Marshall University Athletics
Rains Dampen First Herd Scrimmage
8/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Rains Dampen First Herd Scrimmage
8/17/2002
Mother Nature called an early end to the first major scrimmage of fall practice for the 19th ranked Marshall Thundering Herd Saturday afternoon at Marshall Stadium.
With an estimated crown of 700 on hand for the day?s events, which included a Big Green Tailgate party prior to the scrimmage, Marshall managed to get in about 45 plays before thunderstorms rumbled through the area and put an abrupt end to the practice.
Prior to the rain, the Herd did some extensive special teams work -- including kickoffs coverage and returns and punt and punt return. That was followed by about 45 minutes of scrimmage work.
Senior punter Curtis Head, a candidate for both the Lou Groza Award for kickers and Ray Guy Award for punters, averaged just shy of 55 yards per punt on eight attempts with a long punt of 72 yards. He connected on his only two point-after touchdown attempts.
During the actual scrimmage most of the work featured the first offense against the first defense, with several notable exceptions. No fewer than 14 players did not take part in the scrimmage. Included in that group was senior Heisman Trophy candidate Byron Leftwich, who spent much of the afternoon working with and talking to the team?s two freshmen quarterbacks.
The Herd offense -- without Leftwich, receivers Josh Davis and Denero Marriott as well as running backs Butchie Wallace and Tank Tunstalle -- managed just one scoring drive. Sophomore Stan Hill guided the team down the field on their first possession, with a 41-yard pass completion to Darius Watts setting up a three-yard Brandon Carey touchdown run.
The only other score of the day came on an interception return by Moriah Anderson. His pick of a Jimmy Skinner pass, and Jimmy Tyson deflection, was returned 22-yards for a score.
Offensively Hill was 8-14 for 64 yards with one interception. Both Skinner and Adam Black attempted one pass, with Black?s falling incomplete.
Carey led the ground game with eight carries for 30 yards. Watts, Demetrius Doss and Brad Bates had two receptions each while Jason Rader and Curtis Jones had one catch each.
Defensively, Carlos Morgan and Toriano Brown had solo sacks while J.T. Rembert and Terence Tarpley shared one. Roberto Terrell had an interception and return for 22 yards and Charles Tynes had a tackle for loss.
Marshall will hold a single practice session on Sunday before returning Monday to the two-a-days schedule. Monday afternoon?s session will likely feature some extended scrimmage time.
