CANTON — There is still one question lingering as St. Lawrence University football nears opening day: Who will start at quarterback?

The Saints took the field Saturday for a preseason scrimmage against Utica College of the Empire 8 with the answer to that question hopefully a little clearer. Head coach Chris Phelps played four different quarterbacks with junior Mike Wayne starting.

Wayne played the entire first quarter, threw an interception and didn't record a first down.

"I think quarterback is one of those positions where, when everything is going well, they get too much credit," St. Lawrence head coach Chris Phelps said. "And when things aren't going well they get too much blame."

So will Wayne be the 2008 quarterback when the Saints travel to Johns Hopkins University on Saturday for the season opener? That could be a game-day decision by Phelps.

"Until we have a chance to evaluate the film and really see the different things — why things were working and why they weren't — we won't make a decision," Phelps said.

Sophomore Mike Baraldi played the second quarter of the scrimmage, still in contention for starting quarterback. Baraldi marched the Saints into the end zone on his first drive to tie the score at 7-7. St. Lawrence went on to win 21-20.

"I think it was just confidence," Baraldi said of the drive. "We knew we had to score."

His poise and control on the field may give him the edge for the starting job to begin the season. Wayne, however, has mobility and, after two years as a backup, has learned the intricacies of the St. Lawrence offense. That should decrease the time it takes for the rest of the offense to gel.

"He's a phenomenal athlete," Phelps said of Wayne. "He's really matured over the past couple of years, mentally. One of the things that's held him back over the last couple years hasn't been his physical abilities, but understanding what we want to do in our no-huddle offense. That has been his greatest improvement over the offseason."

Whoever wins the starting job will have a solid defense that will keep the scores close.

The defensive backs, led by senior co-captain Devaun McFarland, is athletic and extremely quick. Phelps said it's one of the fastest secondaries he's had in his eight years at St. Lawrence.

"We've been working on our speed and our agility all off season," McFarland said. "Guys learned what they needed to get better at."

The Saints won't give up too many long passes this year with McFarland at cornerback and 4-year starter Andy Welkley switching between linebacker and safety.

The linebackers are equally skilled, with three seniors, including co-captain Chuck Bradway starting. The Saints also return a 2007 ECAC Division III Northwest All-Star in junior Gerard Bryant to the defensive line. His speed and 6-0, 250-pound frame can fill in the gaps and cause problems for opposing quarterbacks.

Phelps knows he can rely on the defense if St. Lawrence gets behind, which might ease the stress of settling on a starting quarterback.

"We have some good athletes out there," Phelps said. "We have some guys who can step up and make big plays when we need them."