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Blue celebrate true victory over Gold in spring game
By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Sunday, Apr 06, 2008
The spring football game for the University of Akron had a true winner this year, which is the preferable alternative to coach J.D. Brookhart.
The Blue team, getting a late touchdown from senior tailback Dennis Kennedy, edged the Gold team 27-24 Saturday afternoon before a crowd of about 1,000 at Stile Athletics Field House.
In Brookhart's first three seasons, the Zips did not have enough depth to fill out two teams, so an offense versus defense format was used.
This year, there was enough for two 36-player squads, which raised the intensity level and culminated in an animated postgame celebration by the Blue team that suggested a Mid-American Conference title had just been secured.
''This was the first time we have had the numbers to be able to divide the team by a draft. We have not been able to do it,'' Brookhart said. ''I love it. There was great spirit. It didn't become offense-defense again. It was about the team.''
Brookhart said the hidden meaning behind the two-team format was what is really important.
''It's all about depth,'' he said. ''It's big to have depth like this, on defense, especially, because we are going to play 20-some guys.''
Brookhart said he was going to reserve judgement about individual and overall performances until he watched the film, saying, ''A lot of players did some good things.''
The players getting the most scrutiny — from the fans anyway — were quarterbacks Chris Jacquemain and Matt Rodgers.
Jacquemain, the starter last season as a sophomore, had three interceptions in the first half but went on to complete 15-of-28 passes for 208 yards and one touchdown for the Blue. Rodgers, a redshirt freshman, was 15-of-27 for 214 yards and one touchdown for the Gold.
''Chris struggled a little bit early, then he came on. The struggles weren't necessarily him,'' said Brookhart, referring to two of the interceptions being on tips. ''Both did some good things.''
Kennedy, a senior running back from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was the game's top rusher with 117 yards on 16 carries, and two touchdowns. His 20-yard scoring burst up in the middle with 6:59 left was the game's final points.
''I felt comfortable today,'' Kennedy said. ''The O-line told me to hit the holes because they were going to be there. I put my trust in them.''
Kennedy is locked in a battle with Alex Allen, Andrew Johnson and Gary Pride for playing time at running back. He made the most of his opportunity Saturday. Johnson and Pride did not play because of injuries, and Allen was used sparingly.
Kennedy led the Zips in rushing with 914 yards as a sophomore in 2006, but he had only 156 yards in 2007 as his playing time was cut by injuries and the emergence of Allen and Buchtel graduate Bryan Williams.
''I am trying to get back to two years ago . . . even get better than that,'' Kennedy said.
Defensively, one of the standouts was Williams, who has been converted from tailback to strong safety in the spring. He made a game-high 11 tackles for the Gold.
''It's permanent,'' Williams said about the position switch. ''Coach Brookhart came to me about moving last year. He was thinking like I was thinking. It's more fun because I like to hit.''
The Gold team opened fast by taking a 10-0 lead in the first eight minutes on a 36-yard field goal by Branko Rogovic and a 7-yard interception return by Levon Morefield.
Late in the first quarter, the Blue got back to 10-7 on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Jacquemain to Curtis Brown.
In the second quarter, the Gold got a 4-yard scoring run by fullback Joe Tuzze, and the Blue got field goals of 36 and 22 yards from Igor Iveljic to make it 17-13 at the half.
The only points of the third quarter came on a 6-yard run by Kennedy to move the Blue ahead 20-17.
The Gold regained the lead at 24-20 with 13:36 left on a 21-yard pass from Rodgers to Brandon Williams, but the Blue answered back seven minutes later with the game-winning run by Kennedy.
The Zips are off until the start of camp in early August. The season opener is Aug. 30 at the University of Wisconsin.
CAPTAINS NAMED
After the spring game, the Zips announced that Merce Poindexter and Doug Williams have been named offensive and defensive captains, respectively, in a vote of the players.
Poindexter is a senior tight end from Ellwood City, Pa. Williams is a senior linebacker from Tampa, Fla.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
The spring football game for the University of Akron had a true winner this year, which is the preferable alternative to coach J.D. Brookhart.
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