Dubuque 41, Rockford 7
DUBUQUE, Iowa — The University of Dubuque Spartan football
team has been waiting for this night to come since they finished
last season with a road victory in Storm Lake. A higher power had
other ideas and kept the Spartans and the visiting Rockford College
Regents waiting in anticipation of the 2010 football season to
begin on Thursday.
A typical midwest storm blew in just as pre-game countdown was
about to start while lightning and thunder in the area forced a
half hour delay. Once the game kicked-off, UD would turn to their
pre-season All-American in Michael Zweifel who finished the night
with 12 catches and 162 yards in receiving. The big question
entering the game was the battle for starting quarterback position
and it would be filled by sophomore Wyatt Hanus. Despite not
starting a collegiate contest, Hanus found his targets scattered
around the field and finished by completing a 20-27 attempt night
for 311 yards and helping UD to a decisive 41-7 victory.
The Spartans receiving corps would finish under the lights with
three receptions to three receivers with Zweifel's longest being
from 44 yards, DeMacus Fleming from 55 yards and Miles Hookstead
from 54 yards. Five receivers caught passes as the running game had
113 net yards and led by Justin Spaulding who rushed 16 times for
66 yards.
Leonard Brady Jr. dropped a punt return early, but bounced back
and ran a punt return in for a touchdown from 73 yards. It was a
night of big plays for the Spartans as punter Aaron Laskowski
airmailed his first attempt of the night for 61 yards. Steve Jones
stepped in to help a lackluster kicking game and on kick-offs
averaged 57 yards in seven attempts. UD could easily have finished
the night with over 500 yards of offense if the Spartans key
penalties had not taken away at least three more long plays.
Defensively the Spartans were led by Toney Bailey III who finished
with 11 tackles. Stephen Vassalotti finished with three tackles for
losses of eight yards and one sack for a loss of five yards. Ryan
Stodden had seven tackles in the victory. UD ended with seven
tackles for losses of 18 yards.
The Spartans debuted a spectacular live video and replay on the
jumbo sized Daktronics scoreboard to the delight of the many fans
in attendance. This year also marked the debut of video streaming
online for fans across the world via a fully customized,
Flash-based media player; real-time access to listener and
viewer.
UD will be on the road the next two weekends, meeting
UW-Platteville next week at 7:00 p.m. before hopping a bus and
riding to Pella to face top-ranked Central College on Sept. 18.
