Defense Records Seven Sacks, Four Interceptions as Delaware Football Closes Out Spring Drills with Annual Blue-White Scrimmage
Photos Courtesy of Mark Campbell
Homepage: Leon Jackson runs for yardage; Top Right: Quincy Barr (left) & Mike Hirt celebrate a sack; Bottom Right: #27 Julian Laing; Bottom Left: #1 Travis Hawkins intercepts a pass
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April 20, 2012
NEWARK, Del. -- The defense dominated the annual University of Delaware Blue-White Football Spring Game Friday night at Delaware Stadium with the unit recording seven sacks and intercepting four passes as the Blue Hens closed out their annual spring drills.
Using a modified scoring system that rewards the offense for touchdowns and first downs and the defense for turnovers and three-and-outs, the White (defense) posted a 72-55 victory over the Blue (offense).
Senior defensive end Quincy Barr, senior linebacker Mike Hirt, and junior cornerback Travis Hawkins did most of the damage for the defense, which held the Blue team to just 331 yards total while forcing six turnovers.
“I think tonight we saw a defense that came out and played with a lot of passion, which was great to see,” said Delaware head coach K.C. Keeler, whose squad went 7-4 last fall and barely missed out on a second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. “They were outmanned in terms of numbers with us not playing our top five linebackers and with a few players in the secondary down. We are pretty thin. But for these guys to come out and battle like they did, it was pretty impressive.
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“Offensively, we were disappointed with what we showed tonight,” said Keeler. “We didn’t play with any sense of urgency and it was a wake-up call for our guys. Even though they are the more talented group, if you don’t come out and play with some urgency, you are going to get handled. Overall we saw some good things this spring with both the offense and defense, but we have a long way to go. “
Barr collected seven tackles, including four sacks, and recovered a fumble he forced while Hirt registered a game-high eight tackles, including one sack, and recovered a fumbles. Hawkins had three tackles and intercepted two passes while senior safety Tim Breaker added four tackles, an interception, and a forced fumbles.
Offensively, three different Blue Hen quarterbacks split time with first-year Bowling Green transfer Trent Hurley completing 7 of 16 passes for 53 yards and two interceptions. Senior Tim Donnelly, who started all but two games during the 2011 campaign, hit on 5 of 9 passes for 46 yards while sophomore Justin Burns hit on 5 of 9 passes for 95 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown pass to redshirt freshman tight end Matt Rodriguez on just the fourth series of the scrimmage.
The rushing game was led by senior Leon Jackson, who picked up 51 yards on five carries and scored on a one-yard touchdown run while also intercepting a pass. David Hayes ran 8 times for 48 yards while Julian Laing picked up 39 yards on five carries and scored on a one-yard touchdown leap.
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Among the players who did not see action due to injuries were All-Colonial Athletic Association standouts in wide receiver Nihja White and middle linebacker Paul Worrilow. Two-time All-American running back Andrew Pierce was in uniform but did not action.
The Blue Hens went through nearly 80 plays from scrimmage during the evening and also worked on punt protection, kickoff coverage, and field goals during the 90-minute event, which was played under clear skies.
The estimated crowd of 2,000 included nearly 200 former UD football players and coaches who took part in a golf tournament earlier in the day and met with the players in position groups prior to the start of the scrimmage.
AGATE:
FINAL SCORE:
White - 72 Blue - 55 (Modified scoring system with points also give for turnovers, defensive stops, and first downs)
SCORING SUMMARY
Blue - Matt Rodriguez 64 pass from Justin Burns (Sean Baner kick)
Blue - Julian Laing 1 run (Garrett Greenway kick)
Blue - Leon Jackson 1 run (Sean Baner kick)
Blue - Brandon Favro 5 run (no kick)
Attendance: 2,000 (est.)
TEAM STATISTICS
First Downs - 12 (5 rush/7 pass); Rushes-yards -37-137; Passes - 17 of 36 / 1 TD / 4 Int.; Passing yards - 194; Total yards - 331; Penalties - 1-5; Fumbles/lost - 2-2; Punts - 1-45; Sacks - 7; Pass Breakups - 2
OFFENSIVE STATISTICS
Rushing: Leon Jackson - 5 for 51 yards; David Hayes - 8 for 48; Julian Laing - 5 for 39; Brandon Favro - 1 for 5; Tim Donnelly - 5 for 5; Rob Jones - 1 for 3; Justin Burns - 1 for 0; Walter Davis - 6 for -3; Michael Johnson - 1 for -5; Trent Hurley - 4 for -7
Passing: Tim Donnelly - 5 of 9 for 46 yards, 1 Int.; Trent Hurley - 7 of 16 for 53 yards, 2 int.; Justin Burns - 5 of 9 for 95 yards, 1 TD; Rob Jones - 0 for 2 for 0 yards, 1 Int.
Receiving: Rob Jones - 5 for 48 yards; Michael Johnson - 2 for 18 yards; Rick Bell - 2 for 24 yards; Mike Milburn - 2 for 6 yards; Matt Rodriguez - 1 for 64 yards; Justin Laing - 1 for 9 yards; Jerell Harrison - 1 for 9 yards; Stephen Clark - 1 for 7 yards; Ryan Cobb - 1 for 6 yards; David Hayes - 1 for 3 yards
Punting: Rauley Zaragoza - 1 punt for 45 yards (45.0 avg.)
Field Goals: Sean Baner - 32 (G), 37 (G), 52 (NG), 28 (NG), 42 (NG); Garrett Greenway - 47 (NG), 32 (G)
DEFENSIVE STATISTICS
Tackles (Solo-Assists=Total): Mike Hirt - 7-1=8; Quincy Barr - 7-0=7; Eric Farkas, 4-1=5; Tim Breaker - 3-1=4; Kyle Gayle, 3-1=4; Laith Wallschleger, 2-0=3; Travis Hawkins - 3-0=3; Alex Pihakis, 2-1=3; Corey Olsen, 2-0=2; Marcus Burley, 1-1=2; Leon Jackson, 2-0=2; Derek Battle, 2-0=2; Ricky Tunstall, 2-0=2; Blair Menefee, 1-0=1; Jake Campbell, 1-0-=1; Patrick Callaway, 1-0=1; Jeff Williams, 1-0=1; Irv Titre, 1-0=1.
Interceptions: Travis Hawkins - 2 for 0 yards; Leon Jackson, 1 for 0 yards; Tim Breaker, 1 for 22 yards
Quarterback Sacks: Quincy Barr - 4; Mike Hirt - 1; Kyle Gayle - 1; Laith Wallschleger
Fumble Recoveries: Quincy Barr; Mike Hirt
Forced Fumbles: Tim Breaker; Quincy Barr
Pass Breakups: Marcus Burley - 2
