USM feels bite of injury bug; Sherrill pleased with practice

By Staff
Associated Press
Aug. 16, 2001
HATTIESBURG With the first major scrimmage of fall practice out of the way, Southern Miss Head Coach Jeff Bower sees plenty of positives to build on as his Golden Eagles continue to prepare for a Sept. 1, season-opener at home against Oklahoma State.
On the negative side, starting defensive tackle Carlos Crusoe (6-3, 277, r-Jr., Columbus) suffered a broken foot early in the scrimmage, was scheduled for surgery Wednesday night and will miss the upcoming season.
Despite the injury loss, Bower, overall, was pleased with the scrimmage.
the defense gave up some big plays that we can't give up, it was a little bit up-and-down' on both sides of the ball, but you almost expect that from a first scrimmage.
Looking at the numbers, returning starter Jeff Kelly (Deerpark, Ala.) completed 5-of-14 passes for 82 yards and a pair of touchdowns, a 35-yarder to LeRoy Handy (Beaumont) and a 26-yarder to Dannye Fowler (Hueytown, Ala.).
Four different quarterbacks took snaps during the scrimmage, including Zac White (Gardendale, Ala.) who completed four-of-six passes for 35 yards and scrambled 14 yards for the workouts only other touchdown; Micky D'Angelo (Gulfport) was two-of-five for 18 yards and freshman Dustin Almond (Orange Park, Fla.) was one-of-eight for 24 yards.
Handy led the receivers with three catches for 42 yards, Fowler and Rocky Harrison (Tampa, Fla.) each had two catches. Tim Blackwell (Mt. Olive) topped the rushers with 50 yards on eight carries, including a long of 14. Returning starter Dawayne Woods (Slidell, La.) picked up 16 yards on four carries.
The defense recorded nine sacks, including two each by linebacker Michael Boley (Athens, Ala.) and defensive end Terrell Paul (Troy, Ala.). Defensive backs Greg Brooks (New Orleans, La.) and Corey Hosey (Bay Springs) each picked up an interception.
For the special teams, the Eagles attempted four field goals and made three of them. Brant Hanna (Natalbaly, La.) missed from 35 and made a 47-yarder, while teammate Curtis Jones (Greenwood) hit from 44 and 46 yards out.
Southern Miss will return to two-a-day workouts today and Friday and are scheduled for a morning scrimmage Saturday, before starting classes Aug. 20, and returning to single work-outs daily.
Miss. State
STARKVILLE Mississippi State's defense, which must replace six starters from its 2000 counterpart, took control early on in the Bulldogs' first fall scrimmage and dominated play during a 76-play controlled workout Wednesday afternoon.
State's defense held the offense to three-plays-and-out in seven of the 11 full-field scrimmage situations and allowed just six first downs in those series. MSU's offense found its rhythm only during short field and goal line situations during the second half of camp's first scrimmage.
After the defense's early success, the offense scored eight touchdowns when faced with shorter field conditions. Starting quarterback Wayne Madkin threw three touchdown passes and Kevin Fant added one, and the offense scored four times on the ground.
The defense, in addition to throwing a blanket over the offense early, scored a safety late and added a pass interception (Julius Griffith).
Injury list: MSU played without offensive guard Michael Allen (dislocated finger), wide receivers Antonio Hargro and Ray Ray Bivines, and defensive end Conner Stephens (hamstrings), offensive guard Courtney Lee (ankle), tailback Fred
Reid (knee) and linebacker Robert Spivey (groin). The team welcomed back linebacker Kamau Jackson and offensive tackle Derrick Thompson from the injured list. Hargro, Stephens and Reid are expected back at practice Thursday.
Scoring: Jus. Griffith 7 run; Safety; Jenkins 18-yard pass from Madkin; Grindle, 40-yard pass from Madkin; D. Walker 2-yard run; Miller 2-yard run; D.Walker 1-yard run; Wonsley 1-yard pass from Fant; Lee, 2 pass from Madkin
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Wonsley 9-45, Miller 9-36 TD, Jus.Griffith 5-21 TD, Judge 2-13, Walker 7-10 2TD, D.Jones 3-9, Fant 4-7, Kemp 2-4, Goodman 1-2, Madkin 1(-7), York 2-(-9), Team 5-(-15).
PASSINGMadkin 10-19-0-115 3TD, Fant 3-12-0-13 TD, York1-4-1-7, Kemp 0-2-0-0.
RECEIVING-Grindle 2-49 TD, Miller 2-18, D.Lee 2-16 TD, Wonsley 2-8 TD, Jenkins 1-18 TD, Jus.Griffith 1-9, Parker 1-9, Butler 1-4, Lumpkin 1-3, D.Walker 1-1.
TACKLESBell 5, Fields 4, D.Davis 3, S.Davis 3, Day 3, Haggan 3, T.Morgan 3, Nash 3, Prather 3, Stowers 3, Bennett 2, Bryant 2, Byrdsong 2, Clark 2, Ezekwe 2, Hambrick 2, K.Jackson 2, Liger 2, Mawhinney 2, Ball 1, Billie 1, Brown 1, Burdett 1, Childress 1, N.Jackson 1, Minor 1, Mooneyham 1, J.Morgan 1, Oyefesobi 1, Randle 1, Robertson 1, Rogers 1, Snyder 1, G.Wallace 1.
INTERCEPTIONSJul.Griffith 1-1.
PASS BREAKUPSRandle 2, Byrdsong 1, Clark 1, G.Wallace 1, Wright 1.
SACKSBillie 1-9, Burdett 1-9, Bryant 1-6, Fields 1-6.
TACKLES FOR LOSSS.Davis 2-5, Fields 1-7.
Ole Miss
OXFORD Ole Miss held its first scrimmage of the 2001 preseason Wednesday, as third-year head coach David Cutcliffe ran the Rebels through a situational scrimmage during the final hour of the morning's practice. The team later returned for a two-hour workout in the evening.