GOKATS
August 16th, 2008, 11:00 PM
I think the Cats will be in great shape whoever gets the nod, but it's still up in the air after todays scrimmage. From MSU-
BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Mark Iddins and Cody Kempt aren't making
things easy on Rob Ash.
"My first reaction is that we still have two guys in the race,"
Ash, Montana State's second-year head coach, said of his team's
quarterback competition after Saturday's 110-play scrimmage in Bobcat
Stadium. "I would have liked for one guy to establish himself, but I
don't think that happened."
Iddins finished the day 10-for-12 passing with a touchdown and
an interception, while Kempt was 14-for-23 for 124 yards. Kempt also
scored on a two-yard run.
"I thought yesterday Cody edged a little bit ahead," Ash said,
"but Mark Iddins had a great day today, so I'd say it's back into a
dead-even tie... I thought they both played really well, and we have to
go at least another week now and keep working both of them to see what
happens."
Ash was pleased with the strides taken by his offense Saturday,
particularly in the passing game. "I thought both quarterbacks played
well, I thought we protected the ball well. We only had one interception
on the day, that was really good ball security on the part of our
quarterbacks. They ran well, did good things, so that was good. I
thought DeSean Thomas looked good at receiver, and I thought Mark Desin
looked good at receiver, and I thought our tight ends played well and
caught the ball well."
On the day, the Bobcat offense gained 240 yards in the air and
rushed for 107 yards on 36 carries. Ash said Montana State's deep,
experienced defensive front serves the stop unit well. "The defensive
line is experienced and tough. Kolone and Fletcher and Bartsch, they're
tough, they're good, and the linebackers are good, so it's not a
surprise to me that we're not moving up and down the field."
Ash and his staff scripted several situations for his team,
including drives that started at the five going in and the one coming
out. One of the series with the offense operating deep in its own
territory provided Ash one of his highlights of the day. "(Tyler) Lulay
made an excellent play on that little screen pass (on a third down from
the one) and got a first down. The (offense) got two first downs and
moved out of there. That was a nice job by the one offense. It was one
of their better (drives) of the day."
Sophomore defensive tackle Dan Ogden was in on several key
plays, registering two tackles for loss, one of which was a safety, and
blocking a kick. All-America linebacker Bobby Daly broke up a pair of
passes and roamed sideline-to-sideline for tackles.
The Bobcats take Sunday off from practice before returning for a
pair on Monday.
* * *
A handful of key Bobcats missed Saturday's scrimmage with injuries.
Center Jim Verlanic's high ankle sprain continues to improve, but he is
several days away from returning, as is receiver DeAndre Green
(shoulder). Linebacker Chase Gazzerro and safeties Jordan Craney and
Kevin Retoriano also sat out with minor injuries. Each remain
day-to-day.
* * *
Ash also announced Saturday that sophomore offensive lineman Jeff Miller
is academically ineligible for the 2008 season. Ash indicated Miller
intends to remain in the program and return as a junior in 2009.
RUSHING
Demetrius Crawford 7-14; Aaron Mason 9-6; CJ Palmer 8-16; Blayde
Becksted 3-6; Cody Kempt 4- -6-1; Rick Haluscka 3-26; Darius Bell 1-0.
PASSING
Mark Iddins 13-10-1, 116, 1 TD; Cody Kempt 23-14-0, 124, 0; Darius Bell
2-0-0; Mark Desin 1-0-0; Byron Campbell 1-0-0.
RECEIVING
DeSean Thomas 6-67, Joe Schreibeis 4-51, Mark Desin 4-34, Jesse Anderson
1-3-1, Blayde Becksted 1-4, CJ Palmer 1-5, Tyler Lulay 1-11, Derek Green
1-8, Kyle Begger 1-3.
DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS
Brian Bignell - 1 sack; Tyler Bolton - 1 FR; Jeff Brown - 1 PB; Ryan
Cerise - 1 TL; Jason D'Alba - 1 sack; Bobby Daly - 2 PB; Dane Fletcher -
1 sack; Chris Kolone - 1 PB; John Laidet - 1 sack; Dan Ogden - 1 TL, 1
safety, 1 blocked kick; Tanner Ripley 1 PB; Jared Rohrback - 1 PB; Brad
Smith, 1 PB; Isaiah Taito - 1 TL; Beau Watkins - 2 PB.
BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Mark Iddins and Cody Kempt aren't making
things easy on Rob Ash.
"My first reaction is that we still have two guys in the race,"
Ash, Montana State's second-year head coach, said of his team's
quarterback competition after Saturday's 110-play scrimmage in Bobcat
Stadium. "I would have liked for one guy to establish himself, but I
don't think that happened."
Iddins finished the day 10-for-12 passing with a touchdown and
an interception, while Kempt was 14-for-23 for 124 yards. Kempt also
scored on a two-yard run.
"I thought yesterday Cody edged a little bit ahead," Ash said,
"but Mark Iddins had a great day today, so I'd say it's back into a
dead-even tie... I thought they both played really well, and we have to
go at least another week now and keep working both of them to see what
happens."
Ash was pleased with the strides taken by his offense Saturday,
particularly in the passing game. "I thought both quarterbacks played
well, I thought we protected the ball well. We only had one interception
on the day, that was really good ball security on the part of our
quarterbacks. They ran well, did good things, so that was good. I
thought DeSean Thomas looked good at receiver, and I thought Mark Desin
looked good at receiver, and I thought our tight ends played well and
caught the ball well."
On the day, the Bobcat offense gained 240 yards in the air and
rushed for 107 yards on 36 carries. Ash said Montana State's deep,
experienced defensive front serves the stop unit well. "The defensive
line is experienced and tough. Kolone and Fletcher and Bartsch, they're
tough, they're good, and the linebackers are good, so it's not a
surprise to me that we're not moving up and down the field."
Ash and his staff scripted several situations for his team,
including drives that started at the five going in and the one coming
out. One of the series with the offense operating deep in its own
territory provided Ash one of his highlights of the day. "(Tyler) Lulay
made an excellent play on that little screen pass (on a third down from
the one) and got a first down. The (offense) got two first downs and
moved out of there. That was a nice job by the one offense. It was one
of their better (drives) of the day."
Sophomore defensive tackle Dan Ogden was in on several key
plays, registering two tackles for loss, one of which was a safety, and
blocking a kick. All-America linebacker Bobby Daly broke up a pair of
passes and roamed sideline-to-sideline for tackles.
The Bobcats take Sunday off from practice before returning for a
pair on Monday.
* * *
A handful of key Bobcats missed Saturday's scrimmage with injuries.
Center Jim Verlanic's high ankle sprain continues to improve, but he is
several days away from returning, as is receiver DeAndre Green
(shoulder). Linebacker Chase Gazzerro and safeties Jordan Craney and
Kevin Retoriano also sat out with minor injuries. Each remain
day-to-day.
* * *
Ash also announced Saturday that sophomore offensive lineman Jeff Miller
is academically ineligible for the 2008 season. Ash indicated Miller
intends to remain in the program and return as a junior in 2009.
RUSHING
Demetrius Crawford 7-14; Aaron Mason 9-6; CJ Palmer 8-16; Blayde
Becksted 3-6; Cody Kempt 4- -6-1; Rick Haluscka 3-26; Darius Bell 1-0.
PASSING
Mark Iddins 13-10-1, 116, 1 TD; Cody Kempt 23-14-0, 124, 0; Darius Bell
2-0-0; Mark Desin 1-0-0; Byron Campbell 1-0-0.
RECEIVING
DeSean Thomas 6-67, Joe Schreibeis 4-51, Mark Desin 4-34, Jesse Anderson
1-3-1, Blayde Becksted 1-4, CJ Palmer 1-5, Tyler Lulay 1-11, Derek Green
1-8, Kyle Begger 1-3.
DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS
Brian Bignell - 1 sack; Tyler Bolton - 1 FR; Jeff Brown - 1 PB; Ryan
Cerise - 1 TL; Jason D'Alba - 1 sack; Bobby Daly - 2 PB; Dane Fletcher -
1 sack; Chris Kolone - 1 PB; John Laidet - 1 sack; Dan Ogden - 1 TL, 1
safety, 1 blocked kick; Tanner Ripley 1 PB; Jared Rohrback - 1 PB; Brad
Smith, 1 PB; Isaiah Taito - 1 TL; Beau Watkins - 2 PB.