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Football Concludes Spring Practice with Third Annual Jeff Cole Scrimmage
Photo Gallery
May 5, 2007 ORONO, Maine - The University of Maine football team concluded its spring practice season on Saturday with the Third Annual Jeff Cole Memorial Scrimmage at Alfond Stadium. The offense and defense each turned in several solid plays. Following the conclusion of the scrimmage the Most Improved Player awards were given out to a member of the offense, defense and special teams. Sophomore offensive lineman Christopher Parcells won it on the offensive side, while redshirt freshman defensive back Steven Barker earned the defensive honor. Sophomore linebacker Sean Wasson won the special teams award. Defensively, the "Black Hole" was responsible for a touchdown, as sophomore linebacker Andrew Downey intercepted a pass and returned it four yards into the end zone. Downey had a solid day as the did the entire linebacking corps. He was also responsible for a fumble recovery that halted an offensive drive after it had moved deep into the defense's territory. Fellow linebacker Jordan Stevens had 1.5 tackles for loss, while junior linebacker John Wormuth came up with a big nine-yard stop behind the line of scrimmage in the exhibition's overtime that thwarted a potential touchdown drive by the offense. On the defensive front, converted defensive end Jovan Belcher had a pair of tackles for loss, including a quarterback sack of minus-eight yards. Juniors Bruno Dorismond and Patrick McCrossan, who along with Wormuth were named the senior tri-captains for the 2007 season prior to the scrimmage, each had a tackle for loss on the day. The secondary also came up with some big plays, including a pair of pass breakups and a forced fumble by sophomore cornerback Lamir Whetstone. Redshirt freshman Derrick Harris had a pass breakup. Defensive backs Jonathan Calderon, Troy Harris, Brandon McLaughlin and Lionel Nixon Jr., all provided solid coverage which hindered the receivers at times. "That's a pretty good defense on that side of the ball," Maine head coach Jack Cosgrove said. "They have have been working hard this entire offseason and during spring practice. They are continually striving to get better each day." The offense turned in several big plays on the day, including a trio of completions for first downs by redshirt freshman quarterback Michael Brusko. On the offense's first series, Brusko moved the chains with a 10-yard completion to sophomore tailback Jhamal Fluellen. Later in the scrimmage, Brusko threw a 21-yard completion down the sidelines to redshirt freshman wideout Jeremy Kelley. Brusko also had a 10-yard completion for a first down on the opening play of the overtime. Redshirt freshman quarterback Adam Farkes also took several reps with the first team offense and led the Black Bears on a pair of field goal drives. "We lacked some continuity on offense today," Cosgrove said. "We would make a good play and then make a mistake which hindered us a bit." The offense had several drives which it converted into field goals. Junior kicker Bobby Donnelly was 4-for-4 on field goal attempts, including three from 32 yards. Freshman kicker Devin McNeill was 2-for-3 on the day, including drilling a team-long 36 yarder. The scrimmage concluded a 15-practice spring for the Black Bears, who will come together again on Aug. 5 for the beginning of pre-season practice. The Black Bears return 39 letterwinners and 17 starters from the 2006 season which saw them go 6-5 and finish 24th in the national rankings. Maine opens the 2007 season on Sept. 1, when it plays host to Monmouth at 6 p.m., in Alfond Stadium.
For more information on Maine football, please visit www.GoBlackBears.com(.)
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