UTC running back Richardre Bagley fumbles the ball during the Mocs' spring Blue and White football game Saturday, April 18, 2015, at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga. The white team won 6-0.
UTC head football coach Russ Huesman puts his head in his hands during the Mocs' spring Blue and White football game Saturday, April 18, 2015, at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga. The white team won 6-0.
TC quarterback Jacob Huesman passes the ball during the Mocs' spring Blue and White football game Saturday, April 18, 2015, at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga. The white team won 6-0.Read more
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The offensive schemes were "vanilla," according to University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football coach Russ Huesman.
One goal was to end Saturday afternoon's Blue-Gold spring game at Finley Stadium with no injuries, so the offense dropped back and threw the ball around all game long. But the defenders pinned their ears back and attacked.
The final score was 6-0 in favor of the White team, courtesy of a pair of Henrique Ribeiro field goals. The Blue team won the yardage battle 198-146.
The award for the offensive most valuable player of the game went to backup quarterback Alejandro Bennifield, who was a combined 5-for-8 passing for 42 yards while spending time on both teams. The defensive MVP was freshman linebacker Dale Warren, who tied position mate Tim Whatley for the team lead with six tackles.
The Bob Davis Winter Warrior award went to running back Derrick Craine.
D.J. Prather had a game-high two sacks for the White team. Tony Zaffore added one, while Brandon Bourk and Isaiah Mack each had one apiece for the Blue team.
Keionta Davis had three quarterback hurries.
"I thought our defensive line got a lot of pressure on the quarterback for most of the day," Coach Huesman said. "Throwing the ball is not what we are: We're formations, motions, misdirections -- lots of things happening for the defense. I just wanted to see the guys compete. I did see some individuals get better, and that was what we were hoping for."
No. 1 quarterback Jacob Huesman was 5-for-13 for 62 yards for the White team, and Blue team quarterback Tyler Roberson was 9-for-17 for 52 yards. One of his passes was tipped at the line and intercepted by Whatley.
DeJuan McQuarters had five catches for 25 yards to lead the Blue team, while C.J. Board's two catches for 28 yards paced the White team.
"The number-one goal today was to not get anybody hurt," offensive coordinator Jeff Durden said. "We've had 14 practices to move around and get after each other, so the best way to not make it physical is to throw it every play. That's not who we are. We're a run-first, pass-second team, and that showed today, but our defense is good and we're built on that."
Shaqualm McCoy was the team's leading rusher for the third straight scrimmage, finishing with 33 yards on eight attempts. Roberson and Richardre Bagley were right behind him with 32 yards apiece, while Mark Fairbanks, who transferred in from Mercer, had 31.
The Blue team ran 55 plays, while the White team was limited to 35.
The fact there were no touchdowns was a bitter pill to swallow for receiver Xavier Borishade. He had one catch for 24 yards and almost scored on a jump-ball attempt in the first half, but Dee Virgin was able to defend the pass and knock it out of the junior-to-be receiver's grasp.
"(Not scoring) hurts a lot," he said. "I had my chance, but Dee made a good play. I'm upset, very upset, but it happens. We didn't want to put a lot of things out there, so we didn't run a lot of the plays that we usually beat them with in practice. The defense had a good day, but we ran 50 percent of the things we run in practice."
When asked if he would ever give the defense credit, Borishade's response was a quick "Never."
"Maybe afterwards, yeah, but me being the person I am, you get no credit from me until you show it to me," he said. "When we're going 100 percent and you're going 100 percent and you beat me, I'll give you credit."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.
UTC tight end Troy Dye, left, puts his shoulder into defensive back Lucas Webb during the Mocs' spring Blue and White football game Saturday, April 18, 2015, at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga. The white team won 6-0.