Fans of defensive football were all smiles Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium as Minnesota wrapped up its 2012 spring with the annual Maroon and Gold game. A lone 21-yard field goal from Chris Hawthorne proved to be the difference as the Maroon eked out 3-0 win in a shortened spring game that featured a running clock and just two 25-minute halves.
While jumbled lineups played havoc with the timing of both offenses, the defenses shined. The Maroon defense was particularly good, holding the Gold to just 47 yards and three first downs on eight possessions while not giving up a completed pass during the game.
Sophomore Michael Amaefula and the Maroon defensive line kept the Gold’s freshman quarterback duo of Philip Nelson and Mitch Leidner under constant pressure as the pair combined to go 0 for 8 passing. Amaefula led the unit with four tackles, including a pair of sacks, with redshirt freshman Gavin Bronson chipping in with two tackles for losses, including a sack. The unit also had four pass break-ups, two by redshirt freshman defensive back Steven Montgomery and one each by senior linebacker Ryan Grant and senior cornerback Michael Carter.
The Maroon offense, led by quarterbacks MarQuies Gray and Max Shortell, had its share of bright spots, totaling 209 yards and gaining nine first downs, but was unable to get into the end zone. Gray completed 4 of 8 passes for 62 yards, while Shortell was good on 4 of 10 attempts for 68 yards and led the games only scoring drive, marching the Maroon 71 yards on nine plays to open the second half.
Senior wide receiver Brandon Green led all receivers with three receptions for 59 yards, including a 35-yarder from Gray in the first half that was the longest play of the game. Senior Malcolm Moulton also hauled in a big play with his 33-yard reception from Shortell in the second half and finished the game with two catches for 35 yards.
Freshman running back JoJuan Harper finished the game with 44 yards on nine carries for the Maroon, with Shortell and junior running back James Gillum adding 30 and six yards each, respectively. Sophomore Donnell Kirkwood led the Gold rushing attack with 25 yards on five carries
Sophomore defensive back Cedric Thompson, junior linebacker James Manuel and sophomore defensive back Derrick Wells carried the load for the Gold defense. Thompson finished the game as the leading tackler with eight stops. Manuel collected five tackles, including a sack, and Wells was also credited with five stops.