, so we got him out of there pretty early."