TicketsGrutza, Defense Shine in Spring Game
Contact: Tom Hathaway
4/23/2005
Defensive end Adam Roberts had three sacks in the spring game. |
CINCINNATI, Ohio--Head coach Mark Dantonio has said throughout spring practice that the battle for the Bearcats? starting quarterback job won?t be decided until the fall. Dustin Grutza has done everything he could to move up that timetable.
Grutza built his credentials for the assignment throughout spring practice and made a statement with his performance in Saturday?s spring game. The redshirt freshman completed 12 of 15 passes for 151 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Black team to a 20-9 win over the White team.
?This was my first chance to show the public what I had,? said Grutza. ?I just wanted to come out and make plays, make things happen and get the offense going.?
?He?s a guy who can make plays and I think you saw that out there today,? stated Dantonio. ?He?s elusive and he can make people miss. He?s got a nice touch and he?s really tough. He played well.?
Grutza figured into all three Black TDs. On the squad?s first possession, he marched the Black 45 yards in seven plays, finding Charlie Vample between defenders in the endzone for a 6-yard score.
The second time he got the ball, Grutza engineered a 14-play, 86-yard drive. He completed four of five passes for 42 yards on the drive and scored on a five-yard run. Grutza iced the game in the fourth quarter with a 17-yard TD toss to tight end Hank Davis.
The spring game featured other star performances. Mike Daniels rushed 12 times for 95 yards to lead all rushers. He broke free for a 54-yard run. Delbert Ferguson complemented Daniels with 43 yards on 13 carries as the Black amassed 127 yards on the ground.
Todd Spitzer and Nick Davila shared the quarterback duties for the White team. Spitzer completed only six of 21 passes for 58 yards, but connected with Derick Ross for a 30-yard score late in the game. Davila was 2-of-3 for 16 yards.
The defensive units may have had the brightest moments, combining for 12 sacks. Adam Roberts charted three sacks and a quarterback hurry for the White while Tony Carvitti had a pair of sacks for the Black.
?It felt good to get out there and run around today,? stated Roberts, who will be challenged to take over the leadership roles of departed ends Trent Cole and Andre Frazier. ?We definitely got after the quarterbacks today and for the upcoming season it?s going to take all of us playing as a team to be effective.?
?Mike Daniels did some really nice things and has had a good spring,? Dantonio observed. ?He?s starting to get really comfortable with the position we have him in now. I thought Delbert also ran well today. On defense, I thought Adam Roberts, Angelo Craig and Anthony Hoke really stood out.?
The game culminated the Bearcats? spring practice session.