Spring Fling – MAC Football Spring Game Updates

AKRON ZIPS

QB Chris Jacquemain moved the ball effectively early going 10-of-13 in the first half for 139 yards and a TD. He finished the day completing 16-of-27 for 189 yards. While the offense had its struggles in the second half, Matt Rodgers had some success. After a 1-for-7 start, he finished completing 10-of-22 for 115 yards with an interception and a TD. While Nate Burney led the rushing attack with 36-yards on 11 carries, DeVoe Torrence, a four-star recruit by Rivals.com two years ago, averaged 10-yards per carry on just three attempts. Mike Thomas, Brian Wagner and Almondo Sewell had big days for the defense.

BALL STATE CARDINALS

Kelly Page solidified the #1 QB spot after Nate Davis bolted early for the NFL. True freshman Aaron Mershman may have knocked Tanner Justice out of the backup role after impressing during the spring. MiQuale Lewis and Briggs Orsbon each will be counted on to continue their leadership roles along with production. Torieal Gibson moved from receiver to DB. Both lines received a lot of attention especially with four graduated players gone from the offensive trenches.

BOWLING GREEN FALCONS

The BGSU run game, which finished the afternoon with 221 yards on 56 carries, continued to roll later in the first quarter, capped by a 25-yard run from Steven Dunlap. Dunlap finished the day with 106 yards on 15 carries. Chris Bullock finished the game with 88 yards on 22 carries while Ray Hutson had four catches for 65 yards. Defensively, Andrew Johnson led all defenders with five tackles and two sacks. Ryan Crowe had the defenses lone turnover, an interception.

BUFFALO BULLS

With Drew Willy moving on from UB to the Baltimore Ravens, sophomore Zach Maynard took the majority of the snaps and went 15-of-35 for 129 yards. He led a 75-yard scoring drive in which he completed 6-of-8 passes and culminated the drive with a four-yard touchdown run. Brandon Thermilus led the running backs with 44 yards on eight carries and a touchdown while Mario Henry had six carries for 16 yards. All-MAC running back James Starks sat out the scrimmage recovering from offseason surgery, but is expected to be 100 percent by the start of camp. Naaman Roosevelt had five catches for 49 yards while Jesse Rack had three receptions for 31 yards. The UB defense was led by sophomore linebacker Scott Pettigrew who had 10 tackles.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS

Dan LeFevour completed all three of his pass attempts for 22 yards on his only drive but the defense stopped the offense short on a fourth-and-12 conversion attempt. Sam Williams had a pair of sacks during the opening drive. Backup QBs Ryan Radcliff and s Derek Rifenbury saw the majority of the action during the 53-play scrimmage and combined to complete 20-of-29 passes for 191 yards. Running back Paris Cotton and defensive back Dannie Bolden were named CMU’s most improved players on offense and defense, respectively.

EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES

New coach Ron English stated this at the end of the spring game, “we need to get bigger and more physical on defense, and we need to get faster at the skill positions. I mean, we don't have enough speed right now at the skill positions. And then we're not as big as we need to be defensively. I love the offensive line. I think that's going to be the strength of our football team.” Running backs coach Tyrone Weatley noted the following players of having stepped up during spring drills, Dwayne Priest and Corey Brown. On defense coach English noted cornerback Ryan Downard and linebacker Andre Hatchett’s performances.

KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES

Anthony Maguzo and Giorgio Morgan continued to compete for the starting QB job. Morgan seems to have a leg up but both will continue their competition in August. At running back, Jacquise Terry looks to have solidified his role as a back up to All-MAC Eugene Jarvis. Looking for perimeter players to make more plays, wideouts Sam Kirkland and Derek McBryde turned in touchdowns. Defensively, Michigan transfer LB Cobrani Mixon and DB Josh Pleasant played well. Pleasant, a true sophomore, showed that he has all-conference potential entering the season.

MIAMI REDHAWKS

Daniel Raudabaugh completed 11 of 14 passes, including a 20-yard touchdown pass to Chris Givens. Raudabaugh wound up the day with 145 passing yards. Zac Dysert completed 11 of 15 passes for 129 yards. Givens proved to be a big-play threat, hauled in nine passes for 110 yards, including receptions of 31 and 20 yards. The game's top rusher was freshman Danny Green who carried the football 20 times for 58 net yards. One of his runs was a five-yard touchdown. The game's top rusher was freshman Danny Green who carried the football 20 times for 58 net yards. One of his runs was a five-yard touchdown.

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NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES

A pair of sophomores stood out as tailback Me’co Brown rushed for 145 yards on 18 carries, and scored on a 55-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Chandler Harnish completed eight-of-12 passes for 58 yards and a 19-yard scoring pass. Redshirt sophomore quarterback DeMarcus Grady was 5-for-10 through the air for 47 yards. Defensively, Huskie defenders got their hands on eight passes and recorded six tackles for loss and three quarterback sacks. Tracy Wilson and Victor Jacques each posted six tackles. John Hopkins added two sacks.

OHIO BOBCATS

Quarterback Boo Jackson completed four of his six passes for 61 yards while Theo Scott connected on two of his four attempts for 28 yards. Brandon Jones and Philip Bates combined to complete three of seven throws for 28 yards. Ohio’s quarterbacks completed passes to seven different receivers with wideouts Terrence McCrae and Bakari Bussey catching two apiece. RB Devon Favors drew praise from the Frank Solich coaching staff. On defense, safeties Donovan Fletcher & Hilton Dawson III were noted.

TEMPLE OWLS

Leading the White team - Ahkeem Smith was the leading rusher with 67 yards on 22 carries. QB Chester Stewart finished with 197 yards on 14-of-29 passing with no interceptions, including a 30-yard completion to TE Matt Balasavage. In the air, junior WR Delano Green had eight catches for 102 yards. Defensively, junior LB Amara Kamara and senior LB John Haley had seven tackles each. Senior DB Dominique Harris grabbed two interceptions for 26 yards. For the Cherry, QB Vaughn Charlton went 14-of-31 for 125 yards. Defensively, sophomore DB Kevin Kroboth recorded a game-high nine tackles

TOLEDO ROCKETS

QB Alex Pettee completed 25-39 passes for 203 yards to lead the Blue team. RB DaJuane Collins led all the Blue rushers with 33 yards and one score while sophomore Kenny Stafford grabbed five passes for 62 yards. For the Gold side, QB D.J. Lenehan completed 14-30 passes for 146 yards while RB Morgan Williams rushed for 57 yards and caught six passes for 39 yards. Senior quarterback Aaron Opelt, a three-year starter, sat out the game due to an injury. Defensively, linebacker Archie Donald led the Gold team with 18 tackles and three tackles for loss

WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS

Drew Burdi threw for 212 yards and a touchdown on 23-of-31 passing. Robert Arnheim led the receiving corps with 115 yards on six catches, while scoring twice. Offensively, 14 Broncos hauled in at least one catch led by Juan Nunez with seven. Jamelle Murray joined Arnheim with six catches, including one reception where he was hit three times but emerged through the pile before eventually being bumped out of bounds. Murray ended the day with 67 yards receiving. Glenis Thompson led the ground game with 42 yards on 10 carries, including a 21-yard run for the longest carry of the day.

By Nick Gerogosian