Northwestern University Athletics
Spring Practice: Day 12
4/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 18, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern closed out its third week of spring practice Saturday morning with an 82-play scrimmage on a "picture-perfect day" at Ryan Field. With the temperature approaching 70 degrees and not a cloud in the sky, it was an ideal day for the 'Cats to return to their home field, the first appearance in Ryan Field since closing the 2008 season with a win over downstate rival Illinois.
While the defense dominated last week's scrimmage, the offense came to life a bit more today with NU's two quarterbacks -- senior Mike Kafka (Chicago, Ill./St. Rita) and sophomore Dan Persa (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) -- combining for 277 passing yards and five touchdowns. The duo combined to complete 65.9 percent (27-of-41) of their passes. Persa tossed three TD's and an interception while Kafka threw two TD strikes and one INT.
Northwestern's defense continued to be stout up front, limiting the offense's running game as it has all spring. The Wildcats' "O" gained 93 rushing yards on 41 carries for a 2.3 yards per carry average. Sophomore running back Jeravin Matthews (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan), who led NU's running game a week ago, sat out Saturday's scrimmage with a minor injury he sustained earlier in the week.
"Offensively and defensively, good and bad on both sides," said head coach Pat Fitzgerald. "We had some big plays by the offense. I really liked the job that our quarterbacks did when we got outside the playbook a little bit. I like the way that we managed the game into comparison of last week. I moved the ball around a little bit, so studying the stats for a scrimmage like this is a waste of time.
"I like the way our defense is starting to form that attitude. And that's going to be critical in this last week. We need to be thinking 'we've only got three practices left and we need to go harder than we ever have.' That's what I'm looking forward to this week."
Northwestern also worked on its kicking game -- some punting during the day's opening periods and then PAT and field goal kicking during the scrimmage.
"We're kicking it pretty well and I thought 'Stef' (Stefan Demos) had a pretty good day," said Fitzgerald. "We did have the one field goal blocked, but give credit to the defense on that one. I thought it was a protection problem up front, but I'll have to watch the tape to be sure."
Senior superback Brendan Mitchell (Twinsburg, Ohio/Western Reserve Academy) caught two passes on the day and both went for scores -- an 11-yard play from Persa and an 8-yard strike from Kafka. NU's longest scoring play of the day was a 39-yard pass play from Persa to junior Lee Coleman (Gainesville, Ga./East Hall). It was Coleman's only catch of the day.
Wide receiver Zeke Markshausen (Capron, Ill./North Boone) and running back Alex Daniel (Roswell, Ga./Roswell) also caught TD passes -- Markshausen a 10-yarder from Kafka and Daniel a 25-yarder from Persa. Daniel also finished as the game's leading rusher with 52 yards on 13 carries.
The Wildcats had 14 different players make receptions in the scrimmage.
Complete post-scrimmage interviews with Coach Fitzgerald, Mike Kafka and Ben Johnson are available by clicking on the All-Access page on NUsports.com.
SCRIMMAGE STATS (April 18, 2009)
RUSHING -- Daniel 13-52, Simmons 14-31, Woodsum 4-12, Markshausen 1-6, Persa 4-0, Kafka 4-(3), Brown 1-(5)
PASSING -- Persa 14-24-156 yards, 3 TD's, 1 INT; Kafka 13-17-121 yards, 2 TD's, 1 INT
RECEIVING -- Brewer 4-50, Frymire 3-23, Woodsum 2-19, B. Mitchell 2-19, 2 TD's, Markshausen 2-18, 1 TD, Bayless 2-13, Simmons 2-13, Brown 2-13, Fields 2-11, K. Mitchell 2-5, Coleman 1-39, 1 TD, Daniel 1-25, 1 TD, Rooks 1-16, Stewart 1-13.
DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS -- Interceptions by Ben Johnson and Demetrius Dugar; blocked field goal by Vince Browne; three sacks by the defense; held running game to 2.3 ypc (93 yards on 41 carries); totaled 33 negative rushing yards.
KICKING -- Stefan Demos hit all 5 PAT attempts and 3-of-4 FG attempts (31, 42, 35) (43-yard attempt was blocked)
