University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pittsburgh Closes Spring Drills With Annual Blue-Gold Game
4/7/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Pittsburgh Closes Spring Drills With Annual Blue-Gold Game
4/7/2001
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh closed its spring drills today at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex with the annual Blue-Gold Game. Playing four quarters with a running clock, the Blue (defense) defeated the Gold (offense), 26-17.
The game used a modified scoring format where the defense was awarded points for stopped drives (one point), turnovers (three points) and touchdowns (seven points). The offensive unit scored points in the conventional fashion with six points awarded for touchdowns, three for field goals and one for extra points.
"It was a competitive scrimmage," said Head Coach Walt Harris, who guided the Panthers to their most successful season in more than a decade last year with a 7-4 regular season and berth in the Insight.com Bowl. "But we held both sides back in terms of what we showed and what we ran so it would be competitive.
"The defense has dominated all of the practices this spring. I think we have a chance of becoming a very good offensive team but we have to get everything going and each and every player has to get better.
"Things will take time to come together."
The Gold built a 14-3 lead early in the second quarter with touchdowns coming from freshman Mike Jemison (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim), who rushed from three yards out, and sophomore tight end Kris Wilson (Lancaster, Pa./J.P. McCaskey), who caught a 42-yard scoring pass from senior quarterback David Priestley (Los Alamitos, Calif./Brethren Christian).
The Blue rallied to take a 16-14 lead later in the second period when junior safety David Routt (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton H.S./Butler County C.C. [Kan.]) intercepted a pass from sophomore Rod Rutherford (Pittsburgh, Pa./Perry Traditional Academy) and returned it 17 yards for a score. The Blue gained three more points for a fumble recovery by senior linebacker Brandon Williams (New Kensington, Pa./Valley) that pushed the defense in front by two with 9:53 left until halftime.
The Gold took its last lead with 3:30 left in the second when senior Nick Lotz (Findlay, Ohio/Findlay) kicked a 22-yard field goal to make it 17-16. The Blue achieved a stop on the next series to make it 17-17 at intermission.
The second half saw the Blue score the final nine points, including three for a turnover when sophomore safety Corey Humphries (Columbus, Ohio/Eastmoor) came up with an interception when a pass bounced off a receiver.
Priestley led all quarterbacks with 8-of-14 passing for 162 yards. He threw a touchdown and an interception. Junior Lamar Slade (Yorktown, Va./Tabb H.S./Fork Union Military Academy) had a scrimmage-high three catches for 72 yards.
Sophomore Dustin Picciotti (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks West) led all rushers with 33 yards on seven carries. Sophomore Lousaka Polite (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) had 28 yards on eight attempts. Jemison had four rushes for 23 yards and one reception for 46 more.
Defensive leaders included junior defensive end Brian Guzek (Library, Pa./South Park), who had seven tackles, and senior linebacker Ryan Gonsales (Saddle Brook, N.J./St. Joseph's), who had six stops. Defensive end Claude Harriott (Belle Glade, Fla./Glades Central) and defensive lineman Darrell McMurray (Akron, Ohio/John R. Buchtel) each had two sacks.
In addition to today's spring game action, Harris announced the winners of the 2001 Ed Conway Awards, which are annually presented to the spring's most improved players. This year's winners included Wilson, sophomore linebacker Lewis Moore (Cape May Courthouse, N.J./Middle Township) and defensive back Torrie Cox (Miami, Fla./Northwestern).
Pittsburgh opens its 2001 season on Sept. 1 against East Tennessee State in the city's new North Shore football stadium.
