Sports News Southwest

San Diego – Senior place-kicker Garrett Palmer (Rialto, Calif0rnia) had three field goals and sophomore wideout Jon Toledo (Encinitas, Calif.) caught the only touchdown pass of the 78-play scrimmage Saturday at the annual Aztec Family Day at Qualcomm Stadium.  The scrimmage was San Diego State’s first of 2007 fall camp, which is ending its third week since the squad reported to campus Aug. 10. 

Redshirt freshman quarterback Kelsey Sokoloski (Greenwood Village, Colo.) completed 11 of his 16 passes for 110 yards, while Toledo had four receptions for 48 yards, including the touchdown.  Ten different Aztecs logged at least one carry, while an additional 10 caught at least one pass. 

SDSU opened the afternoon with 7-on-7 drills, followed by about 20 plays of “thud” drills which saw the first-team players run through action without the defense tackling.

The first eight possessions involving tackling saw the Aztecs rotate quarterbacks between Sokoloski and true freshman Ryan Lindley (Alpine, Calif.).  Sokoloski directed the first drive, completing his first five pass attempts and ending up 4-for-5 for 33 yards through the air before Palmer’s first field goal of the day from 39 yards out.

The offense stalled the next three drives, going three and out, before true freshman signal caller Ryan Lindley (Alpine, Calif.) drove the Aztecs 40 yards on nine plays ending with another Palmer field goal this time from 27 yards away.  Palmer tagged on a third field goal, this time from 31 yards, just before halftime.

The second half of the scrimmage was highlighted by the defense, which forced three turnovers, including a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown by junior transfer Vonnie Holmes (Palmdale, Calif.). The offense’s only touchdown of the day came via redshirt freshman quarterback Josh O’Brien (Del Mar, Calif.), who found Toledo for a 12-yard score.

The SDSU defense was led by a pair of linebackers, including sophomore Andrew Preston (Centennial, Colo.), who had eight tackles, and junior Zach Clarke (Mission Viejo, Calif.), who added five stops, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack.  Redshirt freshman defensive back Martrell Fantroy (Las Vegas, Nev.) had five tackles and a fumble recovery, while freshman linebacker Logan Ketchum (Oak Park, Calif.) also tallied five stops.

The Aztecs return to the practice field back on campus Sunday for a single afternoon practice, before taking a break for the first day of classes on Monday.

Scoring Drives

Palmer 39-yd field goal – 10 plays, 62 yards

Palmer 27-yd field goal – 9 plays, 40 yards

Palmer 31-yd field goal – 10 plays, 47 yards

Toledo 12-yard pass from O’Brien (Palmer kick) – 5 plays, 58 yards

Vonnie Holmes 65-yard interception return

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE STATISTICS
RUSHING TOTALS (carries-yards-touchdowns)
Davon Brown 10-13-0, Atiyyah Henderson 8-12-0, John Rivera 5-5-0, Brandon Bornes 1-4-0, Tyler Campbell 1-3-0, Kelsey Sokoloski 5-3-0, Josh Cunningham 1-0-0, Josh O'Brien 1-0-0, Ryan Lindley 2-(minus 7)-0, Zack Kusnir 1-(minus 10)-0. TOTALS 35-23-0.

PASSING TOTALS (completions-attempts-interceptions yards touchdowns)
Kelsey Sokoloski 11-16-0 110 0, Ryan Lindley 6-11-0 46 0, Josh O'Brien 3-3-0 38 1, Zack Kusnir 0-4-1 0 0. TOTALS 20-34-1 194 1.

RECEIVING TOTALS (number-yards-touchdowns)
Jon Toledo 4-48-1, Matthew Kawulok 3-24-0, Marcus Montgomery 2-24-0, Vincent Brown 2-24-0, Justin Shaw 2-19-0, Atiyyah Henderson 2-11-0, Alston Umuolo 2-11-0, Waika Spencer 1-22-0, Davon Brown 1-7-0, Mekell Wesley 1-4-0. TOTALS 20-194-1.

TACKLES (total-unassisted)
Andrew Preston 8-2, Martrell Fantroy 5-3, Zach Clarke 5-2, Logan Ketchum 5-1, Ryan Williams 4-2, Jerry Milling 4-1, Freddy Dunkle 3-2, Luke Laolagi 3-0, Romeo Horn 2-2, Gerard Armstrong 2-1, Cory Boudreaux 2-1, T.J. McKay 2-1, Jonathan Soto 2-1, B.J. Williams 2-1, Marcus Yarbrough 2-1, Miles Burris 2-0, Ted Edwards 2-0, Dey Juan Hemmings 2-0, Aubrey Smith 2-0, Avery Williams 2-0, Travis Crawford 1-1, Darrell Honaker 1-1, Brian Stanbra 1-1, Tony DeMartinis 1-0, Vincent Carmada 1-0, Vonnie Holmes 1-0, Eric Ikonne 1-0, Peter Nelson 1-0, Oran Nwansi 1-0, Nick Sandford 1-0, Michael Snead 1-0, Neal Spencer 1-0, Michael Stewart 1-0. TOTALS 74-24.

INTERCEPTIONS (total-yards-touchdown)
Vonnie Holmes 1-65-1. TOTALS 1-65-1.

FUMBLE RECOVERIES (total-yards)
Martrell Fantroy 1-4, Vincent Carmada 1-0, Eric Ikonne 1-0, TOTALS 3-4.

QUARTERBACK SACKS (total-yards)
Zach Clarke 1-5, Siaosi Fifita 1-5, Peter Nelson 1-2, Logan Ketchum 0.5-5, Ryan Williams 0.5-5. TOTALS 4-22.

TACKLES FOR LOSS (total-yards)
Zach Clarke 2.5-6, Siaosi Fifita 1-5, Darrell Honaker 1-3, Peter Nelson 1-2, Logan Ketchum 0.5-5, Miles Burris 0.5-1, Ted Edwards 0.5-1, Luke Laolagi 0.5-1, Jerry Milling 0.5-1, Andrew Preston 0.5-1, Ryan Williams 0.5-5, Avery Williams 0.5-1, Marcus Yarbrough 0.5-1. TOTALS 10-33.

TEAM PASSES BROKEN UP
Zach Clarke 1, Freddy Dunkle 1, Romeo Horn 1, Brett Martin 1, Andrew Preston 1. TOTALS 5.

SPECIAL TEAMS
TEAM PUNTING (number-yards-average)
Michael Hughes 6-269-44.8.

FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS (made-attempt, individual attempt)
Garrett Palmer 10-11* (35 gd, 42 gd, 49 wl, 49 gd, 29 gd, 36 gd, 43 gd, 50 gd, 39 gd, 27 gd, 31 gd)
* First eight attempts came during a pre-scrimmage kicking segment

PAT ATTEMPTS (made-attempt)
Garrett Palmer 1-1.

Quotes:

Defensive Coordinator Bob Elliott - On overall performance of defense:

“We really didn’t get a chance to see our (first string), but I thought out (second and third string) players did a decent job. The best thing we did is we played well in the red zone. We probably gave up too many yards and let (the offense) march down the field a couple of times. We’ve got to shore that up. But we really didn’t get to evaluate our number ones.”

“Well Vonnie Holmes took an interception back for a touchdown. That was important that he do something like that. I thought Freddy Dunkle made a few good plays, he did a good job.”

“We’re not ready for the season yet. We need every practice we can get but we’re excited at the opportunity to get better.”

Senior quarterback Kevin O’Connell - On the scrimmage:

“Coach (Chuck) Long wanted us to get out here and compete and be efficient. It was a good day for the first team offense.”

Redshirt freshman quarterback Kelsey Sokoloski - On his performance:

“It was ok, I tried to say proficient. I tried to cut down on turnovers. I would have liked to put (the ball) in the end zone, but I’ll take it. It was a good day.” 

Senior kicker Garrett Palmer - On what brought out his best in his kicking performance today:

“I would have to say this stadium and the atmosphere really got my adrenaline pumping. I always tell people that inside the stadium my blood really gets pumping and I kick it at least five yards farther than normal.”

On his new holder, backup quarterback Kelsey Sokoloski:

“It’s been challenging because I’ve had a lot of holders during my time here. Kelsey (Sokoloski) has just been learning each day how to hold the ball, but he has really come on and is one of the best holders that I’ve ever had. We’ve both been making progress in terms of getting to know each other’s tendencies.

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