Spring
Preview
2008
MAC Spring Game Reviews
Spring Game Reviews
- ACC |
Big East |
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Big 12 |
C-USA |
Ind.
- MAC |
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WAC
By
John
Harris
East
Akron
With enough depth to
split the teams evenly, the Zips were able to play a regular game for
the first time in the JD Brookhart era in Akron. The Blue team eked out
a 27-24 win behind the strong running of Dennis Kennedy who lit up the
Gold for 117 yards on 16 carries, scoring two touchdowns to lead the way
for the Blue. Each quarterback had ups and downs – Chris Jacquemain
threw three picks early, but looked solid the rest of the way. Matt
Rogers started strong and finished strong. The two combined to go 30 of
55 for 422 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Bowling Green
When it’s down to the
wire in a spring game, what is the play call? How about halfback pass
from the four-yard line? Yeah, right, that won’t work. Well, in the
annual Brown and Orange game it was the perfect play call. Down 3-0
late in the game, quarterback Tyler Sheehan handed the ball to running
back Anthony Turner who threw the game winner to receiver Freddie
Barnes. The 7-3 hard fought contest highlighted great defensive play on
both sides. Diyral Briggs had a whopping five sacks for the Brown team,
while Michael Ream registered three sacks for the Orange.
Buffalo
Using a modified,
spring game specific scoring system, the offense beat the defense 73-59
in the team’s annual Blue-White spring game. Starting quarterback Drew
Willy proved why he’s an All-MAC candidate, completing 16 of his 22
passes for just under 200 yards and a touchdown. Running back Brandon
Thermilus carried the ball 12 times for 91 yards and had a 16 yard
touchdown run as well.
Kent State
NO REPORT
Miami University
Defense was the name of
the game during the annual spring game. The defense hammered the
offense 77-42. Linebacker Alex Kaufman got his head coach’s attention
with a strong 12 tackle performance, while Morris Council had 2.5 sacks
to lead in that category. The Redhawks quarterbacks had plenty of
opportunities to throw the football, tossing it 58 times, completing 36
passes for 292 yards. However, this day was about the defense, even
without its three starting linebackers.
Ohio
Boo heard nothing but
cheers during the annual Green and White spring game in Athens.
Quarterback Boo Jackson had a stellar day leading the White to a 20-14
win as he completed 80% of his 20 passes for 190 yards. Theo Scott hit
seven of 12 passes of 102 yards but he also threw two interceptions,
both courtesy of Donovan Fletcher, who also had seven tackles on the
day. But, this was Boo’s show all the way.
Temple
The Cherry squad
defeated the White team 21-6 in the team’s annual spring game.
Quarterback Vaughn Charlton accounted for all three touchdowns for the
Cherry team, throwing an eight-yard touchdown pass, a 75-yard touchdown
pass to receiver Bruce Francis and a one-yard quarterback sneak.
Linebacker Wallace Bates was the defensive star of the game, recording
eight tackles, three sacks and four tackles for a loss.
West
Ball State
NO REPORT
Central Michigan
Potential All-American
quarterback Dan LeFevour was his typical consistent self, completing 13
of 16 passes for 115 yards to lead the offense to a 45-42 win over the
defense in the team’s annual spring game. After incomplete passes on
his first two attempts, LeFevour completed 13 of his next 14 passes,
riddling the defense with his passing acumen. In an interesting spring
game twist, the defense was able to close the gap by winning some
individual drills.
Eastern Michigan
NO REPORT
Northern Illinois
The winner of the Red
and Black annual spring game was mother nature as the Huskies had to
battle snow, rain, freezing temperatures and a plague of locusts. Okay,
so the part about the locusts isn’t true, but the cold weather forced
the Huskies to keep the ball on the ground for much of the contest.
Quarterback DeMarcus Grady carried the stone eight times for 118 yards,
including a 57-yard touchdown run for the offense. Running back David
Bryant accounted for 49 yards on five carries, while Justin Anderson and
Chad Spann combined for 91 yards on 23 carries.
Toledo
NO REPORT
Western Michigan
What can Brown do for
you, huh? Well, more or less, what can Brown do to you? In the annual
Brown and Gold spring game, the Brown squad shut-out the Gold 35-0
behind a strong defensive performance, in particular Zach Davidson. All
Davidson did was finish with 3.5 sacks and five tackles for a loss in an
eye-popping performance. The Brown team did have much of the first
unit, but took care of business in such a dominating manner. Running
back Glenis Thompson was the team’s leading rusher, registering 86 yards
on 14 carries, including a touchdown.
