Northwestern University Athletics
75-Play Scrimmage Caps Northwestern's Spring Season
4/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 26, 2008
Post-game reaction from NUsports.com
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Saturday's spring-ending scrimmage -- which featured 75 offensive plays -- was the kind that makes a head coach smile.
In the first half, the offense controlled the play, scoring touchdowns on three of its first four drives. In the second half, though, Northwestern's defense stiffened and allowed just a pair of field goals, although one of the field goals came on a drive that started on the defense's 26-yard line.
"It was a coach's dream," said NU head coach Pat Fitzgerald. "Our offense started fast and our defense was sleep-walking a little bit. Then, in the second half, the defense came out and stiffened and we kept the offense out of the end zone.
"We saw some good and some bad, but I'm really encouraged with the steps we took today and the past four weeks. There's a lot to build on and a lot to learn from."
With starting quarterback C.J. Bachér and number-one running back Tyrell Sutton playing in just one offensive series, backup quarterbacks Mike Kafka and Dan Persa, as well as tailback Omar Conteh, got plenty of action.
Conteh led the Wildcats' rushing attack, gaining 111 yards on 16 carries. One of his rushes went for a game-long 41 yards and a TD.
"Omar looked fresh, looked good," said Fitzgerald. "He missed part of the spring with an injury and didn't play last week, so it was good to have him back. He's a good football player. We have some solid depth there."
Sutton totaled 23 yards on three carries, and had a 22-yard run.
Senior wide receiver Rasheed Ward led the 'Cats' aerial game, catching a scrimmage-best four passes for 42 yards and two touchdowns. He scored the offense's first TD of the day on a 19-yard pass from Persa, and then came back on the ensuing series and scored on a 12-yard strike from Kafka.
Andrew Brewer, returning after sitting out the 2007 season with a broken arm, caught three passes for a game-high 53 yards.
Kafka completed 7-of-13 passes for a team-best 70 yards and a TD, while Persa was 7-of-11 for 59 yards and a TD. Bachér, who was on the field for nine plays, completed 3-of-5 passes for 27 yards.
Senior Kyle Daley, who has been handling the Wildcats' place-kicking this spring, converted 3-of-3 field goals (41, 34 and 43 yards) and all three PAT attempts.
The day's lowlight came early in the scrimmage when on the sixth play of the game, wide receiver Kevin Frymire suffered a broken leg and had to leave the game after a lengthy delay on a golf cart.
Preceding the game, a number of activities took place, with nearly 150 people participating in the inaugural "Walk for Randy" 5K Walk. All proceeds from the Walk went to the Randy Walker Memorial Scholarship fund. After that, a football letterwinner's brunch was held with more than 100 past Wildcats in attendance. Then, just prior to the start of the scrimmage, a record-number of children took part in "Stretch with the 'Cats."
SPRING GAME STATISTICS
Fitzgerald
Rushing
Conteh 16-111, 1 TD; Kafka 6-36; Persa 6-25; Sutton 3-23; Concannon 9-12; Mauro 3-6; Bachér 1-1; Brewer 1-(1).
Passing
Kafka 7-13-0, 70 yds., 1 TD; Persa 7-11-0, 59 yds., 1 TD; Bachér 3-5-0, 27 yds.; Mauro 0-1-0, 0 yds.
Receiving
Ward 4-42, 2 TD's; Brewer 3-53; Rooks 2-14; Conteh 2-13; Concannon 2-6; Frymire 1-12; Peterman 1-8; Lane 1-6; Markshausen 1-2.
