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University of Minnesota Athletics
Weber, Gopher Defense Impressive In Annual Spring Game
4/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
The Golden Gophers wrapped up spring football practice with their annual Spring Game on Friday night. Finishing 10 of 14 for 65 yards with one passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown, quarterback Adam Weber led the Gopher offense - designated the Maroon’ squad - to a 14-0 victory at the Metrodome.
The Gophers have participated in the maximum amount of full contact practices allotted by NCAA rules this spring, and this evening’s exhibition contest matched the physical tone of the rest of the Gophers’ spring workouts. Although the offense managed to score twice, the Gopher defense controlled the game throughout.
The Gophers’ first touchdown was set up by Kevin Mannion’s 34-yard interception return of a Clint Brewster pass midway through the second quarter. The return put the ball inside the five-yard line. After stifling sophomore running back Duane Bennett on three consecutive rushing attempts, Weber scored on a naked bootleg call on fourth-and-goal from the one yard-line.
The White defense performed well throughout the game. Besides Mannion’s long return, Gopher defensive highlights included the unit’s stifling of a Maroon goal-to-go sequence in the final minute of play that capped a lengthy 20-play drive. An interception by one-time wide receiver and current defensive back Harold Howell in the third quarter was an additional highlight for the defense.
The only other score of the evening came on a well-executed wide receiver screen from Weber to sophomore Ralph Spry in the third quarter. After taking a shotgun snap, Weber looked off the defense before dumping the screen pass to Spry in the right flat. Aided by a pair of blocks, Spry sprinted through the secondary for a 13-yard touchdown reception.
With Weber penciled in as the starting quarterback, the Gopher coaching staff entertained a heated battle for the backup quarterback spot with a three-way competition between Tony Mortensen, Clint Brewster, and Mike Maciejowski on Friday night.
Senior Mortensen, who quarterbacked the second unit a year ago, completed 2 of 5 passes and ran for 27 yards. The Hutchinson, Minn. native was also the only quarterback other than Weber not to throw an interception. Mortensen’s spring has included one of the most interesting developments of spring practice: The senior has seen a significant amount of time battling for the primary long-snapping job with sophomore Ryan Coleman.
Although Friday night marked the culmination of a bevy of spring position battles, the Gophers did not have the luxury of depth at the running back position on Friday night. With only Duane Bennett and R.J. Buckner in uniform, each of sophomores got plenty of touches. Bennett finished with a game-high 43 yards on the ground to go along with 13 receiving yards, and Buckner had 42 yards on 15 carries.
Ray Henderson led the Gophers with six tackles while Brian Kiltzke had five stops.
The Gophers open their 2008 schedule when they host Northern Illinois on August 30 at the Metrodome.
