CCSU's Annual Blue-White Spring Game Ends in 31-31 Tie, Dorsey Named MVP

The Central Connecticut football team played its annual Blue-White Scrimmage on Friday afternoon. The game ended in a 31-31 tie. Junior Marcus Dorsey earned MVP honors after intercepting two passes and recovering a fumble. All three plays led to points. Dorsey became the first defensive player to win the award under head coach Jeff McInerney. Junior quarterback Hunter Wanket and sophomore running back Kevin Woolfolk led the offenses. Wanket went 17-of-25 for 204 yards and a touchdown through the air. He also had a 49-yard touchdown run. Woolfolk, meanwhile, had a two-yard touchdown run set-up by a 55-yard scamper. CCSU, which has three more practices scheduled, will end its spring season on May 1.

"Today was a fun day," McInerney said. "Any time it looks like football and there's a crowd in the stands, I'm happy."

Freshman Nate Pagan carried the White Team to the game's first score. His runs set-up sophomore Joe Izzo's 34-yard field goal make. The Blue Team answered with Woolfolk. The Lopatcong, NJ native broke a 55-yard run down to the two and plunged in on the next play. An Izzo extra point made it 7-3 in favor of the Blue Team. They would not score again until the fourth quarter.

Dorsey recovered a fumble to start the first of three second quarter scoring drives by the White Team. Redshirt freshman Steve Smith connected with sophomore P.J. Borawski for a two-yard touchdown with 6:20 remaining in the opening half. The White Team stretched its lead to 17-7 just over two minutes later. A high snap recovered by sophomore Ricardo Gibson turned into an Aubrey Norris touchdown run. Norris, a junior, ran for 21 yards to get inside the five. He scored on a keeper from four yards out. Dorsey's first interception set the stage for the third White Team touchdown of the quarter. Dorsey intercepted Norris at the 23 yard line and returned it to the three. Wanket then found junior Richie Martin for a three-yard score with 39 ticks left in the half. Izzo's point after made it a 24-7 game. Norris set-up a field goal attempt for Izzo with a 40-yard pass to redshirt freshman Rob Fisher, but the effort went wide as time expired.

The passing game took over in the second half. Wanket started the half 7-of-8 for 64 yards for the Blue Team, but his ninth pass was picked off by Dorsey in the end zone. Wanket qauterbacked the White Team on its ensuing possession and completed passes of 52 yards to freshman Michael Easley and 25 yards to redshirt freshman Simeon Kelley. Freshman Nate Pagan capped the drive, stretching the lead to 31-7 with 5:55 remaining in the third quarter, with the first of his two touchdowns.

Pagan also had the first score of the fourth quarter, this time for the Blue Team. His one-yard run to paydirt started the 24-point rally. Junior James Mallory capped a Wanket-led drive with a four-yard touchdown score, and Wanket then went 49 yards on the ground to make it 31-28. Following a punt by freshman Greg Migdal, the Blue Team had one last opportunity. Aided by a pair of penalties, the offense got to the 20 yard line. Izzo's 30-yard effort as time expired split the uprights.

Wanket, Norris and Smith rotated between teams throughout the game. Wanket, who had a 14-of-18 performance in the second half, finished 17-of-25 for 204 yards and a touchdown. Norris went 13-of-23 for 134 yards, and Smith completed 7-of-14 passes for 62 yards and a touchdown. The quarterbacking trio totaled a 37-of-62 day for 400 yards. In addition to the 20-plus yard runs of Wollfolk, Wanket and Norris, freshman Alex Warden had a 21-yard carry. Warden, Pagan and freshman Dennis Spadaro handled the bulk of the carries for the White Team. Woolfolk, Mallory and freshman Shawn Gaines led the Blue Team's rushing attack.

On the defensive side of the ball, Dorsey finished with the two interceptions and a fumble recovery in his MVP effort. Gibson had the one fumble recovery, and seven players had sacks. Sophomore Dominick Tomanelli and freshman Rich Royster each had 1.5 sacks. Junior Ray Saunders, sophomore T.J. Radzilowski and redshirt freshman Dominic Giampietro each added one sack. Freshmen Ed Ubike and Charlie Williams both had half a sack.

Prior to the game, McInerney announced the six captains for the 2009 season. All rising seniors, Dorsey, Greg Grochowski, Mallory, Norris, Saunders and Wanket will lead the Blue Devils.

CCSU will open its fall at Lehigh on Saturday, Sept. 5. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.

NOTE: CCSU's spring season is not complete. The Blue Devils have three more practices, the last scheduled for May 1. For the complete spring schedule, click here.

Scoring
1st Quarter
White - Joe Izzo 34 yard field goal, 4:09, 3-0
Blue - Kevin Woolfolk 2 yard run, 1:22, 7-3 (Izzo kick)
2nd Quarter
White - P.J. Borawski 2 yard reception from Steve Smith, 6:20, 10-7 (Izzo kick)
White - Aubrey Norris 4 yard run, 4:11, 17-7 (Izzo kick)
White - Richie Martin 3 yard reception from Hunter Wanket, 00:39, 24-7 (Izzo kick)
3rd Quarter
White - Nate Pagan 2 yard run, 5:55, 31-7 (Izzo kick)
4th Quarter
Blue - Pagan 1 yard run, 11:08, 31-14 (Izzo kick)
Blue - James Mallory 4 yard run, 6:08, 31-21 (Izzo kick)
Blue - Wanket 49 yard run, 2:12, 31-28 (Izzo kick)
Blue - Izzo 30 yard field goal, 00:00, 31-31