By ROBERT CESSNAThe first scrimmage of A&M's fall football camp Sunday had a riveting start, but it was steady play, including from many of the younger players, that pleased head coach Mike Sherman the most.
Sophomore running back Cyrus Gray had a 63-yard run on the first play at Kyle Field. True freshman running back Christine Michael scored on the next play, but the 90-minute scrimmage was more give-and-take between offense and defense as temperatures approached 100.
"We came out here in the heat of the day and really wanted to see how we responded, and I thought they did a good job," Sherman said. "We played a lot of youngsters today. It's a little different playing in Kyle Field with a great crowd here today. Things got noisy at times, but I think they did a good job overall."
Michael earned the loudest applause from a few hundred fans that gravitated to the shade to avoid the blazing sun.
The 5-foot-11, 206-pounder used power, speed and elusiveness to turn a potential loss into a 25-yard gain. Michael ended with 56 yards on nine carries including a second 7-yard touchdown.
Sophomore Bradley Stephens had six carries for 49 yards, 40 coming on a touchdown run. Stephens cut back inside the 10, eluding defensive backs Chris Caflisch and Stephen Terrell. Stephens added a 1-yard score, but he also fumbled once.
The 196-pound Gray, who had missed the last two days of contact, was limited to three carries for 77 yards.
"I thought Cyrus played well," Sherman said. "We pulled back on him because his hamstring is a little bit tight. But overall I thought our backs did nice, they have played well since the start of camp. Christine needs to learn his assignments a little bit better, he was on the wrong side a couple of times, and he missed protection once on a pressure."
The receiving corps had a good day despite being without the top two performers from last season who combined for 105 catches. Jeff Fuller (hamstring) was held out, while fellow sophomore Ryan Tannehill is competing against Jerrod Johnson at quarterback.
Johnson, the returning starter, was 8-of-12 passing for 120 yards. He rushed for approximately 40 yards. Defenders weren't allowed to tackle quarterbacks, but the 6-foot-5, 243-pounder showed great mobility.
"He did [have a good day]," said Sherman of the junior who was the first player out onto Kyle Field. "He ran the ball when he had to run it. He threw it when he had the guys open. We dropped a few balls today that we need to catch. But overall I was pleased with [the receivers'] performance and Jerrod as well."
Tannehill was 2-of-5 passing for 44 yards and redshirt freshman Tommy Dorman was 4 for 7 for 32 yards including a 19-yard touch pass that sophomore Lionel Smith made a nice catch on, earning some applause. Sherman said Dorman "is definitely a lot better than last spring. And that's encouraging, because we need him to be."
Players with three catches each were senior Howard Morrow (3-65), senior tight end Jamie McCoy (3-38) and junior Terrence McCoy (3-37).
A&M didn't put the top units against each other, but at times had a mixture of starters on both sides. Sherman said the No. 1 units had battled head-to-head throughout the week and didn't need to do that Sunday.
"Because of a number of injuries, we're blending teams quite a bit," said the second-year coach, who added that it's also good for second-teamers who had faced only second- and third-teamers to see how they measure up against the starters.
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The skinny: A&M scrimmaged for about 90 minutes at Kyle Field. Next up: A&M will practice at 8:20 a.m. (Coolidge practice fields) and 4 p.m. (inside) Monday.
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Just watching: Defensive back Marcus Gold (stress fracture in his right foot) was wearing a protective boot. "We're not sure what direction we're going to go there -- if he's going to need surgery or just rest it, so we're on hold for him," Sherman said.
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Quote of the day: "That doesn't make any good sense to me. That doesn't make any good sense to me." -- Defensive coordinator Joe Kines, shaking his head at his defenders.
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Et cetera: Junior defensive end/linebacker Von Miller had a fast start with two sacks early, then was pulled. "I felt like we needed to work those other guys," Sherman said. "Von has really worked hard. I just thought we were at a point in this preseason that we'll back off him and try to get some of the other guys work." ... Sophomore linebacker Ricky Cavanaugh and senior defensive end Matt Moss each had two sacks. ... Freshman walk-on defensive lineman Spencer Nealy (6-5, 245) ended a solid week with a strong effort, including sharing a sack with senior linebacker Matt Featherston. "We just fell in love with him watching him play in the [high school] playoffs," said Sherman of the son of Ed Nealy, who played basketball at Kansas State and then in the NBA for Chicago and San Antonio. Sherman said there's no doubt that Nealy will play this fall. ... Sherman added the punters had a good week, but not a good Sunday and need to develop consistency. ... The heat did seem to take its toll with at least two players taken to the dressing room.
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Mangan family affair: Hamshire-Fannett High School head football coach Walt Mangan and his Longhorns scrimmaged Anahuac at 11 a.m. Saturday at home. As soon as that was over he drove to Lake Charles, La., to watch son senior tight end Wes Mangan (6-4, 245) catch two passes for 33 yards in McNeese State's first scrimmage. Sunday morning he drove to College Station to see another son, redshirt freshman linebacker Kyle Mangan.
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Faces in the crowd: Former players included All-American defensive lineman Ray Childress (1981-84), all-conference offensive lineman Louis Cheek (1984-87),1998 Big 12 championship member Aaron Oliver (1995-98) and Doug Teague (1976-79), a two-sport letterman who took part in the 17th annual Kick-Off Camp, which concluded Sunday. Freshman defensive lineman Wells Childress a walk-on is Ray's son. Seguin offensive lineman Joseph Cheek, son of Louis Cheek and a 2011 pledge to A&M, watched along with a few senior high school recruits including San Antonio Madison safety Tommie Saunders and tight end/wide receiver Nate Askew.
A&M FOOTBALL
* Sunday: Practice No. 9 was the first scrimmage of fall camp, lasting about 90 minutes at Kyle Field.
* Upcoming: 8:25 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday (inside)
* Practice info: A&M students, faculty and staff will be admitted by showing their ID. Students and former students can also enter by showing their Aggie ring. Cell phones, cameras and recording devices are not permitted. No fans will be allowed at practices in the McFerrin Center.
* Tentative upcoming practice sessions: 8:25 a.m. Tuesday; 8:25 a.m. and 4 p.m. (inside) Wednesday; 8:25 a.m. Thursday; 8:25 a.m. and 4 p.m. (inside) Friday.
* Season opener: Sept. 5 vs. New Mexico
* On the Web: Read Robert Cessna's blog on Aggie football at AggieSports.com
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