April 25, 2009
PITTSBURGH - Senior quarterback Kevin Rombach (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) completed 8-of-14 passes for 231 yards and three first-half touchdowns - including scoring strikes of 43 and 61 yards to sophomore Isaac Spragg (Westfield, Va./Valley Forge Military Academy) - to pace the offense in Duquesne's annual Spring game played before 300 fans at sun-drenched Rooney Field.
The first team offense put up 21 points against the second team defense in the first half of the controlled scrimmage that consisted of two 30 minute halves with a running clock. In the second half, the first team offense added 10 more points going against the first team defense.
The first team defense held the second team offense to 26 yards and picked off a pair of passes in the first 30 minutes.
"I was pleased that we were able to compete for the entire game on such a hot afternoon," said Duquesne head coach Jerry Schmitt referring to the 86 degree temperature at kickoff. "We did some good things execution-wise."
The first team offense looked sharp under the leadership of Rombach who found a wide open Spragg from 43 yards out on the first team offense's second possession to open the scoring. The first team defense stopped the second team offense on fourth-and-four to set up Rombach-to-Spragg again, this time from 61 yards out, for the second score of the first half. The first team offense made it three scores in three-straight possessions when Rombach found sophomore Akeem Moore (Pittsburgh, Pa./Brentwood) for a 34 yard touchdown to close out the first half scoring.
Freshman Charlie Leventry (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) added a 31-yard field goal on the first team offense's first possession of the second half. The first teamoffense capped the scoring with a one-yard touchdown plunge by Brian Smoot (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg).
Carl Kambui (Greenbelt, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) and Bill Poletti (Carnegie, Pa./Chartiers Valley) had one interception each for the defense. Tyler Scuggs (South Park, Pa./South Park), Mike Passodelis (Allison, Park, Pa./North Allegheny) and Chase Pinesett (Newport Beach, Calif./Mater Dei) combined for four sacks.
Freshman Larry McCoy (Wytheville, Va./George Wythe) led all ballcarriers with 71 yards on 11 carries, while Spragg led the receiving corps with two catches for 104 yards.
"Some of our younger guys showed some good things this afternoon," said Schmitt. "Larry McCoy ran the ball well and Isaac Spragg made a couple of nice catches. Overall, we had a productive spring."
Duquesne, which returns 15 starters from last year's 3-7 team, opens the 2009 season at home versus Bucknell on September 5.
