Sacramento State’s football team wrapped up its spring practice schedule with optimism for the fall.

“I think we’re on the right track we just need to be more consistent in how we play the game,” said Head Coach Marshall Sperbeck.

In all facets of the game, the team has shown steady improvement over the spring. Inconsistency remains but has declined as players have started playing sharper.

“We probably still need to improve on our tackling a little bit, that can be better and some missed assignments,” Sperbeck said. “Overall I think the kids are really working hard and making great effort and good strides everyday.”

Offensive Line Coach Jeff Remington said, “You’re seeing different guys emerge at different times; but the most I see is collectively we seem to be on the right point together each play.”

The annual Green and Gold Game on Saturday was called off with 2:35 left in the first quarter, ending the team’s final scrimmage of the semester due to rain. The game’s abrupt ending showed the concern of the coaching staff not wanting another player injured this semester.

“Keep it healthy, just get through a decent amount of plays that we can evaluate off of and go from there,” said receivers coach Daniel DaPrato.

The biggest problem in camp has been the large amount of injuries the team has suffered. Developing team chemistry among the newcomers and veterans will have to wait until the fall for many players.

“We got a lot of kids injured right now, but that’s natural this time of year,” Sperbeck said. “We just gotta get them healthy and get them back for the fall.”

The Hornets receivers have had their ranks reduced to only four out of nine participants in drills. “I think we’re very thin right now, we’re banged up,” DaPrato said.

Junior receivers John Blea, Brett Willis and Dylan Lane all missed significant time in spring practice. Blea has an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and Willis has a separated shoulder. Lane has a broken metacarpal. Freshmen receiver Spencer Arns has a finger injury.

Senior receiver Kyle Hill has had his collegiate career come to an end due to five herniated discs and compression fractures. The Hornets plan to have 12 receivers on the team to deal with injuries and execute complex offensive schemes.

Sophomore Chase Deadder and junior Ronald Richardson were the only two receivers to make catches in the Spring Game. Both Deadder and Richardson made enough big plays to finish with at least 100 yards receiving despite the short amount of time.

Rotating quarterbacks didn’t seem to effect the passing game at all as junior Jason Smith and senior John Loeliger hit their targets consistently. Smith and Loeliger each connected on a long touchdown pass and neither threw an interception.

DaPrato has been pleased with what he has seen so far but keeps in mind that it’s only just practice so far. “You’ve gotta be able to prove it on Saturdays,” DaPrato said. “No one’s completely separated themselves from everybody else to solidify a spot.”

The amount of equal progression the team has made makes it hard for any one player to stand out. There is no star feature running back, and multiple backs will be carrying the ball.

“Right now we’re looking at a platoon system for it,” said running backs coach Aaron Ingram. “After the first couple of weeks of camp we’ll make some decisions.”

Sophomore Jake Croxdale and junior Kenslow Smith have spent time running the ball while teammates Evander Wilkins and Bryan Hillard recover from injuries. Good pass protection from Croxdale and Wilkins has gotten the attention of Ingram.

“They’ve done a great job so far,” Ingram said. “They both had really strong springs.”

The coaching staff will spend the summer watching film and working to make the team better. “We grade everybody after each scrimmage,” Sperbeck said.

Players that looked good on the field can be found to have fundamental flaws that will be addressed in the fall camp. “Spring practice a lot of the time isn’t for the players, it’s for the coaches,” Ingram said.

“We did a lot better job this spring, everybody progressed,” DaPrato said. “(Everyone) paid attention to minute details and also advanced on their overall knowledge of the game in this system.”

After the Spring Game more potential recruits were given a tour of the facilities and met with the coaching staff. Up to 85 players can be brought into fall camp and Sperbeck plans on filling up every last spot. “Always trying to find more players, always recruiting,” Sperbeck said. “Recruiting never ends.”

The last full scrimmage was held on April 25 and marked the departure of tight ends and special teams coach Richard Sanchez. Sanchez has accepted an offer to coach the football team at St. Augustine High School in San Diego. No replacement for Sanchez has been announced.

Mitchell Wilson can be reached at [email protected]