Bearcats enjoy their day in the sun
Passing game looks good, rushing less so
Mar 9, 2013
First Scrimmage: Cincinnati Bearcats Football first scrimmage of the spring at Nippert Stadium.
Written by
Tom Groeschen
Anthony McClung was one of several Cincinnati Bearcats eager to burst out of their indoor football bubble, and McClung made the most of a sunny intrasquad scrimmage Saturday afternoon at Nippert Stadium.
McClung, a senior-to-be wide receiver, caught four passes for 151 yards and three touchdowns to highlight UC’s first outdoor workout under new coach Tommy Tuberville.
UC had practiced inside since opening spring drills March 1, and Saturday coincidentally was the best weather day in recent weeks, with temperatures in the 50s.
“The sun does shine in Cincinnati,” Tuberville said, smiling. “What a beautiful day. I think our guys were just excited about coming outside.”
McClung clearly was. The Indianapolis native is UC’s top returning receiver, with 34 catches for 539 yards (15.9 per catch) and two touchdowns last year.
“I just tried to make plays for my team,” McClung said. “My number was called, and BK (Brendon Kay) and Munchie (Legaux) just put the ball on the money.”
Kay, the incumbent starter, was 7-for-11 passing for 115 yards and two touchdowns (no interceptions).
Legaux, the former starter, was 8-for-15 passing for 150 yards and one TD (no interceptions).
Both Kay and Legaux are entering their final UC seasons.
“I thought both quarterbacks (Kay and Legaux) played well. … All the quarterbacks played well,” Tuberville said.
Among backups, redshirt freshman QB Bennie Coney stood out by going 6 for 7 for 104 yards and two TDs.
SCRIMMAGE NOTES: The passing game overall was 34 for 54 for 456 yards and five TDs, with one interception.
• The running game was not as potent. Among non-quarterbacks, the tally was 37 carries for 147 yards and one TD. Among the top backs, junior-to-be Ralph David Abernathy IV had seven carries for 22 yards and sophomore-to-be Tion Green had 10 carries for 19 yards. Abernathy and Green faced UC’s No. 1 defense.
• Tuberville was heartened that his starting defense looked good against the run: “That’s the whole key. You worry about the run defense at the very beginning. If you don’t have very good run defense early in spring practice, that means the next year you’re really gonna suffer.”
• Veteran placekicker Tony Miliano, a junior-to-be, was 4 for 5 on field goal attempts and 5 for 5 on extra points.
• The scrimmage technically was closed to the public, but a smattering of fans filtered in and out of Nippert. With several activities on campus, Tuberville didn’t mind some spectators: “We had a few people out, and it was a good practice.”
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