The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Holds Third Football Scrimmage Of Spring
4/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 11, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB football team held its third and final scrimmage of spring drills Saturday with a two-hour workout at Legion Field.
While the scrimmage featured numerous highlights on the offensive side, Blazers' head coach Neil Callaway thought his team overall had a good showing.
"I thought it was a good workday all the way around," said Callaway, whose team will have one more practice Monday afternoon to wrap up the spring sessions. " I was very impressed with (quarterback) Joe Webb and the receivers. I thought he threw and they caught the ball extremely well and were able to make some plays in the first half.
"Joe just played in the first half. Obviously, when he goes out of the game, there's a big difference for us."
The Blazers played four 12-minute quarters under, for the most part, regular game-like conditions. The kicking game was altered as field goals and extra points were tried and punts and kickoffs were made, but there were no returns in the scrimmage.
With a few exceptions, the first offense teamed with the second defense and went against the No. 2 offense and first defense. The result was a 42-30 win for the team comprised of the No. 1 offense/No. 2 defense.
Webb, playing only the first two quarters, finished the scrimmage with 283 yards passing as he hit 21-of-29 with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Redshirt freshman David Isabelle saw action with the No. 2 offensive unit in the first half before changing to the first unit for the final two quarters.
Isabelle hit 20-of-33 passes for 296 yards with a pair of touchdowns and one interception. He had scoring passes of 48 yards to tight end Justin Harris and 32 yards to running back Dexter Barnett. Joseph Bento was the signal-caller for the second unit in the second half and threw for 176 yards, hitting 15-of-28 with one interception.
"We know we're still shorthanded defensively, so it may be hard to assess how we are offensively," said Callaway. "Even though we're shorthanded, I saw some guys out there trying to step up. Marquis (Coleman) and Ugonna (Amarikwa) both had an interception. I thought the guys competed hard."
Harris was one of three 100-yard receivers Saturday for the Blazers. He caught four passes for 100 while Frantrell Forrest led the way with eight receptions for 113 yards and one touchdown. Mark Ferrell also had an impressive scrimmage with five catches for 111 yards. Newcomer Nick Adams was nearly the fourth 100-yard receiver as he caught seven balls for 98 yards.
The running game also had its moments. Barnett led the way with 67 yards, highlighted by arguably the outstanding run of the scrimmage, a 63-yard touchdown jaunt. Jae Fitzgerald had 66 yards on 13 carries with one score.
On the defensive side, Amarikwa and Coleman had the scrimmage's two interceptions. Defensive back Michael McRae was the top tackler with 10 stops and a pair of fumble recoveries, one of those he returned 28 yards for a touchdown. After McRae, Terrell Springs and Drew Luker had six tackles with Katrell Watters and Justin Wells contributing five.
Joe Happe, Tim Davis and Keaton Berrion each recorded a sack.
The Blazers will hold their 15th and last workout of the spring Monday.
SCRIMMAGE STATS
Passing: Webb, 21-29, 283 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT; Isabelle, 20-33, 296 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT; Bento, 15-28, 176 yards,1 INT.
Rushing Leaders: Barnett, 3-67, 1 TD; Fitzgerald, 13-66, 1 TD; Webb, 5-35, 1 TD; Bento, 4-31.
Receiving Leaders: Forrest, 8-113, 1 TD; Ferrell, 5-111; J. Harris, 4-100, 1 TD; N. Adams, 7-98; D. Harris, 4-65; Barnett, 4-59, 1 TD; M. Jones, 2-49, 1 TD; Lankford, 4-34, 1 TD.
Tackles (Solos-Assists): McRae 10-0; Springs 5-1; Luker 3-3; K. Watters 4-1; J. Wells 5-0; Hicks 4-0; K. Harris 4-0; Campbell 4-0; Stafford 4-0; Franklin 4-0; Henigan 4-0; J. Williams 4-0; Smartt 3-1; Amarikwa 3-1; Berrion 3-1.
