Offense tops defense in scrimmage

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Sunday, April 24, 2005

By MICHAEL LINNELL, Staff Writer mlinnell@ndweb.com

Usually, early in the spring, defenses are well ahead of their offensive counterparts.

Early in Minot State University's spring football scrimmage Saturday it looked like this season's Beavers were no different.

MSU's offense, though, just needed some time to warm up.

The Beavers white squad (offense) scored 24 second-half points to defeat the green squad (defense) 35-24 at Herb Parker Stadium.

MSU used a unique scoring system that allowed both the offense and defense to score points, based on yardage, fumbles, punts and touchdowns.

"It is a good stepping point," MSU head coach Mike Sivertson said of the scrimmage. "We will have to watch the tape and grade everything out, but for the most part it went well."

The Beavers offense did not have a first down until a defensive holding call on the third series. Starting quarterback senior Jamar Culver did not complete a pass until the 12th play of the scrimmage.

"We give the quarterback a lot of information to process and handle in the spring," Sivertson said. "I thought overall, the offense moved the ball pretty well in the second half." Freshman Joe Orlicz got the offense on the board, tossing a 22-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Josh Kringen. The two hooked up two plays earlier on a 45-yard screen play to set up the score. The screen play worked perfectly, catching the defense in a blitz.

"In the spring there is a reshuffling of the personnel," Sivertson said. "A lot of the guys who were freshmen or redshirted last year spent the year running the other team's offense (on the scout team). This is the first time for them to run our stuff."

Orlicz, Culver and freshman Ryan Jutras all shared time at quarterback. Of the nine offensive series in the first half, Culver took snaps on four, Jutras four and Orlicz one ­ producing a score.

"This is only the seventh time we have been together so far," Sivertson said. "We're not going to be perfect. Overall, this is a great learning tool for the players."

Culver got things going in the second half, hitting junior wideout Silas Sneed on a 51-yard bomb down the right sidelines. The offense would have had a touchdown two plays later, but sophomore defensive back Brooks Lewis broke up a pass intended for Kringen in the corner of the end zone. Lewis was especially impressive, breaking up three passes.

"I thought the defense did a good job," Sivertson said. "They turned us into a one-dimensional team by taking away the run."

Jutras had his best series of the game after a Marko Babic field goal. Jutras completed multiple passes, and even scrambled for nine yards, as the white team marched down field. Jutras capped the drive, hitting freshman Andrew Garmer on an 11-yard strike.

The defense held the offense out of the end zone in the fourth quarter, but had trouble stopping Kringen. Kringen caught both short and deep passes from all three quarterbacks in the fourth.

"He made some plays," Sivertson said of Kringen. "He made enough to notice him. He played some early and even started for us late in the season last year as a freshman, so he has some experience. He looked good (today)."

The Beavers will look to take another step this week, holding practices on Monday, Wednesday and have a second scrimmage Saturday at Herb Parker Stadium starting at 1 p.m.

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