Box Score
Millersville, Pa. - Quarterback
Bill Shirk and his wide receivers put on an aerial display under the lights Thursday for a strong contingent of Marauder faithful, leading the Black Team to a 24-0 win over the Gold Team in the annual Millersville football Black & Gold Spring Game.
Shirk, entering his third season as the team's starting quarterback, recovered from an early interception to complete 24-of-35 passes for 329 yards and two touchdown passes. He and running mate, wide receiver
Jamal Smith, hooked up 11 times for 129 yards and a score.
The pair, which connected 50 times for 11 touchdowns in the fall of 2009, led the Black Team with most of the first string offense. The GoldTeam was fronted by Millersville's first string defense and second string offense.
The Gold Team bottled up the running game, holding the Black Team to 14 yards on seven carries, but the passing attack was tough to stop, especially with the splendid performances of up-and-coming redshirt freshman
Dominic Sanders and junior-to-be
Matt Egenrieder.
"I'm really happy with how everybody played," said Shirk. "The wide receivers did a really nice job making plays after the catch. We had our timing down. The line did an excellent job blocking, and
Cardoza Jacks did a nice job stepping up and picking up the blitz."
After a scoreless first quarter, Shirk guided the Black Team on three scoring drives in the second quarter that included a 16-yard strike to Sanders, and a seven-yard TD to Smith as the half expired.
"Our young wide receivers have a lot of athletic ability," said Shirk. "Dom (Sanders) had a nice catch in the end zone. "Timing wise, that's a play that a third-year guy would make. We are excited to see what they can do this season."
The crispness of the passing game left the Black Team's offensive unit justifiably excited.
"We are so far ahead of where we were in the last game of (2009)," said Shirk. "This has to continue over the summer, though. A bunch of us are staying around campus to work out. We'll continue to get better."
"One of the biggest areas of strength is the passing game," said Smith. "Bill was out there firing the ball with a nice, tight spiral, making all the right reads. Everyone was on the same page. The young guys stepping in did really well. It seemed like everyone was catching a pass."
With young receivers emerging to compliment Smith and a lack of experience at the running back spot, the passing-happy attack shown Thursday may be a harbinger for the 2010 season.
"As a wide receiver I hope," said Smith. "But I just want to win. I want to get us in the right direction before I graduate. Definitely, the passing game could be a more prominent part of the offense, but if it isn't, that's fine too. As long as we are productive and win, that's what matters."
The Black Team's only miscues were forced by first-year player
Rees Judge, who twice intercepted Shirk from his safety position. The first pick came on the second play from scrimmage when a pass bounced off the chest of Egenrieder into the hands of Judge, who raced to the Black Team's nine yard line. The White Team, piloted by back-up quarterbacks
Thomas Wilmer and
Kevin Fowle failed to capitalize and eventually missed a field goal.
Judge halted a lengthy Black Team drive in the third quarter, as well. On the Black Team's first drive, Judge baited Shirk and stepped under Sanders for the interception, saving a touchdown and returning it 15 yards.
While Shirk and Smith picked on the Gold Team secondary most of the night, Smith came away impressed with the improvement of the Marauders' first team defense.
"We definitely have depth," said Smith. "We have some experience out there now. I think we might be even more talented on defense than we have on offense. Once (the defense) gets on the same page, they can be productive and have a good year."
Chad Miller, a 2009 All-PSAC East pick at defensive tackle and youngster
Doug Henninger both recorded sacks for the Gold defense. The Black defense was led by
Craig Gardner's nine stops.
Jacob Haines and
Antwain Brown-Barnes both recorded sacks, and newcomer
David Rene picked off a pass and totaled 15 return yards.
The Gold offense was slow to get started, but Wilmer finished the game 6-of-7 for 64 yards. Fowle completed 4-of-7 passes.
Dean May and
Chris Harmon, both of whom redshirted during the 2009 season, made three catches apiece.
Smith, now the elder statesman of the wide receivers, was impressed with his young teammates.
"This is only Harmon's second year of football, and he was out there snagging the ball, looking good," said Smith. "We have some size at wide receiver now. Some of our new guys are bigger than I am. Dom is going to be something special when he develops. He has raw talent."
Millersville is entering its third year under Coach
Greg Colby and returns more than 80 players and 15 seniors in the fall. The 2010 campaign opens at home on Sept. 4 against Assumption.