Sports

Colleges

UF defense ahead of the curve, shines in scrimmage

Compiled from staff and wire reports
Published April 16, 2006

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GAINESVILLE - One thing Florida's coaching staff constantly emphasizes is finishing. Saturday, the Gators' defense barely held off the offense to win the second scrimmage of the spring.

"The offense made it close," coach Urban Meyer said. "The defense got after them pretty good today. At the end the score was pretty close, but it was a great, great workday today. I think it was one of our better scrimmages since I've been here."

But junior linebacker Brandon Siler said Meyer may be playing games with the score.

"Coach tends to knock some points off the defense, so they win the other scrimmages," Siler said. "The difference is defense finished today. Coach edges off a little points for them to make it closer at the end, and they come through at the end usually. Today, we came through, so I'm proud of us."

Siler was partially responsible for that, as he leveled running backs DeShawn Wynn and Markus Manson near the end of practice.

"I've been waiting on (those hits) all spring," Siler said. "I need to be doing that more often; that's what linebackers are supposed to do."

Meyer said Siler is good, but he's not ready to label him "great."

The scrimmage was capped with a trick play. From punt formation, punter Eric Wilbur kept the ball and sprinted into the end zone almost untouched.

- IAN FISCHER, Times correspondent

UTAH STATE: Quarterback Jerod Walker has been arrested and accused of raping a female student, police said. He is expected to be charged with a felony and arraigned next week.

Other sports

BASEBALL: Chris Kemp snapped a 1-1 tie with a two-out single in the seventh to lift host Tennessee (21-14, 5-8 SEC) to a 2-1 victory over Florida (21-18, 4-10). The Gators' Gavin Dickey went 2-for-3 and extended his hitting streak to eight games. ... FSU pounded out 20 hits in a 16-1 win over visiting Miami.... Tampa swept a doubleheader from visiting Nova Southeastern, winning 12-4 and 7-1. Lee Cruz (Pasco-Hernando CC) led the way in the first game with a second-inning grand slam. Johnny Williams (Plant) got the win in the second game. ... Visiting St. Leo split with Lynn, winning the first game 2-0 but dropping the nightcap 8-4. ... Visiting Louisville scored three times in the fourth inning to defeat USF 5-4. Kris Howell (Gaither) went 2-for-5 and extended his hitting streak to seven games for USF (17-20, 7-8 Big East).

BASKETBALL: FSU junior Alexander Johnson has entered himself as an early entry candidate for the NBA Draft.

GOLF: The FSU women are in third place, after the first two rounds of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship in Pinehurst, S.C. Sophomore Jaclyn Burch carded a one-over 73 and is tied for second in the individual standings, eight strokes off the individual lead. ... Florida improved three spots to fifth place after the second round of the SEC Championships in Nashville, Tenn. Whitney Myers led the Gators with a 2-under 70.

SOFTBALL: Cristi Ecks and Casey Cash combined on a six-hit shutout as visiting USF defeated Louisville 4-0 in the second game of a doubleheader. In the first game, Bree Spence (Countryside) allowed one run on six hits before giving way to Ecks in the bottom of the seventh in the Bulls' 2-1 victory. Krista Holle (Chamberlain) had an RBI in each game. ... Visiting North Carolina State scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning, breaking up Tiffany McDonald's no-hitter in the process, and defeated Florida State 2-0 in the first game of a doubleheader. The Seminoles (31-21, 6-7 ACC) also dropped the nightcap 6-5. ... Host Tampa (18-26, 5-13 Sunshine State) dropped a doubleheader to Lynn 7-6 and 3-2 (9). The Spartans' Nicole Fenno (Berkeley Prep) had an inside-the-park home run in the first game. ... Host Eckerd (13-35, 2-16 Sunshine State) dropped two games to Barry, 6-0 and 12-5. Amy McGathey (Northside Christian) took the loss in the first game.

TENNIS: The Florida women (18-1, 11-0 SEC) clinched the league title with a 4-0 victory over South Carolina and are the No. 1 seed and host school entering the league tournament. ... Host USF fell to Marquette 4-3 in its men's regular season finale. Dillon Brozyna (Saddlebrook Prep) teamed with Marc Jager to win at No. 1 doubles but fell to Stephen Shao in three sets at singles. ... The host Florida men (14-6, 8-3 SEC) clinched at least a tie for second in the conference by blanking South Carolina 7-0 and earned a bye and second seed in the conference tournament.

TRACK AND FIELD: UM's Charlette Greggs won the 400 in 51.97 seconds and was the top collegiate finisher in the 200 (23.22) at the Miami Elite Invitational. Ginou Etienne won the 800 in 2:06.14, while Khadija Talley won the discus with a throw of 54.32 meters. Florida's Natalie Moser won the pole vault at 13 feet, 5.5 inches.

[Last modified April 16, 2006, 00:43:12]

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