2009 Spring Game Reviews - Mountain West

CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Apr 28, 2009


What happened in the Mountain West spring games? Check out the reviews of the final scrimmages of the spring season.

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Mountain West Spring Game Reviews


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The Spring Games So Far ...

Colorado State
April 18 – Colorado State was forced to call off its spring game due to lousy weather.

New Mexico
April 18 – The Mike Locksley no-huddle offense didn’t come out like gangbusters in the Cherry and Silver game, with the Silver team winning 24-21, but there were some bright spots. A.J. Butler ran 19 times for 119 yards for the Cherry team, but the real excitement came when Donovan Porterie, who’s back after missing a big portion of last year hurt, completed 15-of-24 passes for 125 yards and three touchdowns with a pick in a losing cause. The defenses controlled the action with LB Carmen Messina making nine tackles and DE Jaymare Latchison and LB Tray Hardaway each making seven stops. One of the bigger concerns going into the fall might be the kicking game after James Aho missed from 43 and 42 yards out.

TCU

April 4 – The offense struggled, but the defense had a lot to do with that. The only touchdown of the final scrimmage came on a Logan Brock short grab from Andy Dalton. That was the lone bright spot as the offense shot itself in the foot on several occasions inside the red zone. All-America DE Jerry Hughes was in midseason form making three sacks, while DT Wayne Daniels capped off a good spring by dominating on the inside.

UNLV
April 17 – While there’s no question that Omar Clayton will be the starting quarterback going into the season, at least the coaching staff can feel more secure with the backup situation. Mike Clausen led the way to a 17-0 Scarlet win over the White completing 10-of-14 passes for 152 yards with two touchdowns highlighted by a 48-yard scoring play to Jerriman Robinson. On the flip side, Clayton completed just 4-of-7 passes for 73 yards. Chris Brogdon only ran three times, but he finished off a strong spring with 24 yards and has the slight lead for the starting running back job going into the fall.

Utah
April 18 – The Red and White teams finished tied at 35 after the Red team fumbled away a shot at a game-winning extra point when the White team swarmed the field to provide a distraction. Corbin Louks competed 22-of-33 passes for 322 yards and a touchdown with an interception for the Red team, and he appeared to have a shot at a rushing score but fumbled it into the end zone, which was recovered by WR Ryan Lacy for a touchdown. In the battle for the starting QB job, JUCO transfer Terrance Cain completed 13-of-18 passes for 113 yards and an interception, while Jordan Wynn connected on 8-of-13 passes for 158 yards and a score and a pick. Aiona Key showed once again that he’s on the verge of stardom catching nine passes for 5 yards and two scores for the Red team, while RB Sausan Shakerin ran eight times for 49 yards and two scores.

Wyoming
April 25 – New head coach Dave Christensen found his quarterback. Karsten Sween wasn’t always sharp, completing 16-of-34 passes for 154 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the 20-3 Brown team win over the Gold, but he showed enough of a spark, with 11 carries for 28 yards, to be the one the team works around come fall. With No. 2 QB Dax Crum suspended for violating team rules, Adam Barry struggled completing 7-of-24 passes for 64 yards with an interception. James Davis ran 11 times for 60 yards for the Gold team, but it was Darius Terry who showed the best flash with four catches for 35 yards to go along with 11 carries for 49 yards. Free safety Patrick Hartford led all defensive players with five tackles.