Football Program Scrimmages, Works Towards Spring Game

Photo by Matt Thompson, NAU Football

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona football team completed the third week of spring practice Friday with a controlled scrimmage Friday at Sinagua Middle School. The Lumberjacks will continue working towards the spring game set for Saturday, April 30.

“We have had an opportunity to look at a lot of guys on the team and collect some good tape,” said Head Coach Jerome Souers. “Today’s scrimmage was indicative of some of the growth and development of some of the guys in the program and some of the new guys that are going to be in the mix next year.”

Souers saw five quarterbacks take snaps on Friday. Redshirt freshman Chase Cartwright went 6-for-7 for 33 yards, while junior Cary Grossart was 3-for-4 for 27 yards leading a scoring drive. Senior Chasen Stengal saw the most action, going 5-for-11 for 20 yards.

Offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren liked what he saw from the play behind center.

“I think it was improved,” said Lindgren. “We got noticeably better since last week’s scrimmage. It was a lot cleaner as an offense. The guys are starting to see the field better and the defense is throwing a little more pressures at us. They did a nice job handling that and sitting in the pocket for the most part and trusting the protection and getting the ball out of their hands.”

Lindgren wants to get as many reps as possible for his quarterbacks.

“It is a good problem to have because we have a lot of talented guys,” said Lindgren. “Chase Cartwright played with the younger group and was able to move them. Cary came right out with the No. 1 group and moved them down the field and was real composed and showed some good leadership.”

Stengal enters the fall with the most experience, playing in several games in 2010.

“We are looking for consistency out of Stengal,” said Lindgren. “He can make some great plays and there are some plays where he is not as consistent as we want him to be on an everyday basis. When he is on his game he is able to give us something I don’t know a lot of the younger guys can give us with his athletic ability and his arm. He has to continue to be more consistent and we saw that today.”

Souers likes what he has seen but stressed continued improvement over the final two weeks.

“It has been productive that we are able to see the progress we need to make as a football team,” said Souers. “We need to make the most out of the remaining practices to elevate our game now.”

The Lumberjacks have the weekend off before returning to the field next Tuesday.

“I would like to see us get better in our team settings, 11 on 11 with all the variables, red zone, blitz, handling those things,” said Souers. “It has been good so far.”