By Patrick Clark - Assistant Sports Information Director

Aug. 16, 2008

PHOTO GALLERY

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. (Saturday, August 16, 2008) - You can tell that football season is getting closer in Cape Girardeau as a spirited crowd showed up for the Redhawks football team's first full-pad scrimmage of the preseason. The team held its first full-contact scrimmage at Houck Stadium. The only player you couldn't tackle was the quarterbacks who wore green jerseys while the rest of the offense wore red and the defense was decked out in white. The scrimmage was a situational scrimmage that put both sides of the ball in different game-like scenerios including short-yardage, goal-line and two-minute situations.

Some highlights and impressions from the scrimmage:

Typically the defense usually dominates in early season scrimmages as they progress more quickly than the offense due to defenses tending to be more simplified when it comes to play-calling. However that was not the case during this particular scrimmage as it appeared the offense was insync. No doubt this is due to the number of starters returning on offense and their familiarity of the system after playing in it last season and during the spring.

Returning starter Houston Lillard was impressive in limited action as he completed his all his passes during his two series. One of more accurate passers in the OVC he hit all his receivers in stride and even more encouraging was how mobile he was in the pocket. Wearing the bulky knee brace that he has worn since suffering a serious ligament injury two years ago, he created opportunities by scrambling and buying his receivers time to get open.

Head Coach Tony Samuel said from day one when he arrived on campus that his offense would need a quarterback that create with his legs as well as his arm and he might have finally got that player in Lillard.

The offense featured more passing than running early on as the Redhawks rotated different units and receivers.

In defense of the defense (no pun intended), they mainly ran zone fronts and I don't recall any blitz packages being called. Some key defensive players were held out due to injuries as well. Nevertheless I wouldn't be to concerned as I see the offense having a good scrimmage against what I forsee as one of most improved defenses in the OVC.

Some Receiving Old and New:

The Redhawk receivers got alot of work on Saturday and I came away impressed. Though there were some drops early on, as a group they pulled it together and made numerous plays. Walter Peoples caught everything thrown his way highlighted by a 15-yard slant for a TD. Miles Edwards also had a TD to his credit. Brad Stewart was also solid with a couple of catches for first downs. Mike Williamson made an acrobatic grab along the sideline. Daryl Gist also showed great hands making a few catches during 7-on-7 drills and added a TD in the scrimmage.

Aaron King, who sat last season after transferring from Lindenwood, caught a couple of short passes and turned upfield for significant yardage later in the scrimmage.

However Lillard might have found a new target in redshirt freshman Chante Ahamefule. Standing 6-6 and weighing in at 215 pounds, Ahamefule screams end zone threat but showed great hands as he made a few tough acrobatic catches over the middle. Expect him to be split out wide in the red zone matched up man-to-man against opponents corners (who will probably give up six inches to the Ahamefule).

Farmers Field:

One of the key losses from last year's team was the graduation of four-year starting tight end Joseph Tuineau. So for the first time since his arrival to SEMO Coach Samuel will have to find a new starting tight end. Though their is no clear frontrunner for that starting spot the performance of transfer Ashton Farmer on Saturday left an impression on me and those who attended the scrimmage. A former basketball star from nearby Charleston, Mo., the 6-7, 250-pounder put on a display as he made an athletic grab along the sideline after making a nifty moved on cornerback Kris Cottner.

Farmer lined up in the receiver spot in that instance and was later in that same position after making an over-the-shoulder catch on a go route, blowing past the defending corner, during the final 7-on-7 drill of the day. I didn't get a chance to watch him as a blocker or how he ran out of the three-point stance but with a player with only one-year of organized football under his belt (he played his senior year of high school...three years ago!!!) he showed great skills and has unlimited potential and gives Lillard yet another weapon.

Thunder & Lightning:

Another lingering question heading into the season is the running back position...at least for the first five games. Senior Timmy Holloman will sit those first five games but is such a talent and gamebreaker that OVC coaches and sports information directors named him to the OVC Preseason Team. So what will the Redhawks do for those first five games? Well lining up without a running back was not an option and Kelvin "Earthquake" Anderson ran out of eligibility about 15 years ago. The answer might be the duo of Mike Jones and newcomer Henry Harris.

Jones, all six-foot 240 pounds of him, look quicker and even stronger (if that's possible) as he showed off his hard-nosed running style. He recorded a run early on in the scrimmage where it took about six defenders to drag him down (and a penalty for helmet-to-helmet contact) after he carried two would-be tacklers four yards. Later in the red zone situation of the scrimmage he showed great vision as he found tight holes in the middle and gained yards instead of his patented "making holes" running style.

Jones may bring the boom but Harris may bring the homerun threat Holloman possess. Harris almost broke off a 90-yard run but was tripped up as he made a move on linebacker. His quickness to the corner is a sight to be seen and I feel sorry for defenders who have to face him one-on-one in the open field...I'm putting my money on Harris.

So I wouldn't worry about the running game but worry that we might not have enough playing time for all the talented backs when Holloman returns.

Inside the Huddle:

- With last year's back-up quarterback Steve Callanan leaving the team during camp, transfer Dustin Powell has moved into the back-up role. Powell probably has the team's strongest arm and showed that during the scrimmage and aired it out a few times. Freshman Matt Scheible saw most of the snaps on Saturday and showed why the coaching staff has been impressed with him during camp. He showed veteran poise and a live arm, especially on the deep routes.

- Bradley Brown ran with the first team at the tight end position. Known as a very good blocker, he showed his hands and speed off with a diving one-handed 35-yard grab during 7-on-7 drills.

- Starting free safety Vincent Anderson looked to be ready for the season. He made a leaping interception on a deep pass from Powell and would have had a decent return had the whistle not have been blown.

- The offensive line was impressive as they gave the quarterbacks plenty of time to throw.

- I was impressed with the play of the safeties especially Marvin Anderson, he seemed to be involved in every play and is a sure tackler.

- The transition from safety to corner for Kendall Magana seemed to go smoothly. He played both sides of the field and has kept a little of those safety skills as he could be heard lining up his fellow teammates on defense.

- The Redhawks look to have a number of talented defensive lineman and defensive ends which is crucial since Coach Samuel likes to rotate his down lineman to keep them fresh.

- Look for a huge season from offensive lineman Jaunell Pugh. At 6-3 and 270 he showed great lateral quickness and didn't seem to tire at all. He started nine games last season as a junior.