April 30, 2011
Photo Gallery
Bronx, N.Y. -
While the Fordham offense had some initial difficulties moving the ball early in the game, a player making his first career appearance as a running back helped the offense move the ball in the second half as the offense scored four times in the annual Fordham Spring Football game on Murphy Field.
Blake Wayne, who started the first seven games at quarterback last year for the Rams before suffering an injury, participated most of the spring at wide receiver. But due to injuries at running back he lined up in the backfield and responded with 15 carries for 102 yards and one touchdown.
"This was a great way to wrap up the spring season," said head coach Tom Masella. "We played well and relatively error-free and Blake Wayne showed us that he is a jack of all trades. We will work on getting him the ball as much as possible. We still have a ways to go but this was a great way to end the spring and get ready for the 2011 season."
The Rams used two quarterbacks in the game, junior Ryan Higgins, who replaced Wayne as the starter for the last four games of 2010, and sophomore Griffin Murphy, who missed all of last year with an injury. Higgins completed eight of 13 passes for 104 yards while Murphy completed ten of 26 passes for 149 yards. Murphy threw two touchdown passes with Higgins throwing one.
The offense got off to a slow start as the defense forced the unit to a three-and-out on the first four offensive possessions, allowing just 19 total yards on 12 plays.
On the fifth offensive possession the offense started on its own 47 and after rushes from Murphy and Darryl Whiting gained six yards, Murphy found Greg Wilson with an eight-yard completion to give the offense its first first down of the game. Whiting picked up 15 yards on first down an four more on the next to place the ball on the defense's 20 but the drive stalled there and a Patrick Murray 35-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Ian Williams.
Mark Harvey helped the offense pick up another first down on the next possession, gaining 14 yards on two rushes but three straight Murphy incomplete passes halted the drive.
The offense moved from its own 29 to midfield on the ensuing possession but Higgins was sacked on third down and the offense punted the ball away.
Taking over on its own 12 following the punt, Whiting gained ten yards on second down and the offense then gained another first down on a pass interference penalty. Three straight four yards gains gave the offense a first down on its own 45. Wayne gained six yards on a first down rush but the offense was then faced with fourth down and the 45 when Murphy found Harvey with a nine-yard pass to move the ball across midfield. After advancing to the defense's 40 the offense couldn't convert on a fourth down play as
Paul Barchitta sacked Murphy for a loss of eight.
After Nick Womack intercepted a Higgins pass, the teams had the final drive of the first half where the offense moved to the defense's 33 but a Murphy fourth down pass to the end zone was deflected by Robert Palmer.
The second half didn't start out much better for the offense as the defense forced three punts and the offense tuned the ball over on downs once in the first four possessions. But on the fifth drive Wayne went to work, picking up 13 yards on the first two plays before a 24-yard carry put the ball on the six. On the next play Wayne covered the six yards for the first touchdown of the day with Kevin Heinowitz adding the extra point.
The offense used that momentum to score three plays later when Murphy found Andrew Spanarkel deep down the right side with a 55-yard scoring strike and, three plays later, Higgins connected with Greg Wilson on a 40-yard scoring pass.
On the last series, Murphy moved the offense moved from its own 25 to the defense's 28 where he connected with Aaron Mays with a scoring strike to close out the game.
Whiting gained 83 yards on 17 carries while Nick Talbert caught four passes for 32 yards and Harvey grabbed four passes for 29 yards while Wilson finished with three catches for 71 yards and Spanarkel had two for 82 yards.
Defensively, Dan Perrino made five tackles, three solo, while Michael Martin and Andy Okonkwo each added four more, two solo.
Fordham Spring Game
April 30, 2011 - Murphy Field
Offense
Rushing (Attempts-Yards):
Blake Wayne 15-102; Darryl Whiting 17-83; Mark Harvey 7-26; Griffin Murphy 7-17, Ryan Higgins 3-0.
Passing (Completion-Attempts-Interceptions-Yards-TDs):
Ryan Higgins 13-8-1-104-1; Griffin Murphy 26-10-0-149-2; Blake Wayne 1-0-0-0.
Receiving (Receptions-Yards-TDs):
Nick Talbert 4-32-0; Mark Harvey 4-29-0; Greg Wilson 3-71-1; Andrew Spanarkel 2-82-1; Aaron Mays 2-29-1; Brandon Anderson 2-4-0, Dan Parker 1-6-0.
Field Goals
Patrick Murray: Missed: 35.
Defense
Tackles (Solo-AT-For Loss-Sack-PBU):
Dan Perrino 3-2-0-0-0; Michael Martin 2-2-0-0-0, Andy Okonkwo 2-2-0-0-0, Kevin Carter 3-0-0-0-1; Chris Coratti 2-1-0-0-0; Brendan Melanophy 2-1-0-0-0, Paul Barchitta 2-0-0-1-0; Jake Rodriques 2-0-0-0-0; Jason Weston 2-0-0-0-0; Robert Palmer 2-0-0-0-1; Craig Staub 2-0-0-0-0; Nick Womack 1-1-0-0-0; Ian Williams 1-2-0-0-0; Matthew Sconiers 1-1-0-1-0; Anthony Pesanello 1-1-0-0-0; Benjamin Daley 1-0-0-0-2; George Apostolopoulos 1-0-0-1-0; Brett Biestek 1-0-0-1-0; Isaiah Leake 1-0-0-0-0; Justin Yancey 0-1-0-0-0;
Interceptions
Nick Womack 1.
Punting (No.-Yards-Avg.-Long)
Patrick Murray 8-377-47.1-64.
