LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky football team completed its secondscrimmage of spring practice at the Nutter Training Center with theWildcat defense clearly dominating the young offense.
“We’ve got more speed this year which is quite evident,” UKdefensive coordinator Mike Major said. “I’m happy with how the firstthree defensive groups played and how we rotated them. They reallystayed with it.”
The defense did not allow the offense inside the defense’s40-yard line until the fourth series of the scrimmage. They also heldthe offense from scoring until the 11th series. The defense charted atotal of 16 quarterback sacks as senior defensive end Anwar Stewart ledwith three-and-a half and sophomore defensive end Dennis Johnson hadtwo-and-a half. Sophomore Dusty Bonner was sacked 12 times and redshirtfreshman Mike Scipione sacked four.
“I was grateful to Coach Major for taking the first string outafter 50 plays so we could move the ball,” UK Coach Hal Mumme said. “Weplayed a full 150 plays today and I saw some things both offensively anddefensively that we can work on.”
With freshman Chase Harp moving from quarterback to tight end last week,Bonner and Scipione took all the reps at quarterback. Scipionecompleted 38-of-62 passes for 680 yards and four passing touchdowns.Bonner completed 19-of-30 for 270 yards and one touchdown. The offensewas unable to move the ball on the ground, being held to a negative sixyards on 50 rushes.
“It’s dead even right now,” Mumme said. “We couldn’t make adecision if we wanted to. We are going to split their reps in practice,watch the film and make a decision this time next week.”
Leading the receiving corps today was junior wide receiver GarryDavis. He caught 10 passes for 242 yards and one touchdown fromScipione. Senior wide receiver Jimmy Robinson caught nine passes for132 yards while junior wide receiver Quentin McCord had three catchesfor 92 yards and two touchdowns, one from Bonner and one from Scipione.Redshirt freshman Bobby Blizzard and sophomore wide receiver Mike Beirneeach caught one touchdown pass from Scipione.
“I felt Scipione closed the gap this week in practice and withhis performance today, but both quarterbacks have their strengths andthey have weaknesses they need to work on so we’ll just have to see,”Mumme said.
The Wildcats remained injury free most of the day except for oneminor setback. Freshman redshirt offensive guard Tremaine Gaines limpedoff the field with an injured left ankle and was taken for x-rays.
The team begins its third week of spring practice on Monday at 2p.m. at the Nutter Training Center.
