August 21, 1999
Release: Upon Receipt

PENALTIES OVERSHADOW PRODUCTIVE
SATURDAY SCRIMMAGE AT FURMAN

GREENVILLE -- Aside from the number of penalties, Furman head football coach Bobby Johnson emerged from Saturday¹s scrimmage in Paladin Stadium generally satisfied with the work of his squad, which completed its third day in full pads.

³If it weren¹t for so many penalties, I thought it would have been a really good day,² Johnson said following his squad¹s two hour scrimmage in front of approximately 400 fans. ³Des Kitchings made some big plays and Justin Hill executed well. They didn¹t get as many plays as we wanted because we scored so quickly and we had to get them out of there, but we got in some good work and got some younger players in there, so we feel pretty good overall. At this point, I don¹t think we got anybody hurt, but we¹ll keep our fingers crossed on that.²

Highlighting the Paladins¹ work on Saturday, which was slowed by eight penalty flags, was placekicker Jason Wells, who converted all four field goal attempts from 27, 34, 41, and 48 yards.

³Jason Wells I think is one of the best kickers in the Southern Conference. We feel like he can make them from 40 to 45 yards on a consistent basis.²

Starting quarterback Justin Hill completed 4-of-11 passes and hooked up with flanker Desmond Kitchings on a 47-yard touchdown strike. Hill, a Greer native, also scored on a 19-yard run on an option keeper to highlight an offensive scrimmage effort that netted four touchdowns, including a 4-yard run by fullback Derek Russell and a 1-yard plunge by reserve fullback Adam Sanders. Tailback Louis Ivory led all rushers with 38 carries on five carries.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Billy Napier completed 4-of-13 passes for 36 yards, and freshman Peter White of Spartanburg connected on 4-of-6 passes for 46 yards.

³Billy did some good things. We had some penalties caused by indecision and because of some wrong calls at the line of scrimmage, but the execution was good at times. I thought Peter White came in and threw some good passes. That¹s great to have a guy who is capable now at the third team level to come in and hit some passes for you.²

Despite the absence of nose guard Jarrod Holmes and tackle Ryan Bussard on Saturday due to injuries, Furman¹s defensive front was credited with five sacks. Holmes has yet to practice due to a hamstring strain, and Bussard has been unavailable during the first week of practice due to shoulder injury. Both players were listed as probable starters prior to the start of pre-season practice.

³It always hurts you in these scrimmages like this when you lack a lot of depth at one position. The guys out there today got pretty stripped out because they had to play a lot of plays, but I think our defensive line is working much more efficiently now and is better.²

Except for a team meeting, Furman will not practice on Sunday, but the Paladins will return to its two-a-day practice schedule on Monday with workouts scheduled for 6:20 a.m. and 3:20 p.m.