First Scrimmage a Success, Schedule Set for Second Week of Camp

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The clouds moved out halway through Saturday’s opening scrimmage, and when the sun shone through, so did the big plays on offense, and some big hits on defense, giving fans in attendance reason for optimism after a hard-hitting scrimmage that saw several big plays on offense, and some big plays defensively.

Additionally, the practice schedule for the second full week of Fall camp was set (All sites and times subject to change):

Monday, August 14 – 7:30 pm (Indoor Practice Facility)
Tuesday, August 15 – 3:30 pm (Robertson Soccer Practice Facility)
Wednesday, August 16 – 9:30 am (Robertson Soccer Practice Facility)
Thursday, August 17 – 7:30 pm (Indoor Practice Facility)
Friday, August 18, 3:30 pm (Robertson Soccer Practice Facility)
Saturday, August 19, 9:30 am (University Stadium)

For Danny Gonzales, the scrimmage was a success in that everyone that started it finished it. “We got out of it pretty healthy, and we got a lot of reps and live action on film to really go over, but I saw some good things on both sides of the ball.”

UNM’s defense depsite just one starter returning in Donte Martin, who mostly watched the scrimmage, showcased several hit hits.  Additionally, Christian Ellis twice broke up what looked like sure catches with big hits and strips, and Gabriel Lopez was consistenly an issue, in the backfield and stuffing runs.  But, it was the offensive big plays that drew the biggest oohs and aahs from the fans.

Christian Washington ran off a 60+ yard run inside the five that set up a touchdown (and it should be mentioned that Christian Ellis never gave up and somehow tripped him up inside the five). Caleb Medford basically had a touchdown of his own with a toe-tapping catch on the sidelines and then catching a touchdown, holding on despite a massive hit from Jermarius Lewis in the end zone in attempt to break it up.

However, it was Ryan Davis, all 5-11 of him, climbing the ladder and somehow snagging a Hopkins deep pass that was over his head despite Marvin Covington’s perfect coverage for an amazing back corner of the end zone touchdown that had everyone shaking their heads.

NOTES: Aaron Rodriguez certainly looked the part of a Ray Guy Watch List punter, regularly hitting punts over 65 yards … Luke Drzewiecki, Charles Steinkamp and Zach Benedict were basically perfect in the kicking game, the only miss a 53-yarder that hit the crossbar and bounced out … Dylan Hopkins, who didn’t throw during the week, showed why UNM is a sneaky pick as a dangerous offense, tossing in a pump fake and hitting Caleb Medford on a deep cross for what ended up a 70-yard touchdown, and it was one of several big plays by Medford in the scrimmage.

THe big plays did come out on offense, much to the delight of the fans in attendance that were looking