Coach Dennis Wagner and the Western Carolina football team wrapped up their second scrimmage of the preseason on Saturday afternoon.

 
Fall Practice Update #8: Western Carolina Completes Second Scrimmage of Season

Catamounts wrap up scrimmage as season opener at Vanderbilt is just two weeks away

Aug. 22, 2009

Audio Interview with Freshman Linebacker Jordan "Rock" Williams

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina football completed its' second scrimmage of the preseason after conducting 60 plays on Saturday afternoon at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field.

The Catamounts practiced a series of plays and game scenarios Saturday, including the offensive hurry-up.

A stingy Catamount defense kept the offense at bay until the final possession. Quarterback Zach Jaynes connected a 45-yard pass to senior wide out Christian Bethune with 4.2 seconds remaining on the game clock. Bethune ran to the endzone, where he snagged the ball in mid-air as time expired for the offensive touchdown.

"I was real impressed with the defense," said second-year Catamount coach Dennis Wagner. "I thought they did a good job. They gave up a couple of plays, but for the most part they kept the offense from getting big plays and kept them out of the endzone.

Jaynes unofficially threw a solid 9-for-15, tallying for 111 total yards. The redshirt sophomore connected on three other 10-plus yard passes including a 25-yard zinger to tight-end Connor Orr. Orr finished the contest with three receptions for 32 yards.

Sophomore defensive lineman Trey Selby tallied two sacks in the afternoon scrimmage as the Catamount defense mounted four total in the contest.

Coach Wagner noted the increased pressure on the offensive line due to some players missing playing time, "We can really tell that we are missing our starting three inside lineman and a our center." The four linemen are expected to return to practice on Tuesday.

"This was good experience for our freshman linemen and they did a good job out there."

The offense showed some gusto after the mid-way break. A 35-yard breakaway run by freshman Michael Johnson highlighted a promising seven play drive. Johnson tallied 55 yards in six rushing attempts.

"I think Michael Johnson is going to be a good football player," noted Wagner. "When he was in, he did some good things." Immediately following Johnson's run, freshman Jacoby Mitchell snagged a 16-yard pass from Jaynes to put the ball at the 26-yard line.

The drive then stalled after cornerback Angelo Brown recorded a five-yard tackle for loss on a third down play, forcing a field goal attempt.

WCU special teams connected in two of five field goal attempts, as junior kicker Blake Bostic made connections on 34-yard and 28-yard field goals.

The Catamounts will resume preseason practice on Monday as the team preps for the season opener with Vanderbilt on Sept. 5.