Laramie Plainsmen Scrimmage Produces Mixed Results

There were good plays and bad plays during the one hour, 45 minute intra-squad scrimmage the Laramie Plainsmen went through Saturday at Deti Stadium.

Plainsmen head coach Chuck Syverson said,

"Overall, not too bad. We need to work on our tempo a little bit... Next week, being able to game plan, that always helps things."

Syverson mentioned they didn't scheme anything and that going against our defense is different enough. They just ran plays to make sure guys knew what they were doing.

"Offense, we just wanted to make sure we're where we need to be lined up, running the correct paths, blocking the right guys up front and those type of things."

The varsity unit ran 46 plays from scrimmage and went through four special team's plays, while the freshmen, with a few sophomores mixed in, ran 30 plays in the last tune-up before games officially count.

The number one defense gave up only one first down in their series on the field. Senior Nate Hill recovered a fumble on a lateral.

Syverson added, "(Defensively), I thought we looked pretty good. Coach (Knapton) has guys ready with our new defense this year, so I think that's going to be a good fit, especially with our personnel."

Senior corner Tye Brown agreed, "I think our defense looks pretty stout."

On the other side of the ball, the top offensive unit struggled early, but got better as the scrimmaged progressed.

On their first series, it started with an 18-yard run by senior tailback Andy Pearson, but that was followed by a pair of interceptions. Junior lineman Brennon Bressler picked off a tipped screen pass on the third play. Then on the ninth play of the first series, sophomore Jordan Hollopeter intercepted a Treyven Armijo pass and returned it about 35 yards.

The second series saw a broken play turn into a touchdown run by Armijo, but it was called back on a penalty. The third series, with Tristan Eickbush at Q-B, produced two scores. First was a Pearson 1-yard run, which was set-up by his 20-yard run down near the goal-line. Then, Eickbush scrambled in from six yards out.

Syverson said of the quarterback battle, they both displayed the skill sets they bring.

"Treyven's definitely a running-type quarterback. If he's good with his fundamentals, he throws the ball well. If he's sloppy with his fundamentals, then bad things are going to happen... Tristan does a good job of throwing the deeper ball, I think, but he's still learning the offense; still learning the position, so he's got a ways to go, as well."

Here's some of what we saw last Saturday:

Next up is the start of game week preparation for the season opener at Sheridan on August 29 at 6 p.m.

Hill said, "I think we need to come out and be more physical. With this, I know it's a scrimmage; you don't want to hurt your guys; but we need to just step up and be that mean team that everyone wants to get after it and be more physical with everybody."

The freshmen number one offensive unit was a bright spot Saturday. They accounted for three touchdowns and seven plays 10 yards or longer in their two series. They were highlighted by a 62-yard t-d pass from Nate Burman to Garrett Worden. Burman also had a 33-yard option run.