2008 Woodie Awards
Huskies try out new offense
Travis Weldon
Issue date: 9/6/07 Section: Sports
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It was like going from driving an automatic transmission to learning how to drive a stick-shift.
That was the kind of transformation the SCSU football team had to face this season. The offense had to learn a completely new way to play the game.
SCSU now uses no-huddle shotgun for most of the offensive plays. Three players look as though they are dancing on the sidelines to coordinate plays to the quarterback.
The new style has been in effect since spring practice and had its first real test in a 17-7 victory over Northern State Aug. 30.
The Husky offense loaded up with 383 total yards and went 19-for-26 in the passing game.
"I think as an indicator of today, we did a great job moving the ball," junior quarterback Jon Quesnel said. "We moved the ball efficiently all game. I think we went three-and-out only once."
Quesnel said he is pleased with the options he has.
"I like the way it works," he said. "We get guys up and moving around. Obviously, we have to work some kinks out. But I think for the most part it was efficient."
Senior quarterback Mike Hammerseng said he liked how the game shaped out in the first half.
"In the first half, I thought we were moving good," Hammerseng said. "The offense was clicking, the run game was working; pass game was working."
The Huskies ran for 138 total yards, all from the shotgun formation.
SCSU head coach Randy Hedberg was also pleased with the result.
"I thought for the most part it was good," he said. "We had two snaps that were down in our shin area that we had to take losses on."
The two low snaps occurred down in the Northern State red zone in the second quarter. Hammerseng recovered both fumbled snaps, but the loss of down was crucial, as no points were recorded on either drive.
Other than those miscues, the offense played well.
"We did a nice job running the offense and controlling the tempo," Hedberg said. "We tried to get plays off. I thought it went OK."
The next test for the Huskies shotgun offense is against the University of Mary (0-1) on Sept. 8. Mary was up against Augustana by 12 points with just nine minutes left to play before Mary let the game slip away. Augustana scored three touchdowns to seal the game 26-19.
Once the wrinkles are ironed out, look for the Huskies to shift smoothly into high gear as the season rolls on.
That was the kind of transformation the SCSU football team had to face this season. The offense had to learn a completely new way to play the game.
SCSU now uses no-huddle shotgun for most of the offensive plays. Three players look as though they are dancing on the sidelines to coordinate plays to the quarterback.
The new style has been in effect since spring practice and had its first real test in a 17-7 victory over Northern State Aug. 30.
The Husky offense loaded up with 383 total yards and went 19-for-26 in the passing game.
"I think as an indicator of today, we did a great job moving the ball," junior quarterback Jon Quesnel said. "We moved the ball efficiently all game. I think we went three-and-out only once."
Quesnel said he is pleased with the options he has.
"I like the way it works," he said. "We get guys up and moving around. Obviously, we have to work some kinks out. But I think for the most part it was efficient."
Senior quarterback Mike Hammerseng said he liked how the game shaped out in the first half.
"In the first half, I thought we were moving good," Hammerseng said. "The offense was clicking, the run game was working; pass game was working."
The Huskies ran for 138 total yards, all from the shotgun formation.
SCSU head coach Randy Hedberg was also pleased with the result.
"I thought for the most part it was good," he said. "We had two snaps that were down in our shin area that we had to take losses on."
The two low snaps occurred down in the Northern State red zone in the second quarter. Hammerseng recovered both fumbled snaps, but the loss of down was crucial, as no points were recorded on either drive.
Other than those miscues, the offense played well.
"We did a nice job running the offense and controlling the tempo," Hedberg said. "We tried to get plays off. I thought it went OK."
The next test for the Huskies shotgun offense is against the University of Mary (0-1) on Sept. 8. Mary was up against Augustana by 12 points with just nine minutes left to play before Mary let the game slip away. Augustana scored three touchdowns to seal the game 26-19.
Once the wrinkles are ironed out, look for the Huskies to shift smoothly into high gear as the season rolls on.