Northwestern University Athletics
Spring Football Update -- April 20
4/20/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 20, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Led by redshirt freshman tailback Jeff Backes (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and redshirt sophomore quarterback Tony Stauss (Racine, Wis./Horlick), Northwestern's offense rolled up more than 500 yards of total offense in its second spring scrimmage. The Wildcats will hold three more practices this week before playing their annual spring game at 1 p.m. next Saturday (April 27).
Backes, who earned Ohio's "Mr. Football" award in 2000, ran for 133 yards on nine carries (14.8 ypc) and also grabbed a 14-yard reception. On his first carry of the day, Backes rambled 36 yards up the gut for a touchdown. A few series later, Backes opened a drive with a 57-yard run to the 3-yard line.
"Everyone is getting used to the subtle changes that are being implemented with our offense," said Backes. "The offensive line played well today and that's where it all starts."
Overall, the NU rushing game accumulated 284 yards on 48 carries for 5.9 yards per carry. Juniors Jason Wright (Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Bar) and Torri Stuckey (Robbins, Ill./D.D. Eisenhower) added 44 yards (4.4 ypc) and 38 yards (5.4 ypc), respectively.
Stauss, who took the most snaps at quarterback for the second straight week, completed 13 of 18 passes for 139 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. His TD pass -- a 33-yard scoring strike to junior Ronnie Foster (Peoria Heights, Ill./Peoria Heights) -- was the Wildcats' longest pass play of the day. Foster finished with two catches for 39 yards.
Redshirt freshman Brett Basanez (Arlington Heights, Ill./St. Viator) tossed NU's other passing TD. He hit sophomore tight end Trai Essex (Fort Wayne, Ind./Paul Harding) on a 14-yard scoring play. Essex totaled three receptions for 35 yards. Redshirt freshman tight end Taylor Jones (Gladstone, Mo./Winnetonka) had two receptions for 41 yards, giving the two NU tight ends five catches. Another redshirt freshman, Joe Wohlscheid (Grand Ledge, Mich./Grand Ledge), sat out the scrimmage with an injury.
"We are getting a feel for the new things we've put in place and we practice them everyday," said Mike Dunbar, the Wildcats' new offensive coordinator. "The execution gets better with each practice. Our expectation was to be better than we were last Saturday, and we exceeded there."
NU's defense was at a bit of a disadvantage on Saturday. Linebacker Pat Durr (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles), the leader of the NU defense, was held out for injury purposes. Also missing were safeties Mark Roush (Richmond, Va./Douglas Freeman) and Dominique Price (Jeffersontown, Ky./DuPont Manual).
NU's offense totaled 508 yards on 80 plays, a 6.4 yards per play average.
