While most visitors reminisced about the past this alumni weekend, the football team attempted to give fans an optimistic look at the future in its annual spring game Saturday.
The Blue team (offense) defeated the White squad (defense) 37-23 Saturday behind four touchdowns from quarterback Chris Dapolito. The winner of the Most Improved Quarterback award for the spring practice session threw for three scores and added six more points with the play of the game on the ground. Dapolito faked out the entire defense with a bootleg play that allowed the New Jersey native to skirt into the left side of the endzone untouched in the second half.
Throughout the game, the offense relied on a normal scoring system with seven points for a touchdown and an extra point and three points for a converted field goal, while the defense received two points for a three-and-out and seven points for stopping the Blue team inside the three-yard line. Despite this seemingly unfair scoring system, the game came down to the wire as the offense held the ball on the two-yard line with a 30-23 lead on the last possession of the game. Had the defense stopped the Blue team, the game would have ended in a tie. But Dapolito found tight end Andy Roland, an All-ACC candidate for next season, in the endzone to complete the victory for the offense.
Fans did not get a full glimpse of the team as the Blue Devils were slowed by a number of nagging injuries. Mike Schneider, who was named the starting quarterback for next season by head coach Ted Roof, sat out the game with a broken thumb. Roof has also said Schneider will split snaps with Dapolito and Nebraska transfer Curt Dukes. In addition to Dapolito's stellar play, Dukes completed three of his seven passing attempts for 27 yards, while also rushing for 14 yards. Dukes' ground total would have been much higher if sacks had not taken away much of his positive yardage.
"[Dukes and I] weren't worried about competition," Dapolito said. "As long as we execute the offense and show that we're leaning, that helps the team."
In addition to Schneider's ailment, running back Cedric Dargan injured his ankle on his first carry, fellow tail back Aaron Fryer sat out the game with an undisclosed leg problem and expected offensive linemen starters Jim Moravchik and Dan Mooney did not practice in the spring because of injuries.
The defense played without defensive end Phillip Alexander (sprained wrist) and cornerback John Talley (left shoulder). In addition, linebacker Alex Williams sprained his left knee during the scrimmage and did not return.
"That's football," Roof said. "We've got to be smart in how we practice, and not get our players in those types of [precarious] situations. Everybody on the football team needs some reps, but at the same time it gives us a chance to look at some other guys and develop some depth which we know we're going to need as the season goes along."
Perhaps the player who benefited most from the increased repetitions was John Paul Kimbroguh, who is a converted running back after playing defense a year ago. The junior led the Blue Devils with 63 rushing yards.
The game began with a trick play, as Dapolito lateraled the ball to wide receiver Lance Johnson, who subsequently threw a lofting pass down the field before it was batted down by the White team. The rest of the contest saw mostly routine plays, as Roof feared opponents may be scouting the team.
"You see that security up there... there is none," Roof said with a smile as he pointed to the surrounding ring above the playing field. "People that don't have tape on us might have been [here]. We kept it basic."
Despite the nearly five months that have passed since Roof's promotion to head coach from interim head coach, the Duke players still talk of a honeymoon between the players and coach that has led to a more cohesive team.
"Coach Roof is like a father figure to me and everybody else on the team," said Johnson, who led Duke with 70 receiving yards. "Everybody loves him, and he loves us. On and off the field he cares about what's going on. He'll come out [on the field] and tell you what you're doing wrong to make you better. And then you go to the mess hall and he asks you about your girlfriend, your mom and dad... he really cares about you. He's just pushing us all to be a family. You want to do good for your family, and that's what he's really stressing."
The Blue Devils begin their season at Navy September 4 where they hope to build on a new expectation level for Duke football.
"It's going to be a more intense Duke team," senior linebacker Giuseppe Aguanno said. "Our main focus on this team is effort. As long as everybody is giving effort, we feel we have a chance in every game we play."
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