Football team exhibits positive signs in practice games
With two practice games under their belt, the Thunderbird football team has taken solid strides in preparing for the 2006 regular season. The team has already logged a great deal of miles having traveled to Colorado and California respectively for their first two games.
Aug. 26
Game one saw Mesa travel to Alamosa, Colorado to take on the Adams State Grizzles junior varsity squad. Coach Dan Dunn was pleased with some of the things he saw from the team. “While the competition was not up to the level of the Western States Football League it was good to go up against players other than our own” the coach remarked.
The coaching staff was impressed by the kicking game as well, as kicker Scott Wilcox was 7 for 7 in conversion and field goal attempts, and punter Ben Nowicki had a punt average of 40 yards. Special teams in general were a strongpoint as kick returner Rudy Fleming ran the opening kickoff of the game back 90 yards.
The defense, as is signature for Coach Dunn’s team, performed very well, allowing only seven points in the game. The Thunderbirds won 55-7.
Sept. 2
After dismantling Adams State, Mesa traveled on September 2nd to southern California to take on Redlands University in a controlled scrimmage. The Mesa coaching staff saw improvement in the team in the game. Said Coach Dunn, “The level of competition was good, much better than last week. I felt we performed well.”As in the previous week, the coaches noted that the kicking game was very strong. The coaches also took notice of the offensive line.
Coming into the year the line, largely due to its youth and inexperience, is a question of concern, but the coaching staff noticed that they made solid improvements over the previous week in Colorado.
Behind the line, Quarterbacks Victor Anderson and Luke Taylor continued to battle for the starting job, as both played well. The Thunderbirds also showed depth at the running back position as Brandon Jordan, Jay Leal, and John Taufa all played well splitting time.
Receivers Rudy Fleming, Vincent Anderson, Corey Brown, and Cody Malone also showed promise on the offensive side of the ball.
Defensively, linebackers Andrew Gamboa and Emmanuel Butters again stood out on a defense the coaching staff feels will be very good.
In the secondary Billy Ray Weatherford and Raphael Mack played well, and the coaches noted Gabe Hernandez played well on the defensive line.