Western Michigan holds final scrimmage of fall camp

Published 7:49 pm Tuesday, August 24, 2010

KALAMAZOO — The Western Michigan football team held its second and final scrimmage of fall camp Tuesday at Waldo Stadium.

Fans were treated with scoring in abundance as the offense found its way into the end zone on all but one series.

Alex Carder began and ended the first series on the first play, hitting Robert Arnheim on a seam route for 50 yards and a touchdown.  Carder hit Dervon Wallace on a catch and run for 26 yards on the second play of the second series. After a defensive penalty Aaron Winchester ran the ball for eight yards and four yards on successive carries for the score.

The first team offense came back on the field for the fifth offensive series.  Winchester, who finished with 22 yards on four carries, started off with a four-yard run to the 21-yard line. Carder hit Ansel Ponder for nine yards and then found Trey Smith in the left front corner of the end zone from 12 yards out. Carder finished the scrimmage 4-for-5 for 97 yards and two scoring strikes.  His only misread was also directed at Arnheim in the end zone that was overthrown.

The second team offense took the field during the third offensive series. Tyler VanTubbergen, who finished with 42 yards on 5-for-8 passing, hit Dallas Walker for nine yards and Wallace for five yards four plays later. VanTubbergen connected with Jamelle Murray on successive plays for eight and nine yards, respectively, and then hit Chris Blair for 11 yards down to the six-yard line.  Blair fumbled but Josh Schaffer recovered for the offense at the three-yard line. Antoin Scriven crashed into the end zone from a yard out three plays later.

Freshman Zack Wynn led the third team offense onto the field on the fourth offensive series. He hit Michael Johnson for 25 yards on his only completion in two attempts to convert a third down. Jermaine forced a fumble on the play but E.J. Riley was there to scoop up the loose ball on the 23-yard line.

The final drive lasted only three plays thanks to Dareyon Chance.  Scriven opened the series with a run for no gain but a defensive facemask call put the ball on the 12-yard line. After Johnnie Simon broke up a VanTubbergen pass Chance took the inside hand off, was hit at the line of scrimmage but slipped the collision and dragged three defenders into the end zone for the 12-yard score. He finished with 17 yards rushing on three carries.

Western Michigan will hold its final two-a-day session on Wednesday and a suite holder practice from 7:30-9:30 p.m. on Thursday night before breaking camp after Friday morning’s final camp practice.