KUTZTOWN, PA (April 17, 2010) – Freshman wide receiver Jake Cahill caught five passes for 120 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown on the third play from scrimmage to ignite the Gold Team to a 17-7 victory over the Maroon Team in the annual Maroon & Gold Spring Football Game at University Field Saturday afternoon. (PHOTO GALLERY)
Cahill also hauled in a 32-yard pass late in the second quarter to help set up Matt Dineen's 18-yard field goal that gave the Gold Team a 10-0 halftime lead. Dineen was a first-team all-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division selection last year.
Four of Cahill's five catches went for double digits. Redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin Morton passed for 212 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Morton's second touchdown pass was a 44-yard rocket to Troy Foster (Chester, PA/Ridley) in the fourth quarter.
Cahill's memorable afternoon helped make a winner of honorary Gold Team coach and former Kutztown University Sports Information Director Josh Leiboff.
Leading the Maroon Team was running back D.J. Harrison, who gained 83 yards on 10 carries. Harrison scored the only touchdown for the Maroon Team, a 39-yard jaunt midway through the third quarter that made the score, 10-7. The Maroon Team was coached by Tom Stewart, a Professor of Academic Enrichment, Director of Tutoring Services, Director of Summer Studies and Director of Academic Support for Student-Athletes.
At halftime, head football coach Raymond Monica presented Lance Malatak with the Most Improved Defensive Player Award and Zach Snyder with the Most Improved Offensive Player Award. Last season, Snyder caught five passes for 42 yards including a 7-yard touchdown catch against Slippery Rock University. Meanwhile, Malatak saw action in a game against Cheyney last season. Both players are expected to be key contributors this season.
“Lance lost a lot of weight and really improved his quickness to the football,” head coach Ray Monica said. “Zach has been a very consistent player for us and he's gotten better and better.”
Snyder was thrilled and shocked to receive the highest spring honor from the coaching staff.
“I just want to thank all of the coaches for recognizing me,” Snyder said. “Also, the wide receivers were also a part of me of winning this award because they always push me in practice. Last year was a good experience and I learned a lot. It's much more mental than physical on this level.”
Defensively, Kevin Bolinsky had two sacks. He was third in the PSAC last year in sacks with 9.5. Also recording a sack was Bryce Martin and Matt Kaminakas. Three players had interceptions: Ardee Burno, Jason Ulmer and Kyle Anthony. There were plenty of high speed collisions and several outstanding open-field tackles.
The longest drive of the game belonged to the Maroon Team, a 17-play, 65-yard drive that ate up 8 minutes, 33 seconds of the fourth quarter. However, the drive stalled at Gold Team's 4-yard line when Chris Davidson (Lancaster, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) batted away a pass on fourth-and-goal.
The annual Maroon & Gold Spring Game marks the end of spring practice for the Golden Bears. KU will open the 2010 season with two home games, against St. Anselm on Sept. 4 and Mercyhurst on Sept. 11. Overall, the Golden Bears will play six home games. For the complete 2010 schedule, click here.
Notes: The Maroon & Gold Spring Game was played with a running clock, only stopping when there was a change of possession. The rules for punting and kickoffs varied, with only the kicker or punter and the returner taking the field. The ball was advanced 20 yards from the spot where the kickoff was received and after punts, the offense set up where the catch was made.
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