Solid performances on both sides of the ball in Saluki Football's second scrimmage
08/16/2018 | 9:05:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Both the Saluki offense and the defense had reasons to be excited by their performance during Thursday night's football scrimmage at Saluki Stadium, the final tuneup before Southern Illinois opens its season at Murray State two weeks from today. The playing reps were evenly distributed across the roster, giving veterans and newcomers an equal opportunity to shine.
Backup quarterback Matt DeSomer started the scoring on the second drive by throwing a 58-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nigel Kilby. The 6-foot-8 junior college transfer broke through a tackle attempt by linebacker Bryson Strong and was off to the races.
On the next drive, redshirt freshman running back D.J. Hampton made one cut to reach the open field and sprinted untouched for a 59-yard TD. It was the first of two long-distance strikes for the Florida native, who later beat linebacker coverage to haul in a 65-yard touchdown pass. Head coach Nick Hill said Hampton is behind veterans D.J. Davis, Jonathan Mixon and Nate Strong on the depth chart, but that he made the most of his opportunity.
"He flashes some of the things he did today where he can get it over with," Hill said. "He makes people miss, he's not a small back, he can run between the tackles. The future is bright for D.J. The thing that he's probably behind those other guys on is his pass (protection), being in the right place at the right time and all the fine details of playing running back."
Starting quarterback Sam Straub only attempted nine passes and his best throw of the night was a 33-yard strike to receiver Matt Quarells, setting up a one-yard touchdown plunge by Nate Strong.
Aside from yielding a handful of big plays, the defense had a strong night. Midway through the scrimmage, the defense made two brilliant Red Zone stands. On one series, defensive tackle Malik Haynes stuffed Strong for a one-yard loss on third down and then two defenders stopped Quarells one yard shy of the end zone on 4th-and-goal. On the next series, the offense had 1st-and-goal at the 1 but did not score. Hampton was dropped for no gain on consecutive plays, followed by a penalty and an incomplete pass.
"I think that the (number) one defense has been tough to go against," Hill said. "The defensive line is much improved, which excites me. If you can have a dominant defensive line, that's a great start, and those guys have been outstanding all camp."
The defense recorded nine quarterback hurries, two sacks and held six-different quarterbacks to a combined 12-of-27 passing. Some of their success can be attributed to familiarity, Hill admitted.
"Once you get into 15, 16 practices against the same scheme, you start knowing each other and know exactly what's coming," Hill explained. "(The defense) might know what's coming, but now it's down to fundamental football, blocking people, make someone miss, run good routes."
Two true freshman quarterbacks had good nights for the Salukis. Nic Baker was 3-for-3 with touchdown passes of 51 yards to Hunter Milligan, plus the 65-yard pass to Hampton, in which he scooped up an errant snap, eluded the pass rush and fired a perfect downfield spiral to his running back.
"He's a play-maker, he can escape, use his feet," Hill said. "The kid has talent."
Centralia High School grad Javon Williams Jr. took five snaps under center and ran for 29 yards, often dragging tacklers aboard his 6-foot-2, 240-pound frame. Hill said Williams will play this season on both offense and special teams.
With so many weapons across the skill positions, Hill said the coaching staff is trying to figure out how best to utilize them.
"You have a lot of packages and things that look good up on the board," he said. "Then you have to go and do it in the flow of the game and not mess up the rhythm of your starting quarterback."
Hill said the success of the offense will come down to how well it can run the ball, use play action and keep teams off balance.
"We feel good when we line up in 11 personnel, every single one of our eligible guys are pretty good weapons," Hill said. "Then Sam just has to do a good job of throwing it to the right guy, whatever the coverage gives you. The guy that gets it is probably a pretty good player."
RUSHING
D.J. Hampton: 5-76, 1 TD
Javon Williams Jr.: 5-29
Chris Perkins: 3-18
Je'Quan Burton: 3-17
Jonathan Mixon 2-12
D.J. Davis: 2-7
Nate Strong: 5-9
Nic Baker: 3-5
Stone Labanowitz: 1-1
Tremayne Lee: 2-(-1)
Matt DeSomer: 1-(-7)
PASSING
Nic Baker: 3-3, 121 yards, 2 TDs
Matt DeSomer: 4-8, 68 yards, 1 TD
Sam Straub: 3-9, 42 yards
Stone Labanowitz: 2-4, 27 yards
Austin Reed: 0-2
Javon Williams Jr.: 0-1, 1 INT
RECEIVING
Matt Quarells: 3-42
Jaden Roberts-Thomas: 2-27
Sam Thompson: 2-11
D.J. Hampton: 1-65, 1 TD
Nigel Kilby: 1-58, 1 TD
Nate Strong: 1-4
Je'Quan Burton: 1-0
Hunter Milligan: 1-51, 1 TD
DEFENSE
Bryson Strong: 5T
Torian Lewis: 4T
Makel Calhoun: 4T
Qua Brown: 3T, 1PB
Luke Giegling: 3T
Travis Pickert: 3T
Joe Patterson: 3T, .5TFL- 3
Justin Strong: 3T
Rondarian Bell: 2T, 1SK- 7
Nick Raby: 2T, 2QBH
Blake Parzych: 2T, 1PB
C.J. Jennings: 2T, 2PB
Madre Harper: 2T, PB, .5TFL- 3
Jaylin Wilson: 2T
Oliver McDowell: 2T
Victor Abraham: 1T, 1INT
Keenan Agnew: 1SK- 7
Devin Jones: TFL- 2, 1QBH
Malik Haynes: 1TFL- 1, 1QBH
Jordan Berner: 1T, 1QBH
Anthony Knighton: 1T
Eric Owens: 1T
Nick Terrana: 1T
Bryce Notree: 1T
Chucky Sullivan: 3QBH
Airan Reed: 1QBH
Backup quarterback Matt DeSomer started the scoring on the second drive by throwing a 58-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nigel Kilby. The 6-foot-8 junior college transfer broke through a tackle attempt by linebacker Bryson Strong and was off to the races.
On the next drive, redshirt freshman running back D.J. Hampton made one cut to reach the open field and sprinted untouched for a 59-yard TD. It was the first of two long-distance strikes for the Florida native, who later beat linebacker coverage to haul in a 65-yard touchdown pass. Head coach Nick Hill said Hampton is behind veterans D.J. Davis, Jonathan Mixon and Nate Strong on the depth chart, but that he made the most of his opportunity.
"He flashes some of the things he did today where he can get it over with," Hill said. "He makes people miss, he's not a small back, he can run between the tackles. The future is bright for D.J. The thing that he's probably behind those other guys on is his pass (protection), being in the right place at the right time and all the fine details of playing running back."
Starting quarterback Sam Straub only attempted nine passes and his best throw of the night was a 33-yard strike to receiver Matt Quarells, setting up a one-yard touchdown plunge by Nate Strong.
Aside from yielding a handful of big plays, the defense had a strong night. Midway through the scrimmage, the defense made two brilliant Red Zone stands. On one series, defensive tackle Malik Haynes stuffed Strong for a one-yard loss on third down and then two defenders stopped Quarells one yard shy of the end zone on 4th-and-goal. On the next series, the offense had 1st-and-goal at the 1 but did not score. Hampton was dropped for no gain on consecutive plays, followed by a penalty and an incomplete pass.
"I think that the (number) one defense has been tough to go against," Hill said. "The defensive line is much improved, which excites me. If you can have a dominant defensive line, that's a great start, and those guys have been outstanding all camp."
The defense recorded nine quarterback hurries, two sacks and held six-different quarterbacks to a combined 12-of-27 passing. Some of their success can be attributed to familiarity, Hill admitted.
"Once you get into 15, 16 practices against the same scheme, you start knowing each other and know exactly what's coming," Hill explained. "(The defense) might know what's coming, but now it's down to fundamental football, blocking people, make someone miss, run good routes."
Two true freshman quarterbacks had good nights for the Salukis. Nic Baker was 3-for-3 with touchdown passes of 51 yards to Hunter Milligan, plus the 65-yard pass to Hampton, in which he scooped up an errant snap, eluded the pass rush and fired a perfect downfield spiral to his running back.
"He's a play-maker, he can escape, use his feet," Hill said. "The kid has talent."
Centralia High School grad Javon Williams Jr. took five snaps under center and ran for 29 yards, often dragging tacklers aboard his 6-foot-2, 240-pound frame. Hill said Williams will play this season on both offense and special teams.
With so many weapons across the skill positions, Hill said the coaching staff is trying to figure out how best to utilize them.
"You have a lot of packages and things that look good up on the board," he said. "Then you have to go and do it in the flow of the game and not mess up the rhythm of your starting quarterback."
Hill said the success of the offense will come down to how well it can run the ball, use play action and keep teams off balance.
"We feel good when we line up in 11 personnel, every single one of our eligible guys are pretty good weapons," Hill said. "Then Sam just has to do a good job of throwing it to the right guy, whatever the coverage gives you. The guy that gets it is probably a pretty good player."
RUSHING
D.J. Hampton: 5-76, 1 TD
Javon Williams Jr.: 5-29
Chris Perkins: 3-18
Je'Quan Burton: 3-17
Jonathan Mixon 2-12
D.J. Davis: 2-7
Nate Strong: 5-9
Nic Baker: 3-5
Stone Labanowitz: 1-1
Tremayne Lee: 2-(-1)
Matt DeSomer: 1-(-7)
PASSING
Nic Baker: 3-3, 121 yards, 2 TDs
Matt DeSomer: 4-8, 68 yards, 1 TD
Sam Straub: 3-9, 42 yards
Stone Labanowitz: 2-4, 27 yards
Austin Reed: 0-2
Javon Williams Jr.: 0-1, 1 INT
RECEIVING
Matt Quarells: 3-42
Jaden Roberts-Thomas: 2-27
Sam Thompson: 2-11
D.J. Hampton: 1-65, 1 TD
Nigel Kilby: 1-58, 1 TD
Nate Strong: 1-4
Je'Quan Burton: 1-0
Hunter Milligan: 1-51, 1 TD
DEFENSE
Bryson Strong: 5T
Torian Lewis: 4T
Makel Calhoun: 4T
Qua Brown: 3T, 1PB
Luke Giegling: 3T
Travis Pickert: 3T
Joe Patterson: 3T, .5TFL- 3
Justin Strong: 3T
Rondarian Bell: 2T, 1SK- 7
Nick Raby: 2T, 2QBH
Blake Parzych: 2T, 1PB
C.J. Jennings: 2T, 2PB
Madre Harper: 2T, PB, .5TFL- 3
Jaylin Wilson: 2T
Oliver McDowell: 2T
Victor Abraham: 1T, 1INT
Keenan Agnew: 1SK- 7
Devin Jones: TFL- 2, 1QBH
Malik Haynes: 1TFL- 1, 1QBH
Jordan Berner: 1T, 1QBH
Anthony Knighton: 1T
Eric Owens: 1T
Nick Terrana: 1T
Bryce Notree: 1T
Chucky Sullivan: 3QBH
Airan Reed: 1QBH
Players Mentioned
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