Team Soffer Beats Team Carol, 17-0 in Spring Game
By David Villavicencio
HurricaneSports.com
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The field was lined, the pads were popping and the crowd was roaring. For a couple hours on Saturday evening, it felt just like Canes football season.
The University of Miami held its annual Spring Game before a crowd of 15,875 at Hard Rock Stadium Saturday night. Miami head coach Mark Richt named the two teams after Carol Soffer, whom provided the $14 million lead gift for the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility, and Team Soffer beat Team Carol, 17-0.
“Number one, I do want to thank our fans who showed up,” Richt said. “They did a great job loudly cheering. It was awesome. Our band was there and our cheerleaders were there. They all love this program. Our Golden Canes came, former players came and a lot of people who help run this program were here and I just wanted to say thank you to everybody.”
The Canes wasted no time providing highlight reel plays, as Malik Rosier opened the game with a 36-yard completion to Lawrence Cager to lead Team Carol into Team Soffer’s territory. Rosier, who was 9-for-14 for 105 yards, sparked Team Carol’s offense on the opening drive, but Team Soffer slowed the offense forced a 45-yard field goal attempt that was missed wide left by Turner Davidson.
“If you understood the format, the team that Malik (Rosier) was on most of the time was the one offense versus the one defense and they didn’t get much going,” Richt said. “They had a couple plays here and there, had a couple of well-executed plays. Malik really didn’t get much of a shot to really stand back in there and sight some things up and make some throws. He did pretty well with what he had. He was 9 for 14. His numbers were fine and I can’t think of many balls that were kind of thrown up for grabs.”
Michael Jackson, who led the Canes in turnovers in 2017, forced a fumble on a Travis Homer rush, but the junior running back recovered the loose ball to maintain Team Carol’s possession.
N’Kosi Perry hit tight end Brian Polendey deep down the left sideline for a 30-yard gain, sparking Team Soffer’s offense with under a minute to go in the first quarter. Perry, who was 11-for-25 for 166 yards, one touchdown and one interception, finished off the first scoring drive of the game connecting with early enrollee Brian Hightower for a nine-yard touchdown. Marco Baeza converted the point after attempt to give Team Soffer a 7-0 lead.
Jonathan Garvin kept the momentum on Team Soffer’s side on the opening play of the ensuing drive, picking up his second of three sacks for the day. One play later, Joe Jackson sacked Rosier to put Team Carol in a third-and-28 from its own five-yard line. Jhavonte Dean completed the three-and-out when the senior corner broke up a pass intended for Dayall Harris to force a punt.
Team Soffer extended it lead to 10, as Suleiman Burrows hit a 28-yard field goal late in the second quarter and was threatening to score again before freshman Gilbert Frierson picked off Perry in the end zone to close out the half and wear the turnover chain for the first time.
“We have a (lot of) young guys, and this was their first time being at Hard Rock, getting some experience and a little bit of adversity from having the fans having some extra eyes on them,” linebacker Shaquille Quarterman said. “A lot of guys played, like Gilbert, Greg (Rousseau) the DE, just really flying around. I think as a defense we did pretty well today, but we have a long way to go.”
Jarren Williams, was nine-for-14 for 105 yards and a touchdown, found Hightower for a 14-yard score, giving the freshman wideout his second touchdown of the afternoon and Team Soffer a 17-0 lead. Hightower led the Canes with four catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
“He did phenomenal,” Cager said of Hightower. “With the young guys, it is all just about the nerves. They have to stop stressing and just go play. That goes for him and all the new players.”
Both defenses had outstanding performers on the defensive line, as the Canes combined for nine sacks, and interception and a forced fumble.
Freshman Gregory Rousseau led all players with 5.5 tackles and three sacks for a total of 23 yards. Garvin, who finished with 3.5 tackles, also recorded three sacks. Frierson, Jackson and Scott Patchan each finished with one sack a piece.
“We worked hard in offseason and we work hard all the time, so it’s just part of our work,” Garvin said. “We challenge each other and push each other, so we are all getting better together.”
“It takes a lot of hard work, day in and day out,” Jackson said. “Obviously, a goal of each of ours, and the inside guys, is to put pressure on the quarterback every play, whether it’s a run or pass. You’ve got to make them play the way we want to play, so we get them out of their comfort zone. It’s just doing what we want to do.”
Perry led all rushers with 45 yards on eight carries, while Travis Homer picked up 29 yards on seven carries.
“They were stout up front,” Richt said. “The offense couldn’t really get much run going, couldn’t consistently form a good pocket. They tackled well. I couldn’t really see any missed tackles at all, which is a great sign.”
Mike Harley and Dayall Harris each had four catches, tying with Hightower for the team lead, while Darrell Langham had three catches for 66 yards. Tight end Brian Polendey had two catches for 40 yards.
The Hurricanes will hold their final three practices of the 2018 spring next week, with regular sessions scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday and the final scrimmage of the spring set for Saturday.
