Last tune up for Beavers

Copy of Minot Daily news story (link)

By MICHAEL LINNELL, Staff Writer mlinnell@ndweb.com

It wasn't quite a full game

"It was fun," Sivertson said after the roughly two-hour situational scrimmage. "It was the culmination of fall camp and now we can get to the tape and start making our depth chart."

The Beavers still have a week to prepare for their opening tilt, a 1:30 p.m. clash with Bemidji, (Minn.) State University Saturday at Herb Parker Stadium. Between now and then, Sivertson will have some decisions to make.

"We will evaluate everything - every kid will be graded," Sivertson said. "We are looking at how they performed."

One key decision will be the Beavers' starting quarterback. All three signal callers the Beavers have in camp saw extended action as senior Jamar Culver, redshirt freshman Ryan Jutras and true freshman Jon Meier all saw extensive time behind center.

"We try to help coach each other out there," Culver said. "It takes guys a while to learn the system. I'm trying to help Ryan and Jon as much as I can."

Culver looked sharp at times running the offense Saturday. He threw three touchdowns and was picked off once. The scrimmage was set up for situations, so no yardage totals were kept. Two of his touchdown throws came inside the 10-yard line, one coming on a great fade pass to junior wideout Silas Sneed.

"I like to throw that pass," he said of the fade to the corner of the end zone route. "We have some guys who can go up and get that."

Another play that worked for the Beavers' offense was a crossing route that Culver and elusive receiver Ronnie Patrick, a junior, hooked up on multiple times.

"It is a read route," Culver said of the play. "We just go through our normal progression. You have to have guys go over the middle (like Patrick)."

Culver said it didn't matter to him that the starting quarterback has not been decided.

"The competition is good," he said. "It doesn't matter at all to me when the starter is picked. Whoever they pick will have to go in there and perform."

The Beavers' offense also has some question marks in the backfield as projected starter Neil Graham injured himself in the Beavers' spring scrimmage. Freshman Andre James showed his quickness early in Saturday's scrimmage taking a sweep for a first down on the first play from scrimmage and picking up a first down on a swing pass to set up the Culver touchdown pass to Sneed.

"'Dre (James) and Manny (Gutierrez) are fine," Culver said. "All of the backs are going hard."

Even with the three touchdown passes, the defense more than held its own. After giving up the first score, the defensive units held the offense in check for much of the scrimmage.

"I don't think either side really dominated," Sivertson said. "With the situational field position and no special teams, it is hard to get into a rhythm and flow. We are looking to see playmaking on both sides of the ball."

Freshman transfer Matt Weidler, who prepped at Velva-Sawyer, looked good at middle linebacker as he anchored a solid linebacking corp.

"Matt hasn't played a down for a year," Sivertson said. "So he has some rust to shake off, but we think he has an awesome future."