University of Delaware Football Closes Out Spring Drills as White Downs the Blue 76-69 in Spring Scrimmage
April 15, 2011
Top Right: Quarterback Tim Donnelly (top right); Bottom Left: Running back David Hayes (Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell)
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NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware football squad, coming off one of the most successful seasons in school history last fall, closed out 2011 spring drills Friday night at Delaware Stadium with a solid showing before a crowd of over 4,000 fans.
The Blue Hens, who posted a 12-3 record last fall when they shared the Colonial Athletic Association title and advanced all the way to the NCAA Division I national championship game, closed out a month of spring drills with the annual scrimmage.
In a modified scoring system that awarded points to the offense for touchdowns and first downs and to the defense for changes of possession and turnovers, the White team (defense) outscored the Blue (offense) by a 76-69 score.
“All in all, this was a great spring for us,” said Delaware head coach K.C. Keeler, the 2010 AFCA National Coach of the Year and Liberty Mutual National Coach of the Year who will enter his 10th season at the helm of the Blue Hens this fall. “The offense was ahead all spring but tonight I thought the defense caught up. We were playing without our top three linebackers but I thought they came out with a lot of spirit and made some big plays. We were a little banged up this spring and we still have a long way to go, but I thought we made tremendous progress. We were happy to see Travis Hawkins step up and make the big plays on defense that needed to be made.”
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Delaware’s quarterback trio of sophomore Trevor Sasek, junior Tim Donnelly, and redshirt freshman Justin Burns overcame eight quarterback sacks to put up solid numbers. Sasek, Delaware’s No 2 quarterback a year ago behind All-American Pat Devlin, completed 8 of 12 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown, Donnelly was 9 of 15 for 73 yards and a touchdown, and Burns completed 8 of 12 passes for 80 yards and a score. Sasek and Donnelly also rushed for touchdowns.
Junior Nihja White led the receiving corps with five catches for 76 yards, including a 12-yard scoring pass from Sasek and a game-high 46-yarder, while senior Bobby Russo caught six passes for 60 yards and hauled in a 17-yard scoring toss from Donnelley. Sophomore Brian Brown caught the other touchdown with a 20-yard reception from Burns.
As a team, Delaware managed just 50 yards on the ground but junior David Hayes led the way with 49 yards on 15 carries. Redshirt freshman Malcolm Yowk added 32 yards on 10 carries.
Hawkins and junior linebacker Leon Jackson led a defense that collected eight sacks, had six other tackles for loss, broke up five passes, and returned two interceptions for touchdowns.
Hawkins, a first-year transfer cornerback from Maryland, collected five tackles, broke up three passes, and returned an interception 55 yards to close out the scoring. Jackson, who has moved over from fullback to linebacker this spring, had three sacks among his team-high seven tackles while senior linebackers Chris Campbell and Eddie Lugo each had six tackles and a sack, and junior linebacker Corey Olsen made six stops. Junior defensive end Quincy Barr had five stops, including a sack and a tackle for loss, and also broke up a pass.
In addition to Hawkins’ interception for a touchdown, All-CAA senior defensive end Michael Atunrase also picked off a pass and returned it 47 yards to open the scoring.
On special teams, senior kicker Mike Perry and sophomore kicker Sean Baner each booted 32-yard field goals.
Following the game, Keeler announced that senior offensive guard Gino Gradkowski, senior wide receiver Mark Schenauer, junior linebacker Paul Worrilow, and senior linebacker Andrew Harrison have been selected as team captains for the 2011 campaign.
Gradkowski earned first team All-CAA and a second team Phil Steele All-American honors a year ago while Worrilow was a third team All-CAA pick. Worrilow led the team in tackles in 2010 with 113 while Harrison was third with 90 stops. Schenauer ranked fourth on the team with 36 catches for 510 yards and three touchdowns. Worrilow, Harrison, and Schenauer are all former walk-ons.
Delaware will begin pre-season practices in early August in preparation for the 2011 season opener at Navy Sept. 3. The Blue Hens will return home the folllowing week to take on West Chester in the home opener on Sept. 10 at Delaware Stadium.
AGATE:
Scoring Plays
White - Atunrase 47 interception return (no kick)
Blue - White 12 pass from Sasek (Perry kick)
Blue - FG Perry 32
Blue - Donnelly 2 run (Perry kick)
Blue - FG Baner 32
Blue - B. Brown 20 pass from Burns (Perry kick)
Blue - Russo 17 pass from Donnelly (Perry kick)
Blue - Sasek 10 run (no kick)
White - Hawkins 55 interceptions return (no kick).
Attendance: 4,050
Team Statistics: First Downs: 17; Rushes-yards: 47-50; Passing yards: 269; Passes: 26 of 40, 2 Interceptions; Total Offense: 87-319; Interception Returns: 2 for 102 yards; Punts: 2 for 22.5 avg.; Fumbles-lost: 1/0; Penalties-yards: 3-22.
Individual Statistics:
Rushing - David Hayes, 15 carries for 51 yards; Malcolm Yowk, 10-32; Walter Davis, 4-8; Rob Jones, 1-4; Emmanuel Godson, 1-(-3); Trevor Sasek, 4-(-3); Justin Burns, 5-(-14); Tim Donnelly, 6-(-23).
Passing - Donnelly, 9-15-1-73 yards; Burns, 8-12-0-80; Sasek, 8-12-1-111; R. Jones, 1-1-0-5.
Receiving - Bobby Russo, 6 for 60 yards; Nihja White, 5-76; Brian Brown, 3-33; Mark Schenauer, 2-32; Jones, 2-13; Hayes, 1-10; Mike Milburn, 1-26; Yowk, 1-3; Cody Magill, 2-12; Michael Johnson, 1-9; Davis, 1-0; Donnelly, 1-5.
Interceptions: Michael Atunrase, 1 for 47 yards; Travis Hawkins, 1 for 55 yards.
Sacks: Leon Jackson, 3 for 22 yards; Chris Campbell, 1-9; Matt Hardison, 1-7; Quincy Barr, 1-6; Demetrius, 1-5; Eddie Lugo, 1-3
Tackle Leaders: Leon Jackson - 7; Chris Campbell - 6; Eddie Lugo - 6; Corey Olsen - 6; Travis Hawkins - 5; Ricky Tunstall - 5; Logan Shultz - 5; Demetrius Hester - 5; Quincy Barr - 5.
