Senior All-American linebacker Jerrell Freeman, who has caught the eye of several NFL scouts, spearheaded a swarming UMHB defense that highlighted the 2½-hour scrimmage at Tiger Field.
“We have had about six NFL scouts down to look at Jerrell, and we’ve never had scouts here before,” said UMHB coach Pete Fredenburg, whose squad is ranked as high as No. 2 in NCAA Division III preseason polls. “And I thought our defense played really well tonight.”
With the Sept. 8 season opener - at home against Christopher Newport (Va.) - quickly approaching, Thursday’s session drew mixed reviews.
“I really wanted to stress the players, and the way to do that is with extended drives,” Fredenburg said. “Unfortunately, I think our offense sputtered a lot and made some critical mistakes that they just can’t make.
“But I did see some positive things. I still think the speed of our defense is going to allow us to do a lot of things.”
Freeman dished out several big hits and intercepted a pass, which he returned about 65 yards for a touchdown.
The first set of offensive possessions netted only one first down and a safety, which was registered when linebacker Eric Henri foiled an option play by hauling down backup quarterback Sonny Estrada in the end zone.
Starting quarterback Josh Welch was at the helm for a pair of sustained drives, but both eventually stalled and resulted in two Joel Munoz field goals.
The defense added another touchdown when William Dewease’s sack of reserve quarterback Josh Saenz resulted in a fumble, which Henri scooped up and returned.
The brightest moments for the starting offense came during the goal-line sessions, when the starters scored four times against the second-team defense.
The only other touchdown by the starting offensive unit was an 18-yard pass from Welch to 6-7 receiver Patrick Oliver during a 2-minute drill.
But the offense stumbled several times, struggling to gain yards and execute the option - a longtime staple for the Crusaders.
“We really have to address (the problems with the option),” Fredenburg said. “The defense did some things that took the option away. Of course, our defense gets to see it all the time, so that helps them.
“This offense, and what we’re trying to do now, is really a precision offense. If we’re jumping offside and not getting the checks at the line that we want, then it’s going to make us look like a bunch of clowns. We have to develop the discipline to do what we want to do.”
edrennan@temple-telegram.com
