April 19, 2008

PITTSBURGH -

PDF of offensive stats

PDF of defensive stats

The Pitt football team concluded spring drills with the annual Blue-Gold Game tonight at Heinz Field. Utilizing a modified scoring system, the Gold (offense) defeated the Blue (defense), 60-25.

The scrimmage was viewed by a national television audience on the NFL Network.

"I liked the fact that we didn't look sloppy out there," said fourth-year Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt, who watched from the press box while providing color analysis for the NFL Network's telecast. "Usually in spring games you have a lot of interceptions and sacks and flags, but our guys were very focused and they did a great job of protecting the ball."

Although the defense opened the scoring with a sack by Greg Romeus (Coral Springs, Fla./Coral Glades), the Gold scored 16 unanswered points to take a 16-2 lead. They led 29-12 at half and 45-17 after the third quarter.

The offense was led by Maurice Williams (Erie, Pa./Erie Strong Vincent), who had seven catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. Kevan Smith (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) threw the lone touchdown pass for the offense to Williams in the second quarter.

Standout running back LeSean McCoy (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt/Milford Academy) had four carries for 16 yards and a touchdown -- a 1-yard run for the Gold's first trip into the end zone. Shariff Harris (Newark, N.J./St. Peter's Prep) led all rushers with 65 yards and a touchdown on nine carries.

Buddy Jackson (Plantation, Fla./Cypress Bay) led all defenders with nine tackles, including six unassisted. Mick Williams (Monessen, Pa./Monessen) had three tackles-for-loss and two sacks. Romeus, Greg Williams (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier), Tony Tucker (Bowie, Md./St. John's College) and Chas Alecxih (Columbia, Pa./Penn Manor) all finished with a sack.

Bill Stull (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton-LaSalle) started the game at quarterback for the Gold and completed 7 of 10 passes for 56 yards, including a 16-yard pass to Dorin Dickerson (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny), who was knocked out of bounds inside the 1-yard line. Pat Bostick (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Twp.) completed 11 of 15 passes for 105 yards and Greg Cross (Brunswick, Ga./Glynn Academy/Fort Scott C.C.) finished 2 of 5 for 42 yards, highlighted by a 37-yard pass to Maurice Williams.

The Gold finished with 43 rushes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. The four quarterbacks combined for 25 completions on 40 attempts for 251 yards and one touchdown.

Wannstedt announced the winners of the Ed Conway Award, annually presented to the most improved players of the spring. This year's recipients were junior tight end Dorin Dickerson, junior receiver Cedric McGee (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Plantation) and junior defensive tackle Mick Williams.

Pitt also presented its freshman Academic Award, which was shared this year by defensive lineman Myles Caragein (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks) and offensive lineman Chris Jacobson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks), both graduates of Pittsburgh's Keystone Oaks High.