April 19, 2008
SAN DIEGO -
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The San Diego State football team capped its third week of 2008 spring practice Saturday with a short intrasquad scrimmage at its on-campus practice facility. The Aztecs ran through just over 50 offensive plays under cloudy skies before completing the day with special teams drills.
"We didn't score near enough today, but that is a highlight in itself because our defense played well," said SDSU offensive coordinator Del Miller. "We had a few breakdowns, but we are very young. That comes with the territory."
After coming up empty on its first four drives of the afternoon, the Aztec offense scored three times in its final five possessions, beginning with a 49-yard field goal by sophomore Bryan Shields (Bonita, Calif.) and finishing with a pair of touchdown receptions by wideout Darren Mougey (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and tight end Tony DeMartinis (Sun Valley, Calif.).
The SDSU quarterbacks, junior Drew Westling (Mission Viejo, Calif.), sophomore Kelsey Sokoloski (Greenwood Village, Colo.) and redshirt freshman Ryan Lindley (Alpine, Calif.), got nearly equal snaps under center and combined to complete 18 of their 29 passes for 159 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
"I think all three of them are making pretty good progress," Miller said. "I really like the things (Ryan) Lindley is doing. I think Drew (Westling) is pushing hard and just when I think Kelsey is out of it, he jumps back in there and does good things. They all have to be ready to play."
Seven different receivers had at least one catch, led by junior DeMarco Sampson's (Chula Vista, Calif.) four receptions for 31 yards and sophomore Vincent Brown's (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) three grabs for 41 yards.
The defense limited the offense to just 50 yards on the ground on 23 carries and had six tackles for a loss, including three sacks. Redshirt freshman linebacker Miles Burris (Roseville, Calif.) logged a team-best six stops with three of those behind the line of scrimmage. Four others had four tackles apiece for the defense.
Miller and defensive coordinator Bob Elliott filled in for head coach Chuck Long for the post scrimmage media interviews. Long attended the majority of practice before having to leave early to catch a flight for his father's funeral on Monday in Illinois.
The Aztecs will have four practices next week, before traveling up north Saturday for the annual Red-Black game at Mission Hills High School in San Marcos, Calif., which is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. The Red-Black game will cap the Aztecs' spring practice schedule and is open to the public.