Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans Conduct First Preseason Football Scrimmage
8/18/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 18, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State fifth-year head football coach Nick Saban sent his team through a 120-play scrimmage Wednesday night to conclude the first week of preseason camp.
?It?s typical for the defense to be ahead of the offense early on in preseason camp,? Coach Saban said. ?I really liked the way the defense competed tonight. The players showed toughness and played with some spirit. There were a lot of good hits delivered tonight.
?The offense lacked consistency but showed the ability to hit big plays. We must improve our consistency overall, but especially on offense. Over the next two weeks, we?ll work diligently to develop a sound running game.?
Big plays provided the story line for the two-hour scrimmage. Designated pass-rusher Julian Peterson recorded two sacks for 15 yards while defensive end Robaire Smith and defensive tackle Josh Shaw combined for three sacks (23 yards). Freshman T.J. Duckett produced a sack (7 yards) on the first play from scrimmage and later scored on a 1-yard run.
Veteran quarterback Bill Burke completed 16-of-30 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns. Burke hooked up with Lavaile Richardson for a 65-yard scoring play and threw TD strikes of 50 and 21 yards to Plaxico Burress.
Back-up QB Ryan Van Dyke hit 15-of-28 passes for 215 yards.
Burress caught five passes for 111 yards and two scores. Demont Smith (62 yards) and Chris Baker (26) had three catches each.
Michigan State?s top three tailbacks ? Lloyd Clemons, Shawn Foster and Little John Flowers ? combined for 68 yards rushing on 22 carries. Clemons picked up 40 yards on nine rushes while Flowers carried eight times for 31 yards, including a 7-yard TD run.
The Spartans have two-a-days scheduled through Saturday, Aug. 21.
Michigan State opens the 1999 season Thursday, Sept. 2 against Oregon at 8 p.m. in Spartan Stadium.
