Football | 8/17/2010 6:33:58 PM
WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – There were big plays throughout the day at Russek Field on Tuesday as the West Liberty University football team held its first two-a-day practice sessions of the preseason.
The best thing about Tuesday's workouts, according to head coach Roger Waialae, was that the big plays were being made by the defense as well as the offense.
“I think we made a lot of progress today,” said Waialae, whose high-powered Hilltoppers led the nation in scoring and total offense a year ago. “You don't want the offense or the defense to win all the battles. I saw good competition out there today and guys making plays on both sides of the ball.
“We talked yesterday about playing faster all the time in practice and you could tell they heard what we were saying. We can still get better but we were going at a faster tempo today.”
The morning workout kicked off with a little extra running as a few players were late getting out to the field but things moved pretty briskly after that.
Newcomers Justin Black and Laurence Johnson were very impressive on coverage during 1-on-1s for the WRs and DBs. Curtis McGhee, the new defensive backs coach, seems to be putting together a pretty competitive group. Returning WR Pauly Ferguson had another strong practice and juco transfer WR Brandon Carver continued to progress.
Returning TB Kevon Calhoun had a big gainer during the inside run sequence when he bounced outside behind blocks from OG Jose Baez and OT Ralph Petrella but the defense stiffened after that. DTs Matt Betz, Nathan Parry and Leonidas Redding did a good job of clogging the middle and the line shot itself in the foot a few times with false starts.
Highlights of the 7-on-7 session included a 30-yard scamper by the elusive Calhoun after taking a short pass from QB Zach Amedro and a 50-yard TD strike down the left hash from Amedro to Ferguson. WR Ryan Travis and backup TB DeVaughn Gordon also had some nice grabs.
Baez and Petrella impressed during the line's 1-on-1 battles and returning OG Dan Srch also looked strong for the O-line. Betz and Redding did well for the D-line along with returning DEs Raphael Johnson and Derrick Rovira.
Johnson also blew up a pair of screen passes during Blitz. Amedro hit a few short tosses during Blitz but wrapped it up by slipping away from the pass rush and rolling left to fire a 60-yard TD strike to Ferguson, who had gotten behind all the defenders.
The morning session wrapped up with two periods of full team work with ones vs. twos at one end of the field and twos and threes working at the other. Amedro was on target to several receivers on short and intermediate routes while Calhoun broke off several impressive runs. LBs Clay Beeler and Marcus Raney knifed through to break up a few running plays and the DT tandem of Redding and Betz continued to play well. Jayson Keyser, Scott Houghton and true freshman Dominique Dixon all came through with interceptions against the backup QBs.
The players returned to the field at 3 p.m. for the afternoon session and Amedro came out firing with 50-yard TD bombs to Calhoun and Gordon coming out of the backfield.
The defense got a measure of revenge when juco transfer CB Carl Hayles, seeing his first action after getting some insurance paperwork sorted out, outleaped the 6-3, 245-pound Travis for a tumbling interception in the end zone. Hayles' pick was so impressive, it even earned a tap on the helmet from offensive coordinator Gary Krol.
Another session of Blitz followed with Calhoun once more demonstrating his uncanny ability to pick his way through traffic. Offensive line coach Dan Hopkins rotated several combinations through the drills and every grouping performed pretty well. Amedro had another 60-yard bomb to Ferguson but the highlight of this drill was a 35-yard interception return for a score by DE Isaac Omaits off a deflection by blitzing DB Lawrence Robinson.
The day concluded with two more periods of full team work.
West Liberty sports information director Matt Watson has posted more than 200 pictures from today's double session. Here's a link to Matt's pictures: Hilltoppers Preseason Camp - Aug. 17
