University of Tennessee Athletics
BIG PLAYS CARRY VOLS' OFFENSE IN SATURDAY SCRIMMAGE
August 19, 2006 | Football
Aug. 19, 2006
Tennessee's coaching staff saw big play potential Saturday during a two-hour scrimmage at Neyland Stadium. The practice work, coming just two weeks before the Sept. 2 opener against California, was another dose of evaluation for several Vols vying for playing time.
"I think it's obvious there were four or five guys who made some big plays," head coach Phillip Fulmer said. "That's something we really have been searching for for a couple of years offensively. Hopefully, we can build on that."
Junior quarterback Erik Ainge wrapped up his night with a 25 yard TD pass to Robert Meachem. Ainge finished 17-of-26 for 196 yards, while counterpart Jonathan Crompton was 9-of-14 for 99 yards. UT quarterbacks did not throw an interception in a combined 53 pass attempts for the night.
Wideouts Lucas Taylor and Quintin Hancock added touchdown catches, Taylor for 65 yards from Bo Hardegree and Hancock for 36 yards from Nick Stephens. Two additional scores came via rushing touchdowns by Montario Hardesty and Roy Olasimbo. Hardesty carried nine times for 24 yards in his first full scrimmage action.
"It's a good test for us and it's a good point to get to and to build on, and we got through it without any significant injuries," Fulmer said. Linebacker Jerod Mayo suffered an ankle injury for the game's only mishap and will be evaluated.
Defensively, Antwan Stewart led the way with seven tackles and a 16-yard touchdown return of a blocked punt. Adam Myers-White chipped in five tackles, including a game-high three for lost yardage. A trio of Vols -- Mayo, Inquoris Johnson and Sinclair Cannon -- had four tackles apiece.
"The defensive really has been controlling the fall and did so in the spring as well," Fulmer said. "Our defense is stout. They are fast and have done very well.
"I thought our offense did a little better against them tonight although we still are doing too many things like false starts and such that will get you beat. In a close ballgame, those will be the difference so we are going to continue to focus on those things."
Tennessee returns to practice Monday morning before holding its final full scrimmage Tuesday afternoon at Neyland Stadium.
Starters
Offense -- Eric Young; Anthony Parker; Josh McNeil; David Ligon; Arron Sears; Jayson Swain; Erik Ainge; Arian Foster; Bret Smith; Chris Brown; Robert Meachem.
Defense -- Turk McBride; Justin Harrell; Matt McGlothlin; Jerod Mayo; Ryan Karl; Marvin Mitchell; Antonio Reynolds; Jonathan Wade; Inquoris Johnson; Antwan Stewart; Jonathan Hefney.
| Rushing Leaders | ||||
| Player | No. | Yds | TD | Long |
| Roy Olasimbo | 10 | 43 | 1 | 16 |
| Montario Hardesty | 9 | 24 | 1 | 8 |
| Ja'Kouri Williams | 4 | 17 | 0 | 14 |
| David Yancey | 4 | 17 | 0 | 7 |
| LaMarcus Coker | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Arian Foster | 3 | -11 | 0 | -- |
| Passing Leaders | ||||
| Player | Cmp-Att-Int | Yds | TD | Long |
| Erik Ainge | 17-26-0 | 196 | 1 | 39 |
| Jonathan Crompton | 9-14-0 | 99 | 0 | 30 |
| Bo Hardegree | 8-9-0 | 115 | 2 | 65 |
| Receiving Leaders | ||||
| Player | No. | Yds | TD | Long |
| Quintin Hancock | 5 | 68 | 1 | 36 |
| Robert Meachem | 4 | 74 | 1 | 37 |
| Lucas Taylor | 3 | 67 | 1 | 65 |
| Jayson Swain | 3 | 38 | 0 | 20 |
| Arian Foster | 3 | 20 | 0 | 15 |
| Brad Cottam | 2 | 42 | 0 | 39 |
| Austin Rogers | 2 | 33 | 0 | 30 |
| Defensive Leaders | ||||||
| Player | Tackles | TFL | FF | FR | PBU | Sacks |
| Antwan Stewart | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| (16 yd. blocked punt returned for TD) | ||||||
| Adam Myers-White | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Inquoris Johnson | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jerod Mayo | 4 | .5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .5 |
| Sinclair Cannon | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marvin Mitchell | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jonathan Hefney | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andre Mathis | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Demonte' Bolden | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ellix Wilson | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dorian Davis | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jonathan Wade | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Robert Meachem blocked punt
| Punting Leader | |||
| Player | No. | Avg. | Long |
| Britton Colquitt | 5 | 45.0 | 53 |
| Field Goal Leader | |||
| Player | Att. | Made | Long |
| James Wilhoit | 10 | 4 | 41 |
