Ground Game Showcased in White’s 31-7 Win in Spring Game

by The Horizon League

Sunday, Apr 19, 2015 8:39 am

The White team ran for 280 yards, including 115 from Martin Ruiz, to defeat the Red team 31-7 in the annual Youngstown State Red-White game to conclude the spring practice season on Friday evening at Stambaugh Stadium. The white squad was comprised of the first-team offense and the second-team defense, and the red squad featured the first-team defense the second-team offense.

Ruiz looked like he was ready for the fall with 115 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. The rising junior had 17 carries for 95 yards in the first half, which was played under normal timing rules. The second half featured a 30-minute running clock.

Ruiz had the game's first score on a 17-yard draw that he bounced outside with 9:55 left in the first quarter. Sophomore placekicker Connor McFadden was good from 40 yards to put the White squad up 10-0 with 6:11 left in the second quarter, and Andrew Williams got free open a double move and scored on a 35-yard pass from Hunter Wells with 1:07 left before halftime to put White up 17-0.

Wells scrambled for runs of 22 and 37 yards on white's first drive of the second half to set up Ruiz's second touchdown of the game. The tailback was stopped short of the goal line initially but bounced off a tackle to find paydirt and put White ahead 24-0. That was Wells' final drive of the game, and players began playing for both teams as the game went on.

Tanner Garry came in at quarterback and led the Red on its first scoring drive on its second drive of the half. He connected with Michael Callender on the longest play of the game, a 57-yard catch and run down to the 6, and Tevin McCaster scored on the next play to make the score 24-7.

The final score of the game came when Ricky Davis, who started for the Red team and moved to the White, hit I'tavious Harvin in the end zone from 27 yards out.

Garry was the top passer in the game with 120 yards on four completions.

The top defense held the top offense's passing game in check for the most part, allowing just 118 yards. Of the 118 yards, 62 came on two touchdown passes. The other 56 yards were on 16 attempts.

Wells finished 6-of-15 for 77 yards and a touchdown, and Davis was 5-for-14 for 61 yards and a score.

After Ruiz, McCaster ran for 87 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries while splitting time with both teams in the second half. Wells finished with 61 yards on the ground, and Demond Hymes had 37.

Callender led all receivers with 97 yards on four catches, and Williams and Harvin both had a pair of catches for more than 40 yards.

There were no turnovers in the game, and Ivan Adu-Poku recovered his own fumble on the only fumble of the game.

Safety Jameel Smith led all players with 11 tackles for the Red team, and Jaylin Kelly had all eight of his tackles in the first half. A pair of those tackles by the junior linebacker were behind the line of scrimmage, and the defenses combined for six sacks, eight tackles for loss and three pass breakups.

The Penguins will open camp in August with the season opener set for Sept. 5 at Pittsburgh.

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