`Canes Scrimmage Under the Lights at Traz Powell
Aug. 18, 2010
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Freshman running back Storm Johnson stole the show on offense rushing for 132 yards on 12 carries with touchdowns and junior defensive end Andrew Smith disrupted the offense with 10 tackles and three sacks as the University of Miami football team completed its second closed scrimmage of fall camp Wednesday night at Traz Powell Stadium.
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Miami again worked through roughly a 100-play scrimmage, which for second time this camp featured live special teams for the first half of the scrimmage. The first seven possessions started from inside the 10-yard line before the `Canes started series at their own 45-yard line, the visiting team 45-yard line, and a few red-zone possessions before ending in the two-minute drills.
In another very evenly matched scrimmage, the offense managed seven touchdowns and senior placekicker Matt Bosher connected on a 30-yard field goal. The defense kept the offense out of the end zone 13 times, picking off two passes while the rest of the time forcing turnovers on downs and punts.
Junior quarterback Jacory Harris looked sharp again as he completed 8-for-12 for 102 yards and two touchdowns. His only mistake was in the two-minute drill at the end of the scrimmage when senior linebacker Colin McCarthy picked him off and returned it 31 yards.
Smith seemed as if he was already in season-form. On the third possession of the scrimmage, he recorded three consecutive tackles. He finished with a team-best three sacks and interrupted several plays in the backfield. While Smith was dominating on the defensive side of the ball, Johnson had his way on the ground offensively. His long touchdown run set the tone for his night.
A Storm Might Be Brewing in Coral Gables
One true freshman who has been turning heads since arriving on campus is running back Storm Johnson. The Loganville, Ga. native, who prepped at Loganville High School and enrolled at Miami this past January in time for spring practice, has been trying to make people forget about the freshman tag. Johnson, who had a solid showing in the spring, has really turned it on in fall camp. His first carry from scrimmage Wednesday night saw him brake multiple tackles and out-run a very speedy secondary for a 92-yard touchdown run. He scored again from 1-yard out later in the scrimmage and finished with 132 yards on 12 carries.
Running back is one of Miami’s deepest positions. With senior Damien Berry, sophomore Mike James, redshirt freshman Lamar Miller, senior Graig Cooper and other true freshmen Eduardo Clements and Darion Hall competing, the `Canes look to be stacked for breakout performances. Wednesday night’s scrimmage just happened to involve a Storm.
Game Time Feel
With 15 days to go until the kickoff of the 2010 season against Florida A&M on Sept. 2, Miami is getting into the flow of things. The players were decked out in their actual game uniforms with the offense sporting all orange uniforms and the defense in white away jerseys with green pants. The only thing missing was that iconic “U” striped helmets. Players are in solid white helmets until helmets are striped with the “U” a couple of days before the first game.
Miami went through its usual pre-game routine which involved players coming out for early passing drills, special teams work, team stretching exercises and a few plays of offensive versus defense before the scrimmage got underway. A crew of officials was also on hand to control the action.
Up Next
Miami will take Thursday off before returning to the practice field Friday morning at 8 a.m. UM’s last two-a-day of camp will be Saturday.
Other Scrimmage Highlights and Stats
– Redshirt freshman Shayon Green blocked a punt on the second possession.
– Lamar Miller broke loose for a 44-yard run early on. He also had a couple of kickoff returns – one for 20 yards and one for 17 yards.
– Travis Benjamin returned a punt for 33 yards.
– Senior linebacker Colin McCarthy intercepted a pass to end the first two-minute drive attempt by the offense. Junior linebacker Ramon Buchanan followed McCarthy’s lead intercepting a tipped ball to end the second two-minute drill attempt.
– Scoring plays:
Mike James 20-yard TD catch from Jacory Harris
Storm Johnson 92-yard TD run
Matt Bosher 30-yard field goal
Damien Berry 1 yard TD run
Kendal Thompkins 28-yard TD catch from Spencer Whipple
Eduardo Clements 3-yard TD run
Travis Benjamin 25-yard TD catch from Jacory Harris
Storm Johnson 1-yard TD run
Passing
Jacory Harris – 8-for-12, 102 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Spencer Whipple – 7-for-8, 96 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Stephen Morris – 5-for-11, 80 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
Alonzo Highsmith – 0-for-6
Rushing
Storm Johnson – 12 carries, 132 yards, 2 TD
Lamar Miller – 10 carries, 90 yards
Damien Berry – 6 carries, 19 yards, 1 TD
Eduardo Clements – 14 carries, 16 yards, 1 TD
Mike James – 8 carries, 14 yards
Receiving
(players with multiple catches)
Kendal Thompkins – 4 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD
Travis Benjamin – 2 receptions, 47 yards, 1 TD
Asante Cleveland – 2 receptions, 31 yards
Ben Bruneau – 2 receptions, 26 yards
Mike James – 2 receptions, 20 yards, 1 TD
Defense
Andrew Smith – 10 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 quarterback hurries
Olivier Vernon – 4 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble
James Gaines – 7 tackles (2 on special teams)
Ramon Buchanan – 4 tackles, 1 interception
Allen Bailey – 3 tackles, 1 punt block
Luther Robinson – 3 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss
Colin McCarthy – 2 tackles, 1 interception returned for 31 yards
Marcus Robinson – 2 tackles, 2 quarterback hurries, 1 tackle for a loss
Micanor Regis – 5 tackles
Jamal Reid – 4 tackles
Travis Williams – 4 tackles
Kylan Robinson – 3 tackles
To order tickets for the 2010 season, call 1-800-GO-CANES or visit www.hurricanesports.com.
