Aug. 21, 2004
KENOSHA, Wis.--Strong defensive and special teams play highlighted Northwestern's annual preseason scrimmage Friday night at Carthage College.
The defense picked off a pair of passes and did not allow an offensive touchdown while Mark Philmore and Jeff Backes both returned punts for touchdowns in a game that saw the second unit take most of the snaps.
"Coming into this year we have a lot of proven, quality players," NU head coach Randy Walker said. "I don't need to see our front-line guys. I needed to see our second level guys to get them some work and get them up to speed."
The second unit started the scrimmage and ran the first two series. Sophomore Campbell Black stuffed the first drive, dropping freshman running back Brandon Roberson in the backfield for a five-yard loss before the defense earned a three-and-out on the second set of downs.
The first team then took the field and following a five-yard penalty on their initial play, Brett Basanez connected with Philmore for a 27-yard gain and a first down before the defense forced a turnover-on-downs.
Redshirt freshman Chris Malleo and the second team took the field again to run another pair of series, but could earn only one first down on a 24-yard pass from Malleo to redshirt freshman T.J. Jones. Fellow redshirt freshman Reggie McPherson broke up a pass during the second series, then ended it by picking off Malleo and returning the ball 65 yards for a touchdown.
Malleo finished the night 6-of-9 for 54 yards and one interception. Jones snared three catches for 30 yards while freshman Akeem Hunter carried the ball six times for 23 yards.
Basanez then brought out the first-team again for its second and final series of the scrimmage. During the 42-yard drive, Basanez hooked up with Ashton Aikens for a 16-yard gain on a third-and-13 play.
"Our offense will be fine," Walker said. "We have some people out and that is allowing us to get some young guys a lot of reps. I'm not worried about where we are at."
Basanez was 4-of-8 for 56 yards on the night while Roberson ran the ball three times for 12 yards in getting the majority of the first-team carries in the game.
The defense again shone when C.J. Bacher took the helm, sacking the freshman three times in three series while redshirt freshman Kyle Wagner picked off a pass. Black and sophomore Trevor Schultz both recorded solo sacks while freshman Kevin Mims and junior David Thompson combined for the third.
Special teams play excelled when Philmore returned a punt 80 yards for a score followed by Backes who scampered 77 yards into the end zone. The field goal unit also performed well, nailing eight of 10 attempts during the scrimmage.
"Our defense can be very good, but our special teams can be exceptional," Walker said. "We have some explosive, fast people who can make plays."
With the season-opening kickoff against TCU only 11 days away, Northwestern will now turn its focus to preparing for the Horned Frogs.
"Our preseason ended tonight," Walker said. "Starting tomorrow we will begin our game week preparations to get ready for TCU. We know our own team so well. It is a lot more fun when you are getting ready for someone else."
CAMP KENOSHA NOTES
Eric Batis, Nathan Shanks and Eddie Simpson all celebrated birthdays on Friday ... Coach Walker can be heard on ESPN national radio (tentatively scheduled to air on ESPN 1000 in Chicago) at 10:10 a.m. Saturday morning.