Aug. 24, 2002
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Quarterbacks Josh Shimek (Jr., Pasco) and Steve Nichols (So., Stevenson) each threw touchdown passes for the only scoring Saturday as Western Washington University held its first football scrimmage of the fall training camp.
Shimek and Nichols, who are battling for the starting quarterback position, each split time with the first and second offensive units.
Shimek, who was 9-of-14 for 78 yards, led the No.2 offense on a 7-play, 65-yard scoring drive the opening series of the scrimmage, going 4-for-4 in the march, including an 8-yard scoring toss to wide receiver Nate Kuhns (Jr., Yakima/Eisenhower).
Nichols was 13-of-17 for 156 yards, connecting on a 23-yard touchdown pass with wide receiver Jarrod Karuza (So., Bellingham/Meridian). He had five completions of 20 yards or more, but was intercepted once, by defensive back Dane Kelley (Fr., Wenatchee), late in the scrimmage.
Wide receiver Michael Westbrook (Sr., Lakewood/Lakes) had a scrimmage-high four receptions for 40 yards, and running back Jake Carlyle (R-Fr., Olympia/Capital) rushed for 31 yards on four carries.
Western's first-team defense was also strong, registering three-and-outs three times.
The Vikings, who were 8-3 last season and won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship for their third straight conference title, have their final preseason scrimmage Thurs., Aug. 29 (6 p.m.) on the campus field, and open the 2002 season at Central Oklahoma on Thurs., Sept. 5.
