Pluta grabs spring snaps

By: Eric Peterson, INFORUM

Bryson Pluta was the lone quarterback option for Minnesota State Moorhead on Thursday at Alex Nemzek Stadium.

The sophomore signal was the only quarterback on the roster as the Dragons concluded their spring practices with a scrimmage.

“He’s definitely improved, and that’s a huge thing,” MSUM coach Damon Tomeo said. “Going into spring, there was a lot of learning he had to do. … He has the heart and desire to do it.”

Pluta has yet to take a snap in college, but there is a strong chance he will be MSUM’s starter next fall. The Dragons have signed two high school quarterbacks, who will join the team in the fall.

“I got a lot of reps personally and it gave a good look of what to expect in the fall,” said Pluta, who was the Dragons long snapper last fall. “I found each day and each week the offense was getting better and better and we had a strong finish today.

“I haven’t had a snap in a game at the college level so I have to take advantage of all the reps I can get.”

MSUM started spring football with two QBs, but Alex Wilson left the team after the first week of spring drills for personal reasons.

Sophomore running back Tim Hanson had a strong scrimmage.

He ripped off a 48-yard touchdown run and added a 60-yard reception to set up another short touchdown run. On that long reception Hanson lined up in the slot, broke a tackle and zipped into the open field before he was hauled down inside the 5-yard line.

“We’ve got to find a way to get it to him as many ways as possible,” Tomeo said of Hanson.

“With the offense now, we’re kind of switching over to a running team,” Hanson said. “If we keep a nice little balance than we can keep the defense off guard. … I really want to be a factor and hopefully it will happen.”

The Dragons have been primarily a spread offense team in recent seasons. MSUM ran a number of plays out of two-back sets on Thursday.

Tomeo said he liked what he saw out of linebackers Jake Larsen and Jeff Schuette, safety Brandon Larson and his defensive line.

Larson looks to play a key role for MSUM next fall, especially with All-American free safety Josh Jones transferring to Harding University in Searcy, Ark., for his senior season.

“It’s nice that the scoreboard is not on because you get some real learning opportunities for everybody,” Tomeo said.