Photo by: Hardy Meredith | SFA Photography
Offense Shows Improvement in Lumberjacks’ Second Scrimmage of Spring Football
4/14/2018 6:27:00 PM | Football
SFA hosted its second scrimmage of 2018 Saturday afternoon inside Homer Bryce Stadium, running approximately 80 live ball plays
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – For the first time of 2018 fans got the chance to catch the Stephen F. Austin football team in game-like action on campus as the Lumberjacks hosted their second full-padded scrimmage of the spring inside Homer Bryce Stadium Saturday afternoon. For the second-straight Saturday, football was in the air in Texas' oldest town as another blustery spring day made it feel like early November in east Texas.
The nearly two-hour long workout was highlighted by a strong rushing attack from SFA's offense, great play by the Lumberjacks' receivers and another impressive outing for the defensive line. Starting deep in its own territory, one of the offense's first plays of the afternoon was an over 50-yard run by redshirt freshman running back Dominic Williams, who broke through the line and scampered down the sideline.
"Obviously, there were just some fundamental improvements offensively," head coach Clint Conque commented following the scrimmage. "The quarterback/center exchanges were better, we struggled with that in the weather last week. I thought we caught the ball pretty well and some individuals flashed. I really like the way Thomas Hutchings was running the football, along with Dominic Williams. It was good to get Jamall Shaw back on the field; it was the first time he's practiced since last week's scrimmage. Remi Simmons is going to help us, there is no question about it on offense."
"I thought the first-team offensive line did a much better job," continued coach Conque, "I thought we ran the football a little more effectively. It was good to get Bryce Wempa involved, he had several catches today and one real nice catch down in the red zone area. Josh Covey did some good things, despite making some mistakes."
There were several big plays by the offense Saturday, including sophomore quarterback Zach Smith threading the ball to senior wide receiver Frank Iheanacho between the hashes for a large gain. During SFA's drives that began at the offense's 40-yard line, both junior running backs Thomas Hutchings and Jamall Shaw found their way into the promise land. After a nice catch and run by sophomore receiver Remi Simmons got the 'Jacks in a goal line situation, Shaw punched it into the end zone from a few yards out. Earlier, Hutchings had an explosive touchdown run after busting through the line.
"Defensively, I thought our first-team defensive line was dominant going against our second-team offense," coach Conque added. "That's what you hope to see but we need to get better with depth there. What you want to see as the head football coach is give and take on both sides. You want to see both the first team have some success and the second team grow and I think we saw that today."
Approximately 80 live ball plays were ran during Saturday's scrimmage, including 12 coming out packages from the offense's own three-yard line, 36 from the offense's 40 and 24 red zone plays starting at the defense's 20. The 'Jacks also worked on special teams situations with 12 dead-ball punts and kickoffs and another six point after attempts versus field goal blocks. Additionally, SFA conducted 16 open field plays in a 7-on-7-like format.
Saturday afternoon's scrimmage was the second of three total for SFA this spring as the 'Jacks will wrap up spring football next week with their fourth and final week of practice. SFA will take part in three practices, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, before next Saturday's annual Purple and White Spring Game.
The 2018 Spring Game is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, April 21 and will be played inside Homer Bryce. A movie night will follow as Star Wars: The Last Jedi will be played on the video board following the conclusion of the Purple and White Spring Game.
Monday evening's 11th practice of spring ball will begin at 7:30 p.m. under the lights of Homer Bryce. The remaining spring football schedule for SFA is as follows:
Monday, April 16 | Practice 11 | 7:30 p.m. | Homer Bryce Stadium
Wednesday, April 18 | Practice 12 | 3:50 p.m. | Homer Bryce Stadium
Friday, April 20 | Practice 13 | 3:50 p.m. | Homer Bryce Stadium
Saturday, April 21 | 2018 Spring Game | 6 p.m. | Homer Bryce Stadium
Practice and scrimmage times are subject to change due to weather. Fans should call (936) 468-3502 for all weather-related schedule changes and follow Lumberjack football on social media, via Twitter (@SFA_Football), Facebook (@SFAFootball) and Instagram (@sfa_football).
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Lumberjack football throughout this spring.
-SFA-
The nearly two-hour long workout was highlighted by a strong rushing attack from SFA's offense, great play by the Lumberjacks' receivers and another impressive outing for the defensive line. Starting deep in its own territory, one of the offense's first plays of the afternoon was an over 50-yard run by redshirt freshman running back Dominic Williams, who broke through the line and scampered down the sideline.
"Obviously, there were just some fundamental improvements offensively," head coach Clint Conque commented following the scrimmage. "The quarterback/center exchanges were better, we struggled with that in the weather last week. I thought we caught the ball pretty well and some individuals flashed. I really like the way Thomas Hutchings was running the football, along with Dominic Williams. It was good to get Jamall Shaw back on the field; it was the first time he's practiced since last week's scrimmage. Remi Simmons is going to help us, there is no question about it on offense."
"I thought the first-team offensive line did a much better job," continued coach Conque, "I thought we ran the football a little more effectively. It was good to get Bryce Wempa involved, he had several catches today and one real nice catch down in the red zone area. Josh Covey did some good things, despite making some mistakes."
There were several big plays by the offense Saturday, including sophomore quarterback Zach Smith threading the ball to senior wide receiver Frank Iheanacho between the hashes for a large gain. During SFA's drives that began at the offense's 40-yard line, both junior running backs Thomas Hutchings and Jamall Shaw found their way into the promise land. After a nice catch and run by sophomore receiver Remi Simmons got the 'Jacks in a goal line situation, Shaw punched it into the end zone from a few yards out. Earlier, Hutchings had an explosive touchdown run after busting through the line.
"Defensively, I thought our first-team defensive line was dominant going against our second-team offense," coach Conque added. "That's what you hope to see but we need to get better with depth there. What you want to see as the head football coach is give and take on both sides. You want to see both the first team have some success and the second team grow and I think we saw that today."
Approximately 80 live ball plays were ran during Saturday's scrimmage, including 12 coming out packages from the offense's own three-yard line, 36 from the offense's 40 and 24 red zone plays starting at the defense's 20. The 'Jacks also worked on special teams situations with 12 dead-ball punts and kickoffs and another six point after attempts versus field goal blocks. Additionally, SFA conducted 16 open field plays in a 7-on-7-like format.
Saturday afternoon's scrimmage was the second of three total for SFA this spring as the 'Jacks will wrap up spring football next week with their fourth and final week of practice. SFA will take part in three practices, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, before next Saturday's annual Purple and White Spring Game.
The 2018 Spring Game is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, April 21 and will be played inside Homer Bryce. A movie night will follow as Star Wars: The Last Jedi will be played on the video board following the conclusion of the Purple and White Spring Game.
Monday evening's 11th practice of spring ball will begin at 7:30 p.m. under the lights of Homer Bryce. The remaining spring football schedule for SFA is as follows:
Monday, April 16 | Practice 11 | 7:30 p.m. | Homer Bryce Stadium
Wednesday, April 18 | Practice 12 | 3:50 p.m. | Homer Bryce Stadium
Friday, April 20 | Practice 13 | 3:50 p.m. | Homer Bryce Stadium
Saturday, April 21 | 2018 Spring Game | 6 p.m. | Homer Bryce Stadium
Practice and scrimmage times are subject to change due to weather. Fans should call (936) 468-3502 for all weather-related schedule changes and follow Lumberjack football on social media, via Twitter (@SFA_Football), Facebook (@SFAFootball) and Instagram (@sfa_football).
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Lumberjack football throughout this spring.
-SFA-
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