Blue Team Triumphs Over White 14-7 in Delaware Football Spring Game

5/7/2016 3:25:00 PM | Football

By: Delaware Athletics

Dave Brock in wrapping up a month of spring drills. “I think we are going to have a very good team in the fall - a playoff calibre team. Certainly we had a very good spring. We came out of today without getting anyone hurt - which is the top priority in the spring game - but we got a lot of good work in too and were able to drive the ball. I was very pleased overall and I thought the quarterbacks performed well and managed it well.”

Delaware rising junior running back Wes Hills, back at full strength after missing all but one game last year with a foot injury, ran for a game-high 43 yards on six carries and opened the scoring with a seven-yard run with 1:05 left in the first 10-minute quarter.

The Blue team upped the lead to 14-0 on a 10-yard fade touchdown pass from senior quarterback Blake Rankin to junior Diante Cherry (above left) to left side of the end zone with 5:02 left in the second 10-minute quarter.

Rankin, Delaware's No. 2 quarterback in 2015 behind Joe Walker, hit on 5 of 8 passes for 33 yards. Walker played just one series and went 4 of 5 for 31 yards. Cherry caught four passes for 35 yards

while White wide receiver, junior DeAndre Davis, caught three passes for 40 yards.

“Our offense is playing a lot better and that was a big accomplishment this spring,” said Walker. “I think if everyone keeps grinding and doing what they need to do, we'll be a better team. You'll want to be behind Delaware this year. I believe we are going to take off. Our motto is that we are a playoff team and we are working to be a championship team.”

The teams played a 20-minute running clock in the second half and the White team finally got on the board on a two-yard burst by senior running back Eric Patton. Patton (above) finished the day with 41 yards on 15 carries. The short touchdown run was set up by an impressive 26-yard reception by Davis from Portale down to the two.

Defensively, Blue sophomore Tenny Adewusi recorded five tackles while redshirt freshman corner Brian Dennis led the White team with five stops and a forced fumble. Blue sophomore defensive end John Nassib added four tackles, a sack, and two tackles for loss, and Blue junior defensive tackle Bilal Nichols recorded three tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack.

AGATE:

Scoring Summary
Blue – Wes Hills 7 run (Frank Raggo PAT), 1:05 left (1st Quarter)
Blue – Diante Cherry 10 pass from Blake Rankin (Erik Martinez PAT), 5:02 (2nd Quarter)
White – Eric Patton 2 yd rush (Erik Martinez PAT), 1:00 (2nd Half)

Individual Statistics:
Rushing - Wes Hills (Blue), 6 carries for 43 yards; Eric Patton (White), 15-41; Thomas Jefferson (Blue), 4-30; Diante Cherry (Blue), 1-11; Kareem Williams (White), 4-10; Christian Portale (White), 1-(-4); Pat Kehoe, 1-(-5)
Passing - Portale (White), 4 for 5 for 54 yards; Blake Rankin (Blue), 5-8-33; Joe Walker (Blue),4-5-31; Pat Kehoe (White), 4-5-27
Receiving: DeAndre Davis (White), 3 catches for 40 yards; Cherry (Blue), 4-35; Alec Scheetz (White), 2-22; Vinny Papale (Blue), 2-12; Nasir Adderley (White), 1-0; Brandon Whaley (Blue), 1-7; Ryan Ammerman (White), 1-7; Owen Tyler (White), 1-6; Hills (Blue), 1-4; Ryley Angeline (White), 1-2; Kyle Yocum (White), 1-1;
Tackle Leaders: Tenny Adewusi (Blue) - 5; Brian Dennis (White)- 5, 1 FF; John Nassib (Blue) - 4, 1 sack, 2 TFL; Bilal Nichols (Blue) - 3, 2 TFL

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Scott Selheimer | selheime@udel.edu | Office: 302-831-8007 | Cell: 302-562-5129