WMU Bronco football looks good in latest scrimmage
The Western Michigan football team and coaching staff have been applying schemes, running drills and practicing to make perfect over the past 10 days. Thursday afternoon was the time, and Waldo Stadium was to site, to bring it all together in a intra-squad scrimmage open to the public.
The scrimmage was broken up among the first, second, third and fourth string offenses and defense. Even though the presumed 2006 starters did not see much time on the field, they proved to be effective. Ryan Cubit had command of the offense, moving down the field on his first two drives and completing every pass along the way. He began the day a perfect 9-for-9 for 95 yards and one scoring strike. He hit Keith Schultz from five yards out the games lone touchdown through the air. Cubit finished 10-of-12 (83.3 percent) for 104 yards. He had his longest completion when he connected with Jamarko Simmons for 26 yards. Cubit began the opening drive with a 21-yard pass to Schultz followed by a eight-yard strike near the sideline to fellow senior Joe Chapple. The senior signal caller also recovered a fumble in the end zone for another score.
The four quarterbacks combined for 178 yards through the air on 18-of-28 (64.3 percent) passing. Thomas Peregrin went 5-for-11 for 57 yards, while Caleb Clark and Dennis Reedy completed two and one passes, respectively.
Twelve different receivers caught passes led by tight end Brandon Ledbetter, who hauled in three. Simmons led in yardage with 38 on two catches. Schultz grabbed a pair for 26 yards and the score.
The signal callers distributed the ball quite evenly during the scrimmage. Four wide receivers caught passes for a combined 53 yards. Running backs made their presence known in the passing game as five backs caught seven passes for 63 yards and a trio of tight ends brought down six receptions for 58 yards.
Seven ball carriers gained yardage for the Broncos, including Brandon West and Mark Bonds who each carried the ball eight times. Bonds amassed 25 yards, while the freshman West added 18. As a team, WMU ran the ball 25 times for 60 yards.
The defense came to play on Thursday, compiling 50 tackles (26 solo). C.J. Wilson led all stoppers with six tackles (four solo), followed by Robert Livingston with five stops, Anthony Gebhart with four and Cornelius Robinson, Jimmie Vincent, Jonathan Wright, Scott Gajos and Garrett Sosnovich with three tackles apiece.
Justin Braska, John Russell, Cory Flom and Matt Buskirk all recorded a tackle for loss. Nate Turner deflected a pair of pass attempt and Londen Fryar, David Coleman, and Desman Stephen all deflected a pass. But it was E.J. Biggers that recorded the game's lone interception on a pass intended for Chris Maragos in the end zone.
The Broncos will resume practice on Friday with the next scrimmage taking place on Tuesday afternoon at Waldo Stadium.
Courtesy of the WMU SID