JMU football springs into action
Game gives players experience, chance to shine
By John Galle, sports editor
Posted on April 24, 2006

The annual spring football game went off Saturday at noon without a hitch, despite wet conditions and the absence of many veteran starters due to injury.

“It was hard to get in sync with our experienced starters out,” rising senior quarterback Justin Rascati said.

Nevertheless, coach Mickey Matthews was still able to run a productive scrimmage, experimenting with players and trying to fill gaps left by the departing seniors of last season. Also, the game gave inexperienced players valuable reps.

Rascati and rising sophomore quarterback Rodney Landers switched off as signal callers every other series.

The first touchdown of the day came on a goal-line set, with rising senior fullback Will Patrick scrapping for two tough yards.

The Dukes’ top two running backs, rising seniors Alvin Banks and Maurice Fenner, did not play. Instead, the backfield featured junior college transfer Eugene Halloman and rising junior Antoinne Bolton. Bolton finished with 54 yards on 10 carries, while Halloman and freshman tailback Reggie Hicks each had 41 yards on nine carries.

“I think Bolton is playing better,” Matthews said. “But I think Halloman has emerged as the third guy. [His] play at running back [today] was very good.

At the tight end position, rising junior Marvin Brown saw significant time as rising sophomore Mike Caussin was held out of the scrimmage with an injury.

With rising junior L.C. Baker and rising seniors D.D. Boxley and Ardon Bransford also held out, the younger wide receivers were showcased.

“I think it was difficult to play quarterback today with the guys we had at wide-out,” Matthews said.

Even so, in the biggest play of the game, Rascati was able to find freshman wide receiver Raymond Brown for a touchdown in his fourth series. Rascati, recognizing a blitz, changed the play at the line, putting his slot receiver on a quick slant inside. After no more than a three-step drop, Rascati rocketed the ball at Brown, hitting him in stride. He broke across the middle of the field, swung out to the right side and outran the defensive backs for a 48-yard strike. Brown had a game-high seven grabs for 98 yards.

“All I can do is contribute,” Brown said. “I think [Rascati and I] are getting the timing down and with me [being] a freshman, that’s really good.”

Rascati completed 12 of 22 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown.

Landers, JMU’s No. 2 quarterback, received praise from Matthews in what he was able to do in the ground game, though he struggled a bit going to the air with a few under-thrown passes. He rushed for 78 yards, completing 9 of 19 for 109 yards.

“I don’t think [Landers] is a great passer,” Matthews said. “[But] he’s vastly improved as a passer since last year and he will continue to improve. He’s such a threat running the football.”

Landers could have tallied even more rushing yards if a 40-yard scamper wasn’t called back on one of the few flagged plays of the day. Landers utilized play-action and ball fakes effectively, which also contributed to his productive ground attack.

“Today I just wanted to give a different look,” Landers said. “It’s hard for defenses to key on me both passing and rushing [the football].”

Although the offense had some success, the defense really played well collectively, giving up only two touchdowns, forcing nine punts, a turnover on a fumble and holding the offense to field goals.

“The corners did a good job today,” Landers said. “They didn’t let us stretch the field vertically. We got down in the redzone and couldn’t finish.”

The situation gave rising senior kicker David Rabil the opportunity to hit three field goals from 27, 29 and 33 yards out.

“[The defense] did some positive things and [the offense] did some positive things,” Landers said. “But I wouldn’t really say [the defense upstaged us today].”