Hurricanes Improve In Saturday Morning Scrimmage
Aug. 19, 2000
Box Score
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – A 90-minute scrimmage yielded improvement in several areas for the University of Miami Hurricanes as the team nears the end of fall two-a-day practices. Saturday morning’s scrimmage featured evenly divided action between the team’s first, second and third teamers and a ray of hope for UM’s battered offensive line.
The scrimmage began with UM’s starters squaring off. The first-team offense moved the ball 70 yards in 15 plays to a touchdown as quarterback Ken Dorsey completed six-of-nine passes for 29 yards before taking it in himself on a one-yard sneak. Dorsey’s completions went to five different receivers on the drive in which he also had an eight-yard scramble. The first-teamers played three different possessions with the reserves playing an equal amount.
“Butch Davis said. “Reggie Wayne made some great catches, as well.”
Another offensive star was runningback Clinton Portis. The sophomore, who garnered extra playing time as starters James Jackson and Najeh Davenport sat out the scrimmage, rushed four times for 36 yards. Davenport remains sidelined with a concussion and a minor knee injury while Jackson missed the scrimmage to attend the funeral of a friend. Wayne was the top receiver of the day with three catches for 33 yards. Tight end Ivan Mercer caught three passes for 13 yards and freshman Willie Dixon scored a touchdown on his only catch, a 55-yarder from Derrick Crudup.
“The offense came out hot,” Davis said. “Their first possession they drove it down against the first team defense and scored a touchdown. A little later on, we put the offense on the defense’s 35 to start a drive and the defense really responded. We did that twice. The first time, the defense got an interception. The second time they forced a long field goal that missed wide.”
Freshman defensive end John Square led the defense with five tackles and newcomer defensive end Jerome McDougle garnered two quarterback sacks to earn Davis’s praise. Interceptions were registered by starting safety Ed Reed and reserve cornerback Aaron Moser. Cornelius Green also registered two sacks and four tackles.
The walk-through practice slated for Saturday evening was cancelled. Practice resumes with one Sunday session, a 3:30 p.m. practice. All practices are closed to the public. For ticket information for Hurricanes football, contact the UM Ticket Office at (305) 284-2263 or 1-800-GO-CANES. Tickets may also be ordered online at www.hurricanesports.com.
