Daily Staff Writer

Quarterbacks

Starter Sage Rosenfels couldn’t have asked for a better spring game, completing 14 of 25 passes for 218 yards, two TDs and no interceptions.

“Sage looked really good out there,” head coach Dan McCarney said. “He’s been very strong and very accurate all spring.”

His backups, on the other hand, never got on track, largely because of the play of the first-string Cyclone defense. Gerrin Scott was the only other QB to complete a pass, as the reserves went 2-for-14 with 38 yards and two interceptions.

“It was hard to tell [with the backups],” McCarney said. “Gerrin didn’t have much of a chance for the White, which is why we stuck him in on the Red in the second half.”

Running Backs

Tailback has always been a Cyclone strength and 2000 should be no different, beginning with Ennis Haywood, who picked up 119 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.

“I feel I’ve showed everyone,” Haywood said, “not just today, but throughout the spring, that I’m capable of carrying the ball.”

“Ennis looked solid,” McCarney said. “He’s a north-south guy. He can’t always make you miss, but you have to be ready to tackle him.”

In addition to Haywood, backup tailback Hiawatha Rutland excelled for the White squad, carrying the ball 11 times for 60 yards.

His performance was even more impressive because it was behind a battered backup offensive line and against the starting defense.

Finally, fullback Frank Garcia was also impressive, scampering for 39 yards and two touchdowns on just four carries.

“Frank runs the ball hard out there, like Jerome Bettis,” center Ben Bruns said. “We call him Cy-Ride.”

Receivers

J.J. Moses headlines a talented receiving corps that will be called upon in 2000 to diversify the ISU offense.

Moses hauled in three catches for 64 yards on Saturday, in addition to taking three handoffs for another 34 yards and a TD.

Veteran Chris Anthony will look to contribute more frequently next fall, and was impressive on Saturday, catching four balls for 39 yards, including a one-handed reception of a misfired Rosenfels pass and a 12-yard first-quarter touchdown.

Craig Campbell, Jamaul Montgomery and Lane Danielson are all prospects who will vie for extensive playing time in the fall. The trio combined for five catches and 89 yards.

At tight end, Mike Banks caught one pass for 22 yards.

Offensive Line

This longtime strength of Iowa State football is thought by many to be a weakness in 2000, but don’t tell that to veteran center Bruns.

“A lot of people have predicted that we’ll be the weak link, but I really can’t see that happening,” Bruns said. “We have too good a work ethic and too much togetherness for that to happen.”

The line was very impressive Saturday, opening holes for running backs on both teams and surrendering just one sack on the afternoon.

And they should only get better come August, when Marcel Howard and Ben Beaudet are expected to return from concussion complications.

“We’ll be better if those guys can play,” Bruns said. “But I don’t see any way we won’t put together a real strong unit.”

Defensive Line

Clearly a Cyclone strength, Coach McCarney said he wouldn’t trade his D-line for any other unit in the Big 12.

“I wouldn’t trade us either,” defensive end Reggie Hayward said. “I think we’re doing a heck of a job. We’re all healthy. We’re all working extremely hard. What else do you want?”

The starting line surrendered some of Rutland’s yardage but shut down every other back the White team threw at it.

The reserves were a little porous at times, but senior Nigel Tharpe leads the unit which features Casey Shelton and Jordan Carstens and may provide incredible depth by the start of next season.

“I could’ve scored a touchdown,” Hayward said. “Other than that, it went about as good as it could go.”

Linebackers

Senior Ab Turner led the Cardinal linebacking unit on Saturday with five tackles and sophomore Chris Whitaker added three.

For the White squad, Matt Word and Tyrone Tucker were impressive, managing six and five tackles, respectively.

Overall, this group may be the wild card for the 2000 Cyclones, featuring a lot of youth and several new faces, including former quarterback Derrick Walker.

On Saturday, they performed adequately.

Defensive Backfield

The starting Cyclone secondary didn’t face stern competition Saturday afternoon, as the White squad only attempted 13 passes and was rarely on target.

Nick Linder and Ryan Sloth each intercepted passes as the Cardinal defensive backs were unbeaten but also largely untested.

The White secondary, on the other hand, left receivers open most of the afternoon, and Rosenfels was usually able to make them pay.

With the probable return of Breon Ansley, Dustin Avey and Jamarcus Powers in the fall, many of the Cardinal starters will slide to second on the depth charts and make for a very well-rounded unit.

Special Teams

The ISU return teams and coverage units were adequate on Saturday, showing some potential but little spark.

Punters Carl Gomez, Steffen Nass and Casey Baldwin all kicked the ball well, at times into a brisk wind.

True to form, Mike McKnight may again be a team liability after missing his only field goal attempt, shanking an extra point attempt wide left and bouncing one kickoff out of bounds.