EWU receivers have good day at scrimmage

As the ball left quarterback Reilly Hennessey’s hand late in Saturday’s scrimmage, Eastern Washington receiver Simba Webster knew he had to make the catch.

Especially in the corner of the end zone, with his twin brother, Nzuzi, covering him like a glove.

But as he did throughout the morning at Roos Field, Simba Webster found a way. He made a difficult 2-yard touchdown catch, gave Nzuzi a little smack talking and then offered some perspective on the growing pains of a young college football player.

Speaking for fellow Eastern wideouts Zach Eagle, Stu Stiles and Dre’Sonte Dorton, the redshirt sophomore said that “Last year, we just got the feel of college football – now it’s time to unleash the beast.”

He’s still just 5-foot-10, but Webster’s stature grew Saturday after he caught nine balls – from three different receivers – for 141 yards and two scores. Eagle had 10 catches for 105 yards and Dorton caught four for 51 yards, including a touchdown.

“It’s great to get a lot of reps and compete – and we’re and having fun out there,” Eagle said. All are looking to impress – no matter who emerges as Eastern’s starting quarterback.

“I just try to know their tendencies and know what they’re capable of,” Webster said of quarterbacks Hennessey, Gage Gubrud and Jordan West. “I know how to adjust myself and make the plays.”

Coach Beau Baldwin has noticed. As the coaches and players made their way on to the field Saturday morning, Baldwin told Webster, “It all feels different for you this year, doesn’t it?”

For Webster – who also returned kickoffs last year – that means, “playing at your true speed … and not having to overthink things.”

Meanwhile, Baldwin and his staff have a lot of thinking to do over the quarterback competition, a process that could take months. Seeing them in live action helped.

“It was good for our defense to see them live … and it’s good for the QBs and the competion of that position,” said Baldwin, who said the ultimate decision may not come until the fall.

On Saturday, former starter West completed 10 of 17 passes for 117 yards while being the only quarterback to lead the Eagles into the end zone in an end-of-game simulation.

Given just 1 minute, 22 seconds to move 80 yards, West showed command of a variety of throws, including an 11-yard TD to Dorton.

“You’re always looking to compete,” West said. “We’re all looking to be the starter – it’s tough, but it’s an experience that I’m going to take in stride.”

So did Gubrud, who kept the Eastern defense off balance with his scrambling while completing 14 of 19 for 166 yards and a score. Hennessey was 7 for 12 for 56 yards and a score, but also threw a pick-6 to defensive lineman Kaleb Levao.

“I was able to read the quarterback’s eyes,” said Levao, who saw he screen pass for what it was.

Levao’s joy at his first pick-6 gave way to satisfaction at the Eastern defense’s “more mature outlook” this spring.”

On Saturday, the defense gave up 355 yards, but registered six sacks, two picks and three forced fumbles.

“I wasn’t so much worried about who’s going to win this scrimmage,” Baldwin said. “I just wanted to see them responding back and forth, because more often than not, something doesn’t go right for one side or the other based on the given play or a drive.”

“I thought there was a lot of that response. We could be driving down the field and the defense would get a pick, or the offense would turn it over, but then on the next series get a couple first downs,” Baldwin said.

Notes

The Eagles will practice again on Tuesday and Thursday ahead of the Red-White Spring game on April 23.