COLLEGE FOOTBALL: More scrimmages for Vandals, Cougs
MOSCOW — Redshirt freshman Dwayne McDougle and senior Sean McCormick had interceptions as the Idaho Vandals held their second scrimmage of the preseason Saturday afternoon at the Kibbie Dome.
“That was good; we had two two-minute situations, and the defense held on both,” Idaho coach Jason Eck said. “I thought Malakai Williams had some nice rushes today, and JJ (Jermaine Jackson) had a heckuva catch early in the scrimmage.”
Other highlights: Gevani McCoy connected with Nick Romano and the aforementioned Jackson for TD passes, and was picked once; Hogan Carmichael, a freshman, was intercepted once and threw a TD pass to freshman Cooper Hiday; freshman Jack Wagner threw a long TD pass to sophomore Jalen Grable.
“Some things we have to clean up — we have to get better at managing the 40-second clock, that’s the first time we’ve worked with that (this preseason),” Eck said. “Our snapping has got to be better; and a few too many penalties.”
Idaho opens Aug. 31 at Lamar.
“It’s getting close; we’re less than two weeks; we’re excited,” Eck said.
EASTERN WASHINGTON
CHENEY — The Eagles' football practice and scrimmage scheduled for Saturday was canceled due to poor air quality caused by smoke from nearby wildfires.
WASHINGTON STATE
PULLMAN — Junior quarterback Cameron Ward threw for four touchdowns while the defense recorded two interceptions and eight sacks as the Cougars held their second fall scrimmage Saturday evening at Gesa Field.
On the first series, Ward marched the offense down the field, capped by a 27-yard touchdown strike to redshirt senior receiver Isaiah Hamilton. Following a three-and-out on Ward’s next series, he led the offense to the end zone on each of the next three series.
Ward ended his third series with a 24-yard scoring strike to freshman receiver Carlos Hernandez. On his next two possessions, Ward found senior Lincoln Victor for a 35-yard touchdown pass, then capped a red zone series with a 4-yard connection to junior receiver DT Sheffield.
Seventeen different players caught passes on the night, led by four from redshirt freshman running back Djouvensky Schlenbaker and three each from Sheffield, Victor, Hernandez, Orion Peters and Cole Pruett. On the ground, Schlenbaker led the way with 34 rushing yards on four carries.
The defense forced punts on eight different possessions, and two possessions with interceptions. Redshirt senior edge Quinn Roff registered the first of eight sacks on the night, while walk-on freshman edge Michael Hughes added two for the second straight scrimmage. Five others contributed sacks during the scrimmage.
Junior defensive back Kapena Gushiken and freshman defensive back Aslan Fraser recorded the interceptions during Saturday’s scrimmage.
For the second straight scrimmage, the kickers were perfect on their field goal attempts. Redshirt junior Dean Janikowski connected on his lone attempt from 35 yards, and senior Colton Theaker was good from 23 and 43 yards.