University of Houston Athletics
Cougars Complete Final Scrimmage
8/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 21, 2002
Under the lights of Robertson Stadium, the University of Houston Cougars completed their third and final scrimmage this evening, with UH head coach Dana Dimel running his squad through "game-like" conditions that began with the team breakfast.
Dimel matched the number-one offense against the number-two defense on several occasions, then put the number-two offense versus his number-one defense the remainder of the scrimmage. Dimel even ran his number-one offense through two late-minute situations, running the offense from their own 20-yard line with just 1:28 left to play and down by two points.
Overall, Dimel enjoyed his team's effort in hour-and-a-half scrimmage.
"I was pleased with the consistency on both sides of the ball," said Dimel, "as far as going back and forth with success, which is what I wanted to see at this point. As we get closer (to the first game) we still have a lot of work to do in the next 10 days. We have to get better with every practice.
"We got some good work in on our special teams today, but we're 10 days away, and we have to get 10 days better before the first game. Every minute is crucial for us right now as far as improvement goes. I saw some good individual effort. I like that a lot and I thought the effort was good."
Led by redshirt quarterback Barrick Nealy, the Cougars' number-one offense produced two touchdowns on the evening. The first was a one-yard plunge by redshirt freshman running back Anthony Evans, capping a seven-play, 80-yard drive set up by a 46-yard run by senior running back Joffrey Reynolds. Nealy concluded the other scoring drive when he hit sophomore wide receiver Johnny Tyson on a 47-yard strike behind the secondary.
Nealy finished the evening with 141 yards passing on nine-of-17 attempts. Reynolds led all rushers with 63 yards on just four carries, while Evans chipped in 47 yards on five totes.
The Cougar defense posted a big performance, sacking the UH quarterbacks nine times, including two by senior defensive end Adrian Lee.
Houston returns to two-a-days tomorrow morning and fall camp will conclude on Saturday. UH starts classes on Monday, Dimel's first press luncheon is on Tuesday and the Cougars open the 2002 season on Saturday, August 31, when they face Rice at Rice Stadium in the Administaff Bayou Bucket.
-UHCougars.com-
Rushing: Reynolds 4-63, Evans 5-47, Feathers 6-27, Nealy 8-6, Battle 4-3, Botts 5-(-5), Bassler 3-(-15).
Passing: Nealy 9-17-0, 141 yards; Bassler 2-5-0, 17; Botts 1-6-0, 11.
Receiving: Tyson 2-59, Clark 2-37, Bell 2-19, McCardell 2-17, Middleton 1-14, Strange 1-11, Battle 1-8, Feathers 1-4.
