August 16, 2003

FURMAN SATURDAY SCRIMMAGE
EARNS MIXED REVIEWS

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- After lightning interrupted Furman's Saturday scrimmage, forcing an almost hour and a half delay, the Paladins returned to the field and performed to a mixed review from head coach Bobby Lamb.

"I thought in spurts we looked like a football team, and in other spurts we looked like we had never practiced before," said Lamb following the completion of the 107-play scrimmage. "We had too many penalties and too many turnovers on offense, and on defense we were lackluster at the start. I think the second team offense took a 16-play drive down the field and scored on the first team defense. After they did that I think we woke up, but we’re still learning and have a long way to go to get ready for our first game in two weeks."

One of the scrimmage's biggest plays occurred on the first snap when cornerback T.J. Wilson intercepted a pass by projected starting quarterback Bo Moore and raced 36 yards for a touchdown. After a four-yard run by tailback Hindley Brigham on the next play, lightning forced the team to the locker room for an hour and 25 minutes.

"We got out here, warmed up, and got ready to go and the lightning got us," added Lamb. "We went in there and sat for a long time. The way thunderstorms were bouncing around, I didn't know how long we were going to be delayed. That probably had a little bit to do with our slow start when we got back out here."

Moore also struggled after the break with a second interception and fumble, but the junior from Madison, Ga., rallied to connect with junior wide receiver Brian Bratton on a 40-yard touchdown strike. On the day he completed 5-of-10 pass attempts for 64 yards and added 19 yards rushing on six carries.

"Obviously Bo didn’t have a very good day, and neither did Josh Stepp. We left Bo in there and he made some plays later, but he turned the ball over too much. I thought Jeremiah Van Dora had a very good day. We'll evaluate that situation, but right now Bo is still our starter. We can't go on this one scrimmage but how they've played over the past week."

Van Dora led the second team offense on the 16-play scoring drive that netted a 20-yard Danny Marshall field goal. The Hartwell, Ga., junior connected on 6-of-11 passes for 85 yards and scored on a 14-yard run off an option keeper late in the scrimmage.

Stepp, meanwhile, completed 2-of-5 passes for 38 yards, but the redshirt freshman was sacked four times.

"That (the sacks) was lack of experience," added Lamb. "He was trying to run around the offensive linemen while they're blocking to the outside. The bad thing about that is last week in practice he had so much success scrambling, but now he's starting to scramble too much. He's got to learn to set his feet and throw. That just comes with experience."

Bratton led all Paladin receivers with four catches for 65 yards. Sophomore split end Brian Stone had three receptions for 63 yards, and Daric Carter, a sophomore split end, also had three catches for 31 yards.

"We spread the balls around well but missed a couple of deep ones. Those guys (receivers) made some big plays for us. We got Brian Bratton out of there after he made a few plays because we know what he can do. We’re pretty deep at receiver."

The scrimmage featured virtually all of the program’s running backs, including freshman tailback Cedrick Gipson, who led the way with 97 yards on 15 carries, including a 26-yard burst that set up his own four-yard touchdown run a few plays later. Senior tailbacks Hindley Brigham and Lamar Rembert combined for 13 carries and 68 yards, and sophomore tailback Brandon Mays, who appears close to completing a comeback from three intestinal surgeries over the last nine months, had eight carries for 23 yards.

Defensively, senior end Brandon Poole paced the five-sack performance with two takedowns, and junior end Travis Jones, sophomore linebacker William Freeman, and freshman cornerback Andrew Thacker accounted for the other three.

Junior defensive end Ken Yuhas recovered the scrimmage’s only fumble, and sophomore linebacker Josh Slagle gathered in the day’s second interception following a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage.

The day also featured a solid kicking performance by senior All-Southern Conference performer Danny Marshall, who converted 9-of-11 attempts, including efforts from 51 and 53 yards.

"Danny has worked hard to improve his range. Now that he's improved his strength, that gives us more options," added Lamb. "I think John Rust had a good day at tight end. He only caught one pass, but he blocked pretty well."

Furman will not practice on Sunday but will return to the field on Monday with a pair of workouts.

Notes: Furman escaped the scrimmage with no serious injuries according to head athletic trainer Phil Hedrick. Among the notable players not in uniform were center Craig Morgan (concussion), fullback David Latimer (hamstring), Maurice Duncan (hamstring), and defensive end Tony Polazzo (neck). Suspended tight end Willis Sudderth and split end Isaac West also continue to be sidelined with an indefinite suspensions pending university disciplinary action, which is expected to be announced this coming week.