CSN West

Well, I attended two more spring games over the weekend with my two boys---in Vermillion for the University of South Dakota game on Friday night and then in Fargo for the North Dakota State game Saturday afternoon. Here are a few photos from the games.

USD: http://sports.webshots.com/album/577447952RPtGxw

NDSU: http://sports.webshots.com/album/577457094Yedfsn

As you can see, I still have some rust on the photo taking. I hope to get that rust out by the start of the season.

As for the two games, South Dakota used a Offense vs. Defense format. Both sides of the ball are looking to replace their key leaders in quarterback Noah Shepard and defensive tackle Ko Quaye (both players by the way earned spots with NFL squads in signing free agent contracts in the past day--Shepard with Green Bay and Quaye with Jacksonville).

In the game, the Red (Coyote offense) prevailed in the game over the White (Coyote Defense), 48-33. Junior quarterback Dante Warren looks to be the next Coyote signal caller after throwing for 121 yards and two touchdowns. His backup, however, in junior Brandon Gorsuch actually saw more action and was solid in his passing--hitting on 12-of-19 passes for 143 yards with a touchdown.

Senior tight end London Landry ended the game with five catches for 65 yards. Junior wide receiver Jeremy Blount also had five catches for 52 yards, while another junior wide receiver in Dustin Nowotny caught two touchdowns. Junior running back Chris Ganious scored on a 17-yard touchdown to help the Red in the victory and totaled 27 yards on just six carries. Marcus Sims eqalled Ganious in yards on 11 carries.

For the USD defense, senior defensive back Quincy Christie led the team with nine total tackles and redshirt freshman defensive back Aramis Calloway had seven. The defense scored a touchdown when sophomore defensive back David Bowen returned an interception 32 yards. Juniors Shane Potter & Julian Tucker also recorded interceptions for the White team.

In the NDSU game, the Bison spring game format had the Green vs. the Gold--Green (1st Team Offense, 2nd Team Defense) vs. Gold (1st Team Defense, 2nd Team Offense). The Gold defeated the Green 28-21 and the Bison will have two big offensive performers to replace (who like the two USD stars, signed NFL free agent contracts over the weekend) running back Pat Pashall (New England) and offenive guard/tackle Keith Buckman (NY Jets).

The biggest battle, however, for the Bison appears to be at the quarterback postion. The Bison lost senior Nick Mertens, who actually lost his job to now-sophomore Jose Mohler. Mohler, along with redshirt freshman Brock Jensen, and junior Dante Perez are vying for the top signal caller spot in Fargo. The spring game did not clearly define the postion but appears Mohler and Jensen are ahead of Perez. Jose Mohler and Brock Jensen each completed three touchdown passes in the game as the three actually rotated between the Green and Gold teams.

Other top performers in the game included (DII) Minnesota State, Mankato sophomore wide receiver Justin Howard, who caught six passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns, junior tight end Matt Veldman, who had four receptions for 130 yards and two scores. The top defensive star was sophomore cornerback Brendin Pierre, who intercepted two passes and also broke up another pass.

The totals for the two quarterbacks were as follows. Mohler completed 11 of 20 passes for 124 yards, while Jensen completed 8 of 11 passes for 200 yards.

Redshirt freshman running back Derrick Lang, who played for the Gold, led all rushers with 78 yards on 16 carries, with a touchdown. Junior D.J. McNorton led the Green with 42 yards on six carries.

Redshirt freshman defensive end Cole Jirik led the Green defense with five tackles and a pair of sacks, while fellow junior in linebacker Dillon Forbes added five tackles and a sack. Another junior in free safety Daniel Eaves topped the Gold defenders with six tackles.