FIU defense stands tall in the spring game
BY PETE PELEGRIN
ppelegrin@MiamiHerald.com
A good portion of the FIU defense missed spring practice with injuries, but fans wouldn't have known it watching the Golden Panthers' front seven in the team's annual Blue/White Spring Game on Friday night at FIU Stadium.
With a steady rush and relentless tackling, the defense dominated the offense to win the spring game 43-21.
''The defense took it to the offense, and I think it started up front,'' FIU coach Mario Cristobal said. ``It was a spring of just emphasizing getting off the football, creating push, disrupting the line of scrimmage. It had its effect [Friday]. The defense came out and pushed the offense around.''
Linebacker Scott Bryant gave a preview of the defensive barrage to come on the game's second play.
Bryant broke through the offensive line and tackled running back Darriet Perry in the backfield for a 5-yard loss.
The defense had five sacks and led 13-1 after the first quarter. The offense was awarded one point for getting three consecutive first downs.
''The defense improved throughout the whole spring,'' Bryant said. ``It was just amazing how we just came out and dominated the O-line. The front seven had to step it up.
``We had to set the tempo . . . and we did.''
FOUR INTERCEPTIONS
The defense, which received one point for each three-and-out, one point for each sack and three points for each turnover, got its first of four interceptions during the second quarter.
Safety Derrick Clark, who has had a terrific spring, intercepted quarterback Wayne Younger and returned it 60 yards to the offense's 10-yard line to make it 17-1 for the defense.
''Overall, the defensive line created those types of situations for us,'' Cristobal said of his defense forcing turnovers. ``The quarterback was hurried, had to leave the pocket. He had to force the ball, and when you force the ball, usually great things don't happen.''
The offense started to show some life late in the second quarter. Quarterback Paul McCall connected with Ty Frierson for a 44-yard pass to the defense's 26. The series ended with a 25-yard field goal by Dustin Rivest.
McCall completed 14 of 22 passes for 202 yards. Frierson led the receivers with four catches for 66 yards.
The defense led 24-5 at halftime.
The second half was more of the same for the defense, with the exception of the offense scoring two touchdowns. Mississippi State transfer quarterback Wesley Carroll led the scoring drives.
BATTLING BACK
Carroll, who was 11 of 17 for 110 yards and a touchdown, meticulously drove the Panthers down the field with short passes, and running back Brandon Paquette scored from 5 yards out.
Late in the fourth quarter, Carroll found receiver Junior Mertile in the corner of the end zone for a 35-yard touchdown pass.
''The competitive spirit comes out when you see that you're down,'' McCall said. ``You hate to have to wait that long, but we got going.
``We have to finish down in the red zone, and we know that as an offense. We just got to do a better job of that.''
(04-03-2009 11:30 PM)FIUFanatic Wrote: (04-03-2009 08:51 PM)posterchild Wrote: Today was the spring game and the defense won.
Lots of turnovers for the offense.
Hilton looked good and so did Mertile, Frierson had a couple of nice catch and runs.
A lot of recruits were there, including Michaelee Harris from Northwestern.
Pretty good day at The Cage....Willis Wright, Shawn Corker, and Ivan McCartney were there as well... this makes it 4 of Florida's best Wide Receivers were in attendance..