Butler, Devlin Lead Way as Univ. of Delaware Football Closes Out Spring with Blue-White Scrimmage The Blue team (offense) posted a 78-70 win over the White (defense) using a unique scoring system that credited points to the offense based on touchdowns, field goals, and first downs.
Photo: Mark Campbell; www.bluehens.com - RB Jerry Butler ran for 103 yards and QB Pat Devlin (pictured) threw for 304 yards as Delaware closed out the spring season with the annual Blue-White Spring Scrimmage Friday night.
NEWARK, Del. -- Senior running back Jerry Butler ran for 103 yards and scored a touchdown and junior quarterback Pat Devlin threw for 304 yards and another score as the University of Delaware football team closed out the spring season with the annual Blue-White Spring Scrimmage Friday night at Delaware Stadium.
The Blue team (offense) posted a 78-70 win over the White (defense) using a unique scoring system that credited points to the offense based on touchdowns, field goals, and first downs and to the defense based on turnovers, defensive stops, and touchdowns. Butler’s two-yard touchdown on the final play of the scrimmage proved to be the difference for the Blue team.
The Blue Hens took part in over 100 plays from scrimmage on the evening before a crowd of approximately 2,000 on a crystal clear night. The crowd included over 200 Delaware football alumni who returned to campus for a day of golf, barbecue, and the game. The group included current NFL players Joe Flacco (Ravens) and Mike Adams (Brown) as well as former NFL players Rich Gannon, Scott Brunner, Tim Jacobs, and George Schmitt, current Arena League star Matt Nagy, and several other former All-Americans.
“It was a great effort tonight,” said Delaware eight-year head coach K.C. Keeler, whose team is looking to bounce back from an uncharacteristic 4-8 mark in 2008. “You only get 15 practices in the spring, but I think we made progress. We competed tonight and you could see that we are getting better. We will be a better team this fall and I’m happy with the direction we are going. I thought Pat and Sean (Hakes) played well at quarterback, in fact Sean was one of our most improved players this spring. It’s exciting to know that we have two quarterbacks making big strides. It was also good to see our defense pick up its intensity. Overall, it was a great day for Delaware football with all the former players coming back.”
Butler, a third-year transfer who had just 42 carries a year ago but made a mark by returning two kickoffs for touchdowns, was the leading ground-gainer as he picked up 103 yards on just seven carries, including a 75-yard run that come up short of the goal line and the one-yard scoring run to end the game.
Junior Philip Thaxton ran for 31 yards and redshirt freshman David Hayes, who was named the team’s Most Improved Offensive Player for spring drills, gained 24 yards on 10 carries and scored on a two-yard run.
Devlin, a first-year transfer from Penn State where he was the top backup a year ago, enjoyed an outstanding night as he completed 24 of 31 passes for 304 yards, including a 75-yard toss to redshirt freshman Fritz Steuber and a 18-yard
