April 4, 2009

Spring Game Statistics

Spring Game Photos

TUCSON--A 49-yard pass from Matt Scott to Delashaun Dean set up a short field and help lifted the White team to a 23-21 victory over the Blue squad in Arizona's Spring Game Saturday in Arizona Stadium.

The pass came with less than two minutes to go and the winning score moments later -- a Scott toss to Terrell Turner for five yards -- came with about 20 seconds remaining, but head coach Mike Stoops called an end to the two-hour scrimmage.

Scott completed 11 of 20 passes for 206 yards and two scores, while his counterpart on the Blue team, Nick Foles, was 16-for-24 for 183 yards and two touchdowns. Bryson Beirne, the third sophomore QB in the mix, threw for 27 yards on 2-for-3.

Neither team could muster much of a running game, with 50 yards for the White and 52 for the Blue. Keola Antolin of the White squad was the leader with six runs for 36 yards. Receiver Bug Wright had two carries for 31 markers to pace the Blue team. Redshirt freshman Greg Nwoko had the only rushing touchdown, a one-yard plunge in the fourth quarter for the Blue squad.

Stoops divided his team into two even-numbered units, a luxury compared to years past, with both teams manned with reasonable depth for a scrimmage. "I thought at the beginning that no one was able to get going after working all spring as a team, but after they got used to playing with each other things picked up," he said.

The two teams combined for 10 points in the first half, but 34 after the break. There were 92 plays in the scrimmage.

The Blue team put up 14 fourth-quarter points to take the lead, 21-17, but Scott marched the opposition 85 yards in four plays to earn the victory and even things up in the total offense department. The White had 256 net yards while the Blue had 262.

Blue tight end Rob Gronkowski, the Cats' All-American, lead all receivers with eight catche, for 67 yards and a 10-yard touchdown from Foles. Wright added four grabs for 24 yards. The White was led by Dean with four catches for a game-high 130 yards, with two receptions apiece for Turner and David Roberts. Juron Criner had the biggest play, an inside screen he took 70 yards for a touchdown that gave the Blue squad what looked like a winning score.

White defender Vuna Tuihalamaka, a senior linebacker, led all tacklers with 12, while teammate Xavier Kelley added eight. Redshirt freshman linebacker R.J. Young led the Blue with eight hits, while sophomore Orlando Vargas added six and the lone turnvoer, an interception off Scott in the first quarter.

Brooks Reed, junior defensive end, and redshirt freshman end Kenny Barnes each had two sacks to lead the White, while sophomore end Dominique Austin and junior linebacker Bobby Wuertz had one each for the Blue.

Placekicker Alex Zendejas, a sophomore to be, his his only field goal attempt for the White team, a 42-yarder to post the first points of the afternoon. That kick proved to be the winning points by game's end -- although he kicked PATs for both squads.

Unlike in previous years, Arizona still has a couple of practices -- Monday and Wednesday -- to close spring drills. "This (game) gives us a lot of things to review, and the extra days of work with help

A crowd of about 6,850 watched the game, which included an autograph session for the fans by Wildcats formerly and currently in the NFL.