University of Colorado Athletics
Defense Rallies For 32-26 Win
April 19, 2003 | Football
BOULDER - The defense dined on steak, served by the bean-eating offense.
In the University of Colorado's spring football scoring system, a third-down sack by Marcus Jones and an interception by Marcus Moore in the last 85 seconds, gave the defense a 32-26 triumph and culinary superiority.
The intrasquad matchup, before 1,500 Saturday afternoon at Folsom Field, did not settle competitions in several positions, including quarterback, running back, and kicker.
Going in, Buffaloes Coach Gary Barnett vowed to name a starting quarterback at game's end provided one proved superior.
But that was not the case. And the competition between sophomore Joel Klatt, redshirt freshman James Cox and sophomore Erik Greenberg will continue into fall.
"I have to look at all the film, but at this point I'd say everything's still up in the air," Barnett said.
Based on his performance in spring practices and two previous scrimmages, Klatt, a former Pomona High star, topped the depth chart. Yet his goal Saturday was not necessarily earning Barnett's endorsement now.
"I don't think so,'' he said. "My goal was to run an efficient offense today and to put points on the board. And to do what we're taught to do. And if we all do those things, that was our goal as a quarterback group. And I think we did that today. There are things we need to improve on, but I think we're gonna be OK."
The trio of young signal callers did not expect to compete to start this early in their careers, but the transfer last season of then-junior Craig Ochs left a void.
Expired eligibility throughout the offense has Barnett seeking eight new starters. On defense, all but three starters return off a team that went 9-5 team and won the North Division of the Big 12 Conference.
"This isn't the kind of spring where you walk out and say, `OK, we're ready to go,'^'' Barnett said.
"This is the kind of spring where you walk out and say, `OK, we still have issues that have to be addressed and we're not going to get them addressed until fall camp now. Some of them will be addressed by getting some guys back. We have a large number of guys missing. That'll help a little bit, but you still gotta execute."
A dozen players missed the game due to injuries and five others are serving suspensions. Four players suffered minor injuries during the game.
That group included tackle Clint O'Neal, who sprained a knee. The lack of severity is encouraging, considering the lack of cohesion the line has enjoyed this spring. Tackle Gary Moore and guard Karl Allis were not able to participate until late spring due to injuries.
"Obviously, our offensive line's gotta have a great fall camp,'' Barnett said. "And our quarterbacks still have to battle it out. But I'm encouraged by the way they played."
The offense surrendered eight sacks for 54 yards and the quarterbacks were hurried eight times.
Working with the No. 1 offense, Klatt completed 11 of 18 passes with no interceptions, for 127 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown to D.J. Hackett.
Cox, of Simi Valley, Calif., completed four of 11 passes for 30 yards. He was sacked three times, including the last play of the game. Defensive end Matt McChesney, a 280-pounder, crushed him as he released a ball that was intercepted by Moorer. Adding injury to insult, Cox suffered a bruised elbow on the play.
Greenberg, formerly of Colorado Springs' Rampart High, connected on 12 of 23 attempts for 117 yards and a 7-yard TD pass to Hackett that was the first score for the offense. Among the other young players who impressed Barnett: redshirt freshman free safety Tyrone Henderson.
Henderson, of Oakland, made a game-leading seven tackles, two for losses.
Impressive newcomer Joe Klopfenstein, a sophomore-to-be from Aurora's Grandview High and a sure-handed and powerful 6-foot-5 tight end, finished with four receptions for 43 yards also was singled out for having a great spring by Barnett.
Because of injuries, including a re-strained neck sustained by weak safety Brian Iwuh, Henderson and sophomore strong safeties Kyle Griffith and Akarika Dawn played almost every play. On defense, Barnett also singled out McChesney, Gabe Nyenhuis, and Sammy Joseph.
Joseph, a redshirt freshman from Louisiana, and the brother of Buffs' assistant coach Vance Joseph, was honored at halftime as the most improved defensive player in spring drills. He broke up three passes and made five tackles.
"To be honest, I don't think it was one of my best scrimmages,'' Joseph said. "I missed a couple tackles. That was pretty crucial. But overall I think I did all right. Summer will be really important for me to get stronger."
Among the other position battles, the running back job is still up for grabs between Brian Calhoun and Bobby Purify.
Shortly after his best run, a 46-yarder which would have gone to the end zone if not for his slip on the rain-soaked field at the 29-yard line, Calhoun strained his hip and had to leave the game with eight carries for 55 yards. Purify gained 45 yards on 15 carries.
The kicking competition also remains contentious. Freshman Kevin Eberhart, who graduated from Broomfield High early in order to participate in spring ball, made his only field-goal attempt, from 25 yards.
J.T. Eberly, who appeared in three games last season, missed his only attempt, from 45 yards. And Justin Zaitz improved his standing with a 47-yarder on his only attempt.
Last season, the unreliability of the kicking game proved costly at times and the Buffs made only 11 of 26.
NOTES: The only injuries suffered Saturday were minor in nature, thus CU went through 15 practices this spring without sustaining a major injury... Jeremy Bllom returned to Boulder to watch his teammates, and in the second quarter he took the field and caught a punt in his street clothes. He was prompty tackled by three teammates who first picked him up and then gently laid him down before piling on him... The annual spring awards, as selected by the coaches, were presented at halftime: Fred Casotti Award (Outstanding Offensive Back): TB Brian Calhoun; Joe Romig Award (Outstanding Offensive Lineman): OG Marwan Hage; Hale Irwin Award (Outstanding Defensive Back): WS Brian Iwuh; Dan Stavely Award (Outstanding Defensive Lineman): DE Gabe Nyenhuis; Most Improved Offensive Player: WR Ron Monteilh; and Most Improved Defensive Player: CB Sammy Joseph... Fourteen players earned Spring Victory Club status: TB Brian Calhoun, DT Brandon Dabdoub, WR John Donahoe, OG Marwan Hage, WS Brian Iwuh, TE/LS Jake Jones, DE Matt McChesney, WR Derek McCoy, WR Ron Monteilh, FS Medford Moorer, DE Gabe Nyenhuis, TB Bobby Purify, ILB Sean Tufts and TE Jesse Wallace.
Statistics
DEFENSE 32, OFFENSE 26
Scoring format for defense: 1 point for stopping a drive on the short side of the 50; 3 points for stopping the offense on "three downs and out" on an initial possession; 4 points for forcing a field goal after a sudden change inside the 40-yard line; 5 points for a turnover (unless the turnover is naturally returned for a touchdown, then it's 6 points plus the PAT); 6 points for stopping the offense after a sudden change inside the 50-yard line (no FG).
Offense (Gold)...... 7 13 0 6 - 26 Defense (Black)..... 3 7 10 12 - 32 Offensive Scoring Drive Summary Drive 2--Hackett 7 pass from Greenberg (Eberly kick) Drive 3--Purify 1 run (Eberhart kick) Drive 5--Eberhart 25 FG Drive 6--Zaitz 47 FG. Drive 17--Hackett 9 pass from Klatt (pass failed) Weather-48 degrees, 71% humidity, winds from the north at 15 mph (light sprinkle at start) Attendance-1,500; Time-2:01 Team Statistics First Downs............. 26 by rushing............ 8 by passing............ 14 by penalty............ 4 Third Down Efficiency... 7-25 Percentage............ 28.9 Fourth Down Efficiency.. 1-1 Percentage............ 100.0 Rushing Attempts........ 47 yards gained.......... 166 yards lost............ 69 Net Rushing Yards....... 97 average per rush...... 2.1 Passing Attempts........ 56 passes completed...... 28 had intercepted....... 1 Net Passing Yards....... 287 Sacked/Yards Lost....... 8-54 Total Plays/Yards....... 103 Total Yards............. 384 average per play...... 3.7 Offensive Penalties..... 5-30 Defensive Penalties..... 6-52 Fumbles-Lost............ 0-0 Rushing Att Yards Avg. TD Long Brian Calhoun 8 55 6.9 0 46 Bobby Purify 15 45 3.0 1 21 Brandon Caesar 8 25 3.1 0 5 Joel Klatt 2 14 7.0 0 18 Colt Brennan 5 7 1.4 0 6 Lawrence Vickers 2 1 0.5 0 1 Ben Carpenter 1 -6 -6.0 0 -6 Erik Greenberg 3 -21 -7.0 0 -7 James Cox 3 -23 -7.7 0 -4 Totals 47 97 2.1 1 46 Passing Att-Com-Int Pct. Yards TD Long Sacked Joel Klatt 18-11-0 61.1 127 1 26 0/ 0 Erik Greenberg 23-12-0 52.2 117 1 25 3/21 James Cox 11- 4-1 36.4 30 0 11 3/23 Colt Brennan 4- 1-0 25.0 13 0 13 1/ 4 Ben Carpenter 1- 0-0 0.0 0 0 0 1/ 6 Totals 56-28-1 50.0 287 2 26 8/54 Receiving No. Yards Avg. TD Long John Donahoe 6 51 8.5 0 11 Joe Klopfenstein 4 43 10.8 0 25 D.J. Hackett 4 36 9.0 2 15 Barry Kunkel 2 34 17.0 0 23 Derek McCoy 2 34 17.0 0 26 Ron Monteilh 2 24 12.0 0 19 Mike Duren 2 22 11.0 0 12 Brandon Caesar 2 6 3.0 0 4 Brian Calhoun 1 17 17.0 0 17 Tyler Littlehales 1 13 13.0 0 13 Marcus Gonzales 1 5 5.0 0 5 Lawrence Vickers 1 2 2.0 0 2 Totals 28 287 10.3 2 26 Field Goals FG-FGA Pct. (distances) Kevin Eberhart 1- 1 100.0 25 Justin Zaitz 1- 1 100.0 47 J.T. Eberly 0- 1 0.0 45s (l-wide left; r-wide right; s-short; b-blocked) Punting No. Yards Avg. Long Blk In20 John Torp 9 302 33.6 47 0 1 J.P. Heaton 2 66 33.0 39 0 0 Punt Returns None (no live returns) Kickoff Returns None (no live returns) Interception Returns No. Yards Avg. TD Long Marcus Moore 1 15 15.0 0 15 Fumble Returns No. Yards Avg. TD Long None TACKLES UT AT-TOT TFL QBS Tyrone Henderson 7 4- 11 2- 7 1- 5 Sean Tufts 6 2- 8 2-11 1- 8 James Ackermann 5 2- 7 Akarika Dawn 4 2- 6 Sammy Joseph 4 1- 5 Kyle Griffith 3 2- 5 1- 8 1- 8 Matt McChesney 2 3- 5 1-12 1-12 Sam Wilder 2 3- 5 1- 4 Medford Moorer 2 3- 5 Chris Hollis 2 2- 4 Brian Iwuh 2 1- 3 1- 1 Andrew Ward 1 2- 3 Marcus Jones 2 0- 2 1- 4 1- 4 Marcus Moore 2 0- 2 Allen Mackey 2 0- 2 Sam Richmond 2 0- 2 Brendan Ottoboni 2 0- 2 1- 4 1- 4 James Garee 1 1- 2 1- 6 1- 6 Brendan Dabdoub 1 1- 2 Vaka Manupuna 1 0- 1 1- 7 1- 7 Gabe Nyenhuis 0 1- 1 FUMBLE RECOVERIES (0). FORCED FUMBLES (0). PASSES BROKEN UP (13)-M.Moore 4, Joseph 3, Griffith 2, Henderson 1, Ackermann 1, Mackey 1, McChesney 1. HURRIES (8)-Garee 2, Ackermann 1, Dabdoub 1, Ligon 1, McChesney 1, Nyenhuis 1, Ottoboni 1. THIRD DOWN STOPS (9)-Ackermann 1, Dabdoub 1, Griffith 1, Henderson 1, Jones 1, Joseph 1, M. Moore 1, Ottoboni 1, Tufts 1. TOUCHDOWN SAVES (1)-M.Moore.
PLAY-BY-PLAY
DRIVE #1 (1O vs. 1D)
1-10 O25 *Klatt. Klatt passes incomplete over the middle, intended for Donahoe
2-10 O25 Klatt passes complete to Monteilh for 5 yards (Joseph)
3- 5 O30 PENALTY: false start on the offense/5 yards
3-10 O25 Klatt's pass for Donahoe is broken up by M. Moore.
4-10 O25 Torp punts for 20 yards, out of bounds.
BLACK (Defense) 3, GOLD (Offense) 0
DRIVE #2 (2O vs. 2D)
1-10 D45 *Greenberg. Caesar over right tackle for 5 yards (Jones)
2- 5 D40 Greenberg's pass is incomplete, intended for diZerega
3- 5 D40 Greenberg passes complete to Caesar for 2 yards (Mackey)
4- 3 D38 Greenberg passes complete to Klopfenstein for 6 yards (Dawn)
1-10 D32 Greenberg passes complete to Klopfenstein for 5 yards (Dawn)
2- 5 D27 Caesar over right tackle for 2 yards (Ackermann)
3- 3 D25 Caesar over right tackle for 3 yards (Henderson)
1-10 D22 Greenberg passes complete to Klopfenstein for 7 yards (Griffith)
2- 3 D15 Caesar up the middle for 5 yards (Garee)
1- G D10 Caesar up the middle for 3 yards (Ackermann)
2- G D 7 Greenberg's pass is incomplete, intended for Hackett
3- G D 7 Greenberg passes complete to Hackett for 7 yards and a touchdown
PAT kick by Eberly is good.
SCORING DRIVE: 12 plays, 45 yards. PAT kick by Eberly is good.
BLACK (Defense) 3, GOLD (Offense) 7
DRIVE #3 (1O vs. 1D)
1-10 O25 *Cox. Purify breaks out around the left side and gains 21 (Dawn)
1-10 O46 Cox scrambles to his right, completes pass to Donahoe for 10 (Donahoe slid down)
1-10 D44 Cox passes incomplete, intended for Wallace
2-10 D44 Cox passes complete to Donahoe for 11 (Ward)
1-10 D33 PENALTY: offsides on the defense/5 yards
1- 5 D28 Purify up the middle for 0 (Dabdoub)
2- 5 D28 Cox rolls to his right, sacked by Tufts from behind for a loss of 4;
PENALTY: deadball foul, personal foul on the defense/15 yards
1-10 D17 Cox passes complete in the right flat to Vickers for 2 (Iwuh)
2- 8 D15 Purify around right tackle for 1 (Iwuh)
3- 7 D14 Cox passes incomplete, intended for Donahoe;
PENALTY: pass interference on the defense/12 yards (no play)
1- G D 2 Purify tries the right side for 1 (Tufts)
END OF THE FIRST QUARTER
2- G D 1 Purify goes left this time and gets it into the end zone just short of the
pylon for a touchdown
SCORING DRIVE: 11 plays, 75 yards. PAT kick by Eberhart is good.
BLACK (Defense) 3, GOLD (Offense) 14
DRIVE #4 (2O vs. 2D)
1-10 O25 *Greenberg. Vickers tries the right side for 0 (Iwuh)
2-10 O25 Greenberg rolls to the left, passes incomplete intended for Klopfenstein
3-10 O25 Greenberg passes incomplete, intended for Judge
4-10 O25 Torp punts 35 yards to the D40, Duren returns 14 yards BLACK (Defense) 6, GOLD (Offense) 14
DRIVE #5 (1O vs. 1D)
1-10 O40 *Klatt. Klatt passes complete on the left wing to McCoy for 26 (M.Moore)
1-10 D34 Calhoun up the middle for 10 yards (Dawn)
1-10 D24 Calhoun tries the left side for 0 (Nyenhuis)
2-10 D24 Klatt tries the left side but didn't fool the defense in losing 4 (Wilder)
3-14 D28 Klatt passes complete in the right flat to Calhoun for 17 (Joseph)
1-10 D11 Klatt passes incomplete, intended for Donahoe
2-10 D11 Calhoun up the middle for 2 (McChesney)
3- 8 D 9 Klatt passes incomplete, intended for McCoy; PENALTY: defensive holding/5 yards
1- G D 4 PENALTY: false start on the offense/ 5 yards
1- G D 9 Calhoun tries to break free on the left side but loses 5 (Tufts)
2- G D14 Klatt passes incomplete, intended for McCoy
3- G D14 Klatt passes complete to Donahoe for 6;
PENALTY: illegal procedure on the offense (declined)
4- G D 8 Eberhart tries and converts a 25-yard field goal attempt (partially blocked)
SCORING DRIVE: 11 plays, 60 yards.
BLACK (Defense) 6, GOLD (Offense) 17
DRIVE #6 (2O vs. 2D)
1-10 O35 *Greenberg. Caesar dances through the middle for 4 (Hollis)
2- 6 O39 Greenberg passes incomplete, intended for diZerega
3- 6 O39 Greenberg passes complete to Duren for 12 (Richmond)
1-10 D49 Greenberg passes complete to Duren for 10 (Richmond)
1-10 D39 Greenberg passes complete to Klopfenstein for 25 yards (pushed out by Mackey)
1-10 D14 Vickers goes right and breaks out for 11 (Hollis);
PENALTY: holding on the offense/10 yards
1-20 D24 Caesar up the middle for 2 (Ackermann)
2-18 D22 Greenberg passes incomplete over the middle to Klopfenstein, broken up by
Henderson
3-18 D22 Greenberg drops back to pass and is sacked by Griffith for a loss of 8
4-26 D30 Zaitz tries and converts a 47-yard field goal attempt
SCORING DRIVE: 9 plays, 35 yards.
BLACK (Defense) 6, GOLD (Offense) 20
DRIVE #7 (1O vs. 1D)
1-10 O25 *Cox. Purify scoots through the right side for 6 (M. Moore, Dabdoub)
2- 4 O31 Cox drops back and is sacked for a loss of 12 by McChesney
3-16 O19 Cox passes incomplete
4-16 O19 Heaton punts 27 yards to Jeremy Bloom (special cameo appearance).
BLACK (Defense) 9, GOLD (Offense) 20
DRIVE #8 (2O vs. 2D)
1-10 D46 Greenberg. Greenberg drops back and is sacked by Garee for a loss of 6 yards.
2-16 O48 Greenberg passes complete to Kunkel in the right flat for 23 (Hollis)
1-10 O29 Greenberg's is intercepted by Joseph at the O18, returns 9;
PENALTY: interference on the defense/10 yards FIRST DOWN PENALTY
1-10 O19 Greenberg drops back and is sacked by Manupuna for a loss of 7
2-17 O26 Greenberg passes incomplete, intended for Judge
3-17 O26 (0:08) Greenberg rolls right, passes incomplete, intended for Judge
(broken up by Joseph)
DEFENSE AWARDED ONE POINT FOR STOPPING OFFENSE INSIDE THE 20
END OF THE FIRST HALF
BLACK (Defense) 10, GOLD (Offense) 20
DRIVE #9 (1O vs. 1D)
1-10 D25 Klatt. Calhoun scoots through the middle for 46 yards (M. Moore)
1-10 O29 Calhoun tries the middle again for 7 (Moorer)
2- 3 O22 Calhoun over the right side for 1 (Tufts)
3- 2 O21 Calhoun goes left but hits a wall of defenders and loses 6 (Tufts)
4- 8 O27 Eberly tries a 45-yard field goal that falls short
DRIVE #10 (2O vs. 2D)
1-10 D28 Brennan. Brennan had foot stepped on, loses 2
2-12 D26 Brennan scrambles around the left side for 5 (Ackermann)
3- 7 D31 Brennan passes incomplete, intended for Creighton
4- 7 D31 Torp punts 39 yards to the D30. BLACK (Defense) 13, GOLD (Offense) 20
DRIVE #11 (1O vs. 1D)
1-10 O31 Cox. Cox' pass is broken up in the backfield by Griffith.
2-10 O31 PENALTY: offside on the defense/5 yards.
2- 5 O36 Cox' pass is intended for Hackett, broken up by M. Moore
3- 5 O36 Cox is sacked for a loss of 7 by Nyenhuis
4-12 O29 Torp punts 47 yards to the D24 BLACK (Defense) 16, GOLD (Offense) 20
DRIVE #12 (2O vs. 2D)
1-10 O25 Greenberg. Greenberg passes complete to M.Gonzales for 5 (Richmond)
2- 5 O30 Greenberg passes incomplete, intended for Littlehales
3- 5 O30 Greenberg passes complete to Caesar in the right flat for 4 (Griffith)
4- 1 O34 Heaton punts to the D27 for 39 yards BLACK (Defense) 19, GOLD (Offense) 20
DRIVE #13 (1O vs. 1D)
1-10 O27 Klatt. Purify tries the right side and is dragged down for a loss of 1
(Henderson)
2-10 O26 Klatt passes complete to Hackett for 15 (Henderson)
1-10 O41 Purify carries up the middle for 3 (Ward, Moorer)
2- 7 O44 Klatt passes complete to McCoy for 8 (Joseph)
1-10 D48 Purify up the middle for 1 (Wilder)
2- 9 D47 Klatt passes complete to Donahoe for 8 (Joseph)
3- 1 D39 PENALTY: illegal procedure on the offense/ 5 yards
3- 6 D44 Klatt passes incomplete, intended for Hackett (broken up by Joseph)
4- 6 D44 Torp punts to the D16 for 28 yards
DRIVE #14 (2O vs. 2D)
1-10 O16 Greenberg. Greenberg passes complete to Kunkel for 11 (Ackermann)
1-10 O27 Caesar up the middle for 1 (Manupuna)
2- 9 O28 Greenberg tries to pass but takes a hit from Garee as he attempts to throw
3- 9 O28 Greenberg passes incomplete, not clear who it was intended for
4- 9 O28 Torp punts to the D46 for 26 yards
BLACK (Defense) 20, GOLD (Offense) 20
DRIVE #15 (1O vs. 1D)
1-10 O46 Cox. Purify up the middle for 2 (McChesney)
2- 8 O48 PENALTY: illegal procedure on the offense / 5 yards
END OF THE THIRD QUARTER.
2-13 O43 Purify tries the middle for 0 (Hollis)
3-13 O43 Cox passes incomplete, intended for Hackett
4-13 O43 Torp punts to the D18 for 39 yards
BLACK (Defense) 23, GOLD (Offense) 20
DRIVE #16 (2O vs. 2D)
1-10 O18 Brennan. Brennan rolls right, gains 2 (Ackermann, Griffith)
2- 8 O20 Brennan passes incomplete, intended for ?, broken up by Manupuna
3- 8 O20 Brennan passes complete to Littlehales for 13 (Griffith)
1-10 O33 Brennan drops back to pass and is sack by Ottoboni for a loss of 4
2-14 O29 Brennan jukes up the middle for 6 (Ottoboni)
3- 8 O35 Brennan passes incomplete, intended for Judge
4- 8 O35 Torp punts to the D29 for 36 yards
BLACK (Defense) 24, GOLD (Offense) 20
DRIVE #17 (1O vs. 1D)
1-10 O30 Klatt. Klatt passes complete to Donahoe for 9 (Dawn)
2- 1 O39 Klatt passes incomplete, intended for Hackett (pass defense: M.Moore)
3- 1 O39 Purify over left guard for 1 (Ward)
1-10 O40 Klatt passes complete to Monteilh along the right sidelines for 19 (Henderson)
1-10 D41 Klatt passes complete to Hackett on the right side for 5 (Mackey)
2- 5 D36 Purify tries the left side, breaks through for 7 (Tufts)
1-10 D29 Klatt passes incomplete, intended for McCoy
2-10 D29 Purify up the middle for 1 (Wilder)
3- 9 D28 Klatt on the quarterback draw for 18 (Joseph)
1- G D10 Purify tries the right side for 1 (Moorer)
2- G D 9 Klatt hits a streaking Hackett over the middle for 9 and a touchdown
SCORING DRIVE: 11 plays, 70 yards.
Two-point pass from Klatt to Vickers falls incomplete.
BLACK (Defense) 24, GOLD (Offense) 26
DRIVE #18 (2O vs. 2D)
1-10 O25 (1:38) Carpenter. Vickers up the middle for 1 (Dawn)
2- 9 O26 (1:29) Carpenter's pass to Goettsch is incomplete.
3- 9 O26 (1:25) Carpenter is sacked by Jones for a loss of 6
4-15 O20 (1:07) Torp punts to the D48 for 32 yards
BLACK (Defense) 27, GOLD (Offense) 26
DRIVE #19 (1O vs. 1D)
1-10 O48 (1:00) Cox. Cox passes complete over the middle to Donahoe for 7 (M. Moore)
2- 3 D45 (0:38) Cox passes incomplete, intended for McCoy
3- 3 D45 (0:33) Cox' pass is intercepted by M. Moore at the D34, returned 15 to the D49
(Allis) McChesney hit Cox to cause interception.
BLACK (Defense) 32, GOLD (Offense) 26
