Nealy puts on a show at ISU spring game

AMES - Iowa State running back DeVondrick Nealy showed bursts off speed, shades of elusiveness and twists of toughness after contact in Saturday's spring game attended by an estimated 15,000 fans at Jack Trice Stadium.

It wasn't enough.

“I think I did OK,” Nealy said after rushing 18 times for 142 yards and two touchdowns in the Gold team's 41-27 win over the Cardinal squad. “I really think I left some stuff on the field. I think I can give the team more and I felt kind of bad because it was my last opportunity (until fall) to do that. I did what I could when I could, but I think I still have more to give.”

That's saying something, considering the numbers he racked up for both teams.

Yes, some players played for both the Gold and Cardinal, rendering statistics less precise than usual.

But Coach Paul Rhoads stressed last week that the score would be “irrelevant.”

He wanted to see the types of plays Nealy provided on offense along with fundamentally sound defense.

For the most part, he emerged pleased.

“Good and bad on both sides of the ball, as there usually is when you go against yourself,” Rhoads said.

A lot of the good came from the backfield. Nealy starred, but Aaron Wimberly (15 carries, 89 yards), James White and Rob Standard (10 carries, 65 yards, including a rugged 29-yarder) also ran strong.

“We're just taking advantage of every opportunity,” Nealy said. “That's all we can do.”

But how can the carries be effectively divvied up this fall?

“It's something that we are going to have to identify,” Rhoads said. “It's not concern about keeping people happy. It's what makes us the most productive.”

Receiver Quenton Bundrage sprang two breakthrough catches and runs. With one deft move, he turned a bubble screen into a 39-yard play that didn't produce a touchdown only because of defensive back Damein Lawry's horse-collar penalty.

“A good play,” Bundrage said. “An exciting play.”

Bundrage led all receivers with three grabs for 73 yards.

“When he took off, he took off,” Rhoads said. “I could see that where I was and we need ‘Q' to be that guy. I also need Q to be a guy that catches dang near 100 percent of the balls thrown to him.”

Defensive end Willie Scott and backup cornerback Charlie Rogers rose up for interceptions.

The secondary kept most plays in front of it, Bundrage's exploits and a 31-yard touchdown catch by Justin Coleman notwithstanding.

“As far as the one group goes, we allowed one deep pass, where it just got behind us,” safety Jacques Washington said. “I feel like we tackled well.”

No. 1 quarterback Sam Richardson and skilled-but-green backup Grant Rohach threw one interception. Richardson was credited with two touchdown passes, Rohach one.

“Definitely not our best day,” Richardson said. “Obviously getting started was a little slower. That's the main thing I would have liked to see better, the start.”

Best days should be reserved for fall. The season opener against UNI is only 13 weeks away.

“Today was important,” Nealy said. “It hurts because it was the last one for the next (four) months, so every opportunity has to count.”