MINDEN - Douglas High football coach Mike Rippee saw some good things and bad things in Friday's scrimmage with defending state champion McQueen.
"There were some bright spots here and there," he said after the 90-minute scrimmage. "I think we were real average overall. We didn't get into the end zone, and that's not good."
The Lancers, who outgained Douglas 210-126 unofficially, scored the night's only touchdown on their third possession when Dustin Rosness completed a 21-yard scoring pass to Nick Bruno. The Lancers had two other scores called back against Douglas' second-string defense because of penalties.
Rippee was pleased with the work of his first-team defense, especially against the run. McQueen's first unit gained just 35 yards rushing on 13 attempts.
"I was real pleased with our intensity, and the way we stopped the run," the veteran DHS coach said. "We have to do a better job on third down. We'd do a good job stopping their run on the first two plays, and then give up a first down."
Nick Summers forced a fumble on McQueen's first drive, and Tommy Welton intercepted a pass on a third-and-20 situation near midfield. Rippee had to be disappointed with the performance of the second team, which surrendered 86 yards during its first 15-play sequence. A 58-yard run by McQueen's backup quarterback and a 33-yard scoring pass, also by the backup QB, were wiped out.
"Their second group tore us up a bit," Rippee said. "The second unit has to step up."
It was the same story on offense for the Tigers, whose first drive was their best of the night.
Runs of 12 yards by quarterback Luke Rippee and 11 yards by tailback Dusty Cooper pushed the ball to the McQueen 35 after just five plays. On third-and-1, the Tigers were whistled for back-to-back penalties which probably would have killed the drive if penalty yardage was being enforced. Two plays later, Rippee lofted a pass intended for Andy McIntosh that was intercepted in the end zone.
On its second series of the 15-play possession, the Tigers managed only seven yards.
"We moved the ball well the first few plays, and then we threw a pick (interception)," said coach Rippee. "You have to get over that and bounce back."
The Tigers' first unit showed some life on the second series of its last possession, grinding out two first downs thanks to the hard running of Cooper, who collected 35 yards on eight attempts showed some life.
