[media-credit id=13 align=”alignnone” width=”300″]
[/media-credit]
Once again, the offensive team shined in the final scrimmage for Weber State University’s football team on Saturday. In the third scrimmage of the fall, two newcomers showed they have a lot to offer.
Barrinton Collins and Eric Shufford both had impressive performances in the Purple and White Game. Shufford had the play of the game, with a 64-yard touchdown pass late in the scrimmage. He caught the ball in the middle of the field, easily dodged two tackles and flew down the right side of the field, outrunning the defense for a touchdown.
Shufford caused trouble for the defensive backs for much of the time he was on the field, racking up 122 yards from five catches. Shufford said he was pleased with the team’s performance, and that it was exciting to be a part of the team. In the game, he had multiple catches over 40 yards.
“Our offense played well today, and it was great to contribute,” Shufford said. “We’re excited for the season to get going.”
Head Coach Ron McBride said he was pleased with the offensive performance. He said he thought that the receiving core had a strong game and that the game showed that WSU is ready for the upcoming season.
“Our offense was very good again today and controlled the game,” McBride said. “We had some players step up and make plays. Our receivers were very good today, as were our quarterbacks, and we played under control.”
The Wildcats also saw strong performances from their running backs. Josh Booker was the leading rusher in the game, with 58 yards from eight carries. Freshman Collins also turned in a strong performance on the field.
Collins ran for 47 yards from 10 carries, and showed he is a threat on the kickoffs as well. He caught the ball three yards in the end zone and brought it out. Collins cut through the kicking team and exploded down the field, taking the ball out to the 35-yard line.
Chris Parham and C.J. Tuckett also saw action running the ball. Parham carried the ball six times, rushing for 55 yards. Tuckett ran for 40 yards from nine carries, and a touchdown.
Mike Hoke led the first-team offense and was 3-5, throwing for 47 yards and two touchdowns. Backup Jordan Adamczyk saw a lot of action and completed nine out of 11 passes for 95 yards. Freshman Ben Maraz also completed four passes for 101 yards, including a 64-yard bomb to Shufford.
On the defensive side of the ball, Roman Valenzuela, Mike Baker and Josh Tenove all recorded a sack.
The Purple and White Game marks the end of WSU’s fall camp. They will now turn their focus to the opening game of the year. The Wildcats will start their season with a two-game road trip. First, they will take on the University of Wyoming on Sept. 3. Following the game against the Cowboys, WSU will head to Logan and take on in-state rival Utah State University on Sept. 10. After the game against the Aggies, the Wildcats will unveil the new turf field at Stewart Stadium when they take on Sacramento State University on Sept. 17.