Grand Forks, N.D. - Nearly 700 North Dakota football supporters turned out for the team's final session of spring practices as the team scrimmaged for roughly 60 plays during a sunny morning at Memorial Stadium.
After getting their legs loose and juices flowing with some pin-the-hip tempo, the defense set the tone for the live session by stopping the offense on four consecutive short-yardage situations. The unit would go onto to pile up nine tackles for loss and seven touch-up sacks on the quarterbacks during the session.
"We have had a pretty balanced spring. Whenever we went competitively, the offense made some plays some days and the defense did on others," UND head coach Bubba Schweigert said. "Today was no different, but what we are looking for is consistency and that is the goal.
"We are coaching our own team, so it's hard to guage (who came out ahead) at times, but we sure want guys to play with energy. If there is one thing you have to look at with our offense, early in the scrimmage, we (needed) to be much more competitive in those short-yardage situations. I thought, defensively, that is where we were ahead a little bit today (with) the competitive spirit."
The defense also came up with four turnovers, picking off junior quarterback Ryan Bartels twice and recovering two fumbles.
Senior Javen Butler and sophomore Drew Greely each had two sacks to pace the defense and teamed up to force and recover one of those fumbles, respectively, as well.
Senior Domo Blackmon was the top tackler on the day with five total take downs and the Avon, Ind., native also had two pass break-ups. Redshirt freshman Austin Cieslak also put together a solid day with four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery.
As dominant as the defense was at times, the offense still managed to move the ball behind the direction of Bartels and sophomore Keaton Studsrud. The duo completed 18-of-30 passes for 219 yards and four touchdowns. Bartels went 10-for-15 for 86 yards, three TDs and two interceptions, while Studsrud went 8-for-15 for 133 yards and a touchdown pass.
Three of those passing scores came on offensive plays that started inside the 10-yard line. The offense did sustain two drives of 50 yards or longer that resulted in points.
Bartels engineered a nine-play, 50-yard drive that was capped by a 1-yard touchdown pass to junior Clive Georges on 4th-and-1. Georges finished with four catches for 55 yards.
Sophomore Josh Seibel was the leading receiver during the scrimmage, catching four passes for 93 yards. He had a 19-yard grab and a scrimmage-long, 43-yard reception on nine-play, 60-yard drive led by Studsrud. Seibel's 43-yard catch-and-run came on a 3rd-and-16. Sophomore Mitch Meindel finished off the drive with a a 27-yard field goal.
"Offensively, we made some big plays and changed field position, so I was happy to see that," Schweigert added. "Obviously, we have to take care of the ball. If we want to play the way we want to play, we have to take care of the football and do a better job of that.
The defense held the ground game in check for the most part as the seven sacks aided in an effort that saw the offense net 22 yards on 21 true carries.
Sophomore Patrick Sharp had the most efficient day of the running backs, carrying three times for nine yards.
Practice Notebook
Of the 73-man roster for spring football, 20 were kept out of action during the final scrimmage ... At last season's spring game in the Alerus Center, six different players caught passes, but none of them were amongst the seven receivers that hauled in receptions on Saturday ... Only sophomore Patrick Sharp had carries last season in the spring game and did so again this season ... Head coach Bubba Schweigert limited the reps of several of his defensive starters that have already proven what they can do in his system ... Senior Will Ratelle was in only six snaps and had 1.5 tackles for loss during that stretch ... There was a full officiating crew on hand to help run the scrimmage and both coordinators were situated at the top of Memorial Stadium calling plays down on their headsets ... The quarterbacks were the only players not live during the scrimmage resulting in seven touch-up sacks ... Sophomore Keaton Studsrud did elude the rush on a couple of plays to make down-field throws that extended drives ... President Robert Kelley and First Lady Marcia Kelley were amongst the spectators enjoying a sunny morning at Memorial Stadium ... Midco Sports Network was also on site filming interviews and highlights for a special Spring Football Show that will air on Thursday at 9 p.m. CT ... Representatives from WDAZ, Fox Fargo and the Grand Forks Herald were also covering the spring-closing scrimmage.
Unofficial Stats
Quarterbacks
Ryan Bartels (10-for-15, 86 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs)
Keaton Studsrud (8-for-15, 133 yards, 1 TD)
Running Backs
Patrick Sharp (3 rushes for 9 yards)
Ja'Won Arrington (4 rushes for -5 yards)
Kyle Norberg (6 rushes for 9 yards)
Oscar Nevermann (6 rushes for 6 yards)
Receivers
Josh Seibel (4 rec. for 93 yards)
Clive Georges (4 rec. for 55 yards, 1 TD)
Luke Stanley (4 rec. for 24 yards, 1 TD)
Miguel Cerriteno (3 rec. for 22 yards, 1 TD)
Luke Mathewson (1 rec. for 7 yards, 1 TD)
Patrick Sharp (1 rec. for 12 yards)
Oscar Nevermann (1 rec. for 6 yards)
Defense (total, solo, asst, sacks)
Dayo Idowu (3 tackles, 1.0 sack)
Jake Disterhaupt (3 tackles, 1.5 TFLs)
Taj Rich (2 tackles, 0.5 TFL)
Austin Cieslak (4 tackles, 1.5 TLFs, 1 FR)
Dylan Bakker (2 tackles, 1.0 TFL)
Jordan Hinojosa (2 tackles, 1.0 TFL)
Domo Blackmon (5 tackles, 2 PBUs)
Will Ratelle (1.5 TFLs)
Chris Carter (4 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 1 PBU)
Javen Butler (2.0 sacks, 1 FF)
Connor O'Brien (2 tackles)
Brian Labat (2 tackles, 1.0 sack)
Drew Greely (2.0 sacks, 1 FR)
Tank Harris (1 tackle)
Deion Harris (2 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU)
Tahje Hartley (2 tackles)
Hudson Walton (2 tackles)
Jawon Johnson (3 tackles)
Chris Brown (1 tackle)
Jake Hanson (2 tackles)
William James (1 PBU)
Garrett Bolant (1 INT)
-- UND --
