Renegades Black-White Scrimmage at hit with fans
June 4, 2005 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
Ottawa Renegades News Release
KEMPTVILLE â The Ottawa Renegades Football Club took a rest from the cycle of two-a-day practices during the 2005 training camp Friday. Instead of the long, full-pad sessions in the morning and then again in the afternoon, the team went light on the eve of the 2005 Black-White Scrimmage (Saturday, June 4 ,free admission, open to the public).
One of the largest training camp crowds in Renegades history converged at Kemptville College for the football team's annual Black-White scrimmage on a hot, June Saturday afternoon.
An estimated 300 Renegades supporters watched about 10 minutes of walk-through plays, then the team stretch before witnessing the 2005 scrimmage â the first series of live competition for the club since camp opened last Sunday. The 48-play scrimmage, divided into a dozen snaps per simulated quarter, included all three Ottawa quarterbacks taking reps and some of the oft-talked about players throughout the off-season and early stages of two-a-days battle it out.
Following the event, Renegades head coach and general manager Joe Paopao had the entire team line-up along the goal-line facing the crowd and thanked the supporters for coming out and watching the scrimmage.
"On behalf of our organization, thank you for coming out. We really do appreciate it," said Paopao. "With these guys, ladies and gentlemen, we are going to get it done."
The veteran coach â and former CFL player, who also played in the nation's capital â then invited the fans to come down and meet the players, forming a greeting line. An autograph session followed and many of the loyal followers of the club got to meet some of their favourite Renegades up close.
"That was a spur-of-the-moment thing. I wanted the people to see who they are rooting for," said Paopao. "You could hear the cheers and that's always nice. There's something about people watching you go at it that's nice."
During the actual scrimmage, the offence (white practice jerseys) saw starting quarterback Kerry Joseph lead the charge, while back-up Brad Banks and Paul Peterson split the remaining snaps. Joseph had his usual touch, hitting two different receivers for touchdowns and finishing with 123 yards in the air. Joseph finished 8-for-15 and went deep for a score to Markus Howell (50 yard strike for a TD, earning Team 1200's Dave Schreiber play-of-the-day) and also to Jason Armstead (six yards).
Banks went 5-for-7 for 45 yards and a touchdown (four-yards to rookie receiver Robert Quiroga). He was also intercepted by D'Wayne Taylor, who hauled in a deflection off of Fabian Burke. Peterson was 4-of-8 for 52 yards and a touchdown, which came on a five-yard toss to rookie running back Herbert Goodman.
"It was a gorgeous day and we got to look at different combinations," said Paopao after. "We went through all of our plays and it was good. This wasn't about our defence beating the offence, it was about executing plays. I thought the quarterbacks did okay and we had some good defensive hitting. We did a lot. We did some goal line, some 1st-and-10, some 1st-and-20, and a lot of conceivable looks."
Three Renegades running backs got action, including a pair of new faces. Rookie Ka'Ron Coleman was the leading rusher, taking four carries for 34 yards, including a 21-yard scamper. Herbert Goodman, a fellow first-year tailback, took a pair of handoffs for 13 yards. Incumbent returning running back Josh Ranek had four rushes for 13 yards.
Howell was the team's top receiver, grabbing two calls, including the 50-yarder for a touchdown. Yo Murphy, the veteran and dependable target, had a pair of receptions for 39 yards. Quiroga had three grabs for 13 yards with a score while rookie Bashir Yamini had two catches for 23 yards. Wide receiver Jason Armstead had two catches for 19 yards, including the touchdown and displayed his trademark lightning speed.
New kicker Matt Kellett made three field goals. The veteran hit from 42 and twice from 45 yards out.
The Renegades will not practice Sunday â the first time during camp. The team will be back on the field Monday for a two-a-day session.
Canadian Football League Stories from June 4, 2005
- Renegades Black-White Scrimmage at hit with fans - Ottawa Renegades
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- Training camp report day seven - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- Stamps sign former Florida A&M quarterback - Calgary Stampeders
- Training camp report day seven - Montreal Alouettes
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