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The University of Utah Athletics
Rice, Hunter Star In Ute Football Scrimmage
8/19/2000 12:00 AM | Football
Aug. 19, 2000
SALT LAKE CITY -
The Utah football coaching staff got a good look at its second and third-teamers in a crisp one hour scrimmage held in Rice-Eccles Stadium, Saturday morning.
Quarterback Lance Rice, who moved into the No. 3 quarterback slot behind co-starters T.D. Croshaw and Darnell Arceneaux after last Tuesday's scrimmage, was even more impressive in round two. Rice completed all five of his pass attempts, throwing for 94 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown heave of 51 yards was to senior receiver Johnny Lundy, who led all receivers with four catches for 98 yards (1 TD). Arceneaux played briefly, completing 2 of 4 passes for 17 yards, while Tony Alvarez and Joel Gines, who are both trying to unseat Rice for the No. 3 spot, completed 2 of 5 (9 yards) and 1 of 4 (24 yards) passes, respectively.
Projected starting running back D'Shaun Crockett watched from the sidelines, as did Croshaw and the three starting wide receivers (Steve Smith, Cliff Russell and Chris Christensen). Juco transfer Dameon Hunter kept Utah's run game on track, rushing nine times for 77 yards and one touchdown. The burly (5-11, 231) junior showed he has speed as well as power when he burst free for a 52-yard touchdown sprint.
Defensively, freshman Jason Kaufusi showed why he has all but cemented a starting spot at open end. Kaufusi, who has been on the U. campus just two weeks after returning from an LDS Church mission, had a sack for seven yards. Garrett Smith contributed a tackle for loss (8 yards) and Brooks Bahr and Airabin Justin each had a pass breakup for the defense.
Ryan Kaneshiro connected on a 44-yard field goal and he and starting kicker Golden Whetman each drilled a PAT.
The day ended with red zone work and "pup" (pass under pressure) drills. Head Coach Ron McBride was mostly pleased with the day's work. "There was some give and take. At times the defense looked really good and the offense sputtered, and then the situation would reverse itself. Lance Rice looked pretty good. He showed a lot of poise under pressure. Dameon Hunter looks like (former Ute) Jamal Anderson with his body type and really showed some speed on that touchdown run. He's getting used to the reads and the linemen blocked much better than they did (in Tuesday's scrimmage)."
McBride gave his team the evening off and also called off Sunday's scheduled practice. Monday marks the end of two-a-day practices. Regular season workouts start on Tuesday, the day before the start of classes.
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