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The scheme has changed, and it seems the production has, too.
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Winona’s Carey Rottman makes a cut to elude defenders during a scrimmage at Maxwell Field in Winona Thursday. (Photo by Paul Solberg/Winona Daily News) |
The running game for Winona State University’s football team was alive and well during a scrimmage Thursday night at Maxwell Field at Alltel Stadium.
Four running backs scored touchdowns, including long runs by senior Alex Wiese and junior Andrew Verbancour.
Wiese scored the first touchdown on a 20-yard run, bouncing outside and then breaking a few tackles on his way to the end zone.
Verbancour added a 40-yard scoring run later in the scrimmage, also breaking numerous tackles along the way.
Adam Linbo caught a touchdown pass out of the backfield and redshirt freshman Sean Bowers added a 15-yard TD run.
“I think you saw what the power of our running game is — Alex Wiese and Verbancour. They’re tough,” WSU coach Tom Sawyer said. “Our running game is a little different this year — more of a power offense. That’s the personnel we have, so it’s a perfect fit.”
New offensive line coach Jason Eck helped install some of the new schemes and his linemen certainly played a huge part in the running success Thursday night.
Preseason All-American Nick Urban was joined up front by Marcus Greatens, Jered Smiley, Seth Haun and Jason Enos in the starting group.
“I was real impressed. Our running game has come a long way since last season,” Wiese said. “I’m real excited with what I see this year.
“We have a lot of new linemen and a new line coach. Coach Eck is doing a great job, and I like where our running game is headed.”
It’s not that the running game wasn’t there last season. It simply was inconsistent.
The Warriors had six games with less than 85 yards rushing and three others of more than 180 yards. WSU averaged 100.9 rushing yards per game and 3.1 yards per carry.
“If you can run the ball, you control the game,” Wiese said. “You tire down the defense and set the tempo. That’s a huge key for us.”
The Warriors did their damage in the scrimmage without Darren Davis, a sophomore running back who came on strong at the end of last season.
Davis was one of many key players held out of the scrimmage because of minor injuries.
Running back Randy Spring also sat out and was joined by receivers Scott Peters and Tyree Burks and tight end Todd Burkoth. On the defensive side, cornerback Shawn Cunningham and tackle Dave Braun did not play.
Sawyer said none of the injuries are serious.
“Right now, if we played Saturday of this week, I think we’d have all our starters ready to go,” he said. “It’s just that if they’re not 100 percent, we’re not going to play them (in a scrimmage).”
The Warriors open the season Aug. 25 at home against Michigan Tech.
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