HILLIARD AND WASHINGTON EACH SCORE TWICE IN SECOND SPRING FOOTBALL SCRIMMAGE

4/26/2008

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento State football team completed its second scrimmage of spring practice on Saturday at the team’s practice field. Under ideal weather, the team participated in 11 drives under varying circumstances.

Quarterbacks Duncan White and Mcleaod Bethel-Thompson shared duties in the game. White finished 8-for-14 for 112 yards while Bethel-Thompson was 6-of-12 for 66 yards and two touchdowns.

The offense opened the scrimmage with a deep pass down the field but White overthrew Tony Washington. From that point, running back Bryan Hiilard gained 15 yards on two carries and White connected with Ronald Richardson for an 18-yard gain to bring the ball past midfield. However, the drive stalled with three incomplete passes in the next four plays.

Bethel-Thompson took control of the offense in the second series but faired no better. Travon Jones rushed for 10 yards on his first touch but was forced to leave the scrimmage with an apparent hamstring injury just three plays later. The biggest play of the drive was 10-yard strike from Bethel-Thompson to Washington.

After another punt, the offense found the end zone for the first time on a 5-yard scamper from Hilliard during the team’s red zone drills. Kicker Juan Gamboa made a 40-yard field goal on the following drive before Bethel-Thompson found Washington in the back of the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown.

The defense scored its lone points of the scrimmage two drives later when converted running back Eric Velez sacked Bethel-Thompson in the end zone for a safety. The play was one of three accomplishments for Velez in the scrimmage. The senior also forced a fumble on a punt return and also blocked a field goal attempt when he came around the left edge of the line.

The offense got back on track with a 40-yard drive that resulted in a 1-yard touchdown from Hilliard. White began the series with three straight completions to Washington (11 yards), Corey Jackson (4 yards) and Richardson (11 yards). The offense was also aided by a pass interference call against the defense on fourth down which set up the touchdown.

Bethel-Thompson matched that effort with a 40-yard drive of his own. The sophomore connected with Richardson for 12 yards and later found Washington for a 20-yard strike in the end zone.

The final portion of the game was dedicated to the two-minute offense. White opened the drive at his own 35-yard line but was sacked for a loss of 8 yards by Faheem Muhammad on the first play. Following an incompletion, he was sacked by Christian Clark before finding Washington for a 37-yard completion on 4th-and-20. He again hit Washington for 11 yards down the middle of the field and the offense picked up an additional 15 yards on a roughing the passer penalty against the defense. A 9-yard catch by Washington and a 3-yard run from Hilliard moved the ball inside the 10-yard line but the drive ended with a missed field goal attempt.

Washington led all players with seven receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Richardson added 41 yards on three grabs. Dylan Lane (5), Ryan Martin (14), Hilliard (11) and Jackson (4) each finished with one catch.

Hilliard compiled 40 yards on 17 carries and scored two touchdowns. The sophomore received all but two of the carries during the scrimmage due to injuries to the rest of the running back corps.

Defensively, Mike Brannon and Zack Nash also added sacks and the defense finished with five in the game.

The final scrimmage of the spring will take place next Saturday, May 3.