2008 Woodie Awards
ISU football's second spring scrimmage
Courtesy of ISU Athletics Press Release
Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Sports
In a spring that showed a lot of positives on both sides of the ball, the biggest positive continues to be the maturation of sophomore-to-be quarterback Russel Hill, who led two long scoring drives to pace the offense in Idaho State's second scrimmage of the spring.
The two long touchdown drives highlighted the 55-play scrimmage. Hill opened the day with the number one offense backed up on their own three-yard line, and Hill calmly completed three-of-four passes on the drive, moving ISU into scoring territory at the 40-yard line. From there, receiver Edsel Logan scored on a rush from 40-yards out, giving the Bengals a 97-yard touchdown drive.
The defense rose up from there, holding the next three drives to punts with backups Kyle Blum and Evan Mozzochi under center. After a special teams period, Hill came out for a second series starting at his own 45-yard line, and on 3rd-and-8 from the 37, Hill bootlegged left, stopped, set and fired a perfect 37-yard touchdown strike to Isaiah Burel for a second score. The catch was the final one of the day for Burel, who led everyone with four grabs for 71 yards.
Kyle Blum also had success from the 45-yard line, leading ISU to a field goal opportunity, driving the Bengals to the 9-yard line, a drive that saw Blum convert two third downs, one on the ground on his own, and one to Angelo McGee on a nice diving catch.
While the offense rose to the occasion when in the shadow of their own goal line, the defense did the same - not allowing a touchdown on five drives that starting at the 30-yard line going in. The first three drives ended on three-and-outs, as the defense allowed -2 yards over those three drives. The final two drives ended in field goals by Mike Ramos, who bounced back nicely from the first scrimmage, hitting an extra point and three field goals before having his final effort blocked.
While ISU's quarterbacks played well, the stats show they struggled a little, combining to go 12-for-25 for 112 yards with a touchdown (by Hill) and an interception (by Blum). The running game was done by committee, and that committee was solid the entire day, rushing for 217 yards on 30 carries. Walk-on Idaho Falls native Ben LaPorta starred on the day, rushing five times for 68 yards. These included all three carries on a 55-yard touchdown drive, a drive he finished by bouncing outside for a 34-yard score.
The two long touchdown drives highlighted the 55-play scrimmage. Hill opened the day with the number one offense backed up on their own three-yard line, and Hill calmly completed three-of-four passes on the drive, moving ISU into scoring territory at the 40-yard line. From there, receiver Edsel Logan scored on a rush from 40-yards out, giving the Bengals a 97-yard touchdown drive.
The defense rose up from there, holding the next three drives to punts with backups Kyle Blum and Evan Mozzochi under center. After a special teams period, Hill came out for a second series starting at his own 45-yard line, and on 3rd-and-8 from the 37, Hill bootlegged left, stopped, set and fired a perfect 37-yard touchdown strike to Isaiah Burel for a second score. The catch was the final one of the day for Burel, who led everyone with four grabs for 71 yards.
Kyle Blum also had success from the 45-yard line, leading ISU to a field goal opportunity, driving the Bengals to the 9-yard line, a drive that saw Blum convert two third downs, one on the ground on his own, and one to Angelo McGee on a nice diving catch.
While the offense rose to the occasion when in the shadow of their own goal line, the defense did the same - not allowing a touchdown on five drives that starting at the 30-yard line going in. The first three drives ended on three-and-outs, as the defense allowed -2 yards over those three drives. The final two drives ended in field goals by Mike Ramos, who bounced back nicely from the first scrimmage, hitting an extra point and three field goals before having his final effort blocked.
While ISU's quarterbacks played well, the stats show they struggled a little, combining to go 12-for-25 for 112 yards with a touchdown (by Hill) and an interception (by Blum). The running game was done by committee, and that committee was solid the entire day, rushing for 217 yards on 30 carries. Walk-on Idaho Falls native Ben LaPorta starred on the day, rushing five times for 68 yards. These included all three carries on a 55-yard touchdown drive, a drive he finished by bouncing outside for a 34-yard score.
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