April 4, 2004

GREELEY, Colo. -- The University of Northern Colorado football squad completed its first scrimmage of the spring season on Sunday at Nottingham Field.

The scrimmage featured nearly 90 plays of the UNC offense taking on the UNC defense.

Redshirt freshman Aaron Henderson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Rampart HS) got the scrimmage going in style with a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Senior Vincent Jackson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Widefield HS) had a key block that allowed Henderson to take in the final 20 yards untouched.

The UNC offense stalled in the redzone early and had to settle for a pair of Justin Zaitz field goals. Zaitz drilled three-pointers from 27 and 38 yards.

The UNC offense finally got into the endzone on an 11-play 65-yard drive. Backup quarterback Craig Blaser (Westminster, Colo./Pomona HS) engineered the drive and capped it with a 27-yard touchdown pass to redshirt freshman tight end Clint Wright (Greeley, Colo./Northridge HS) on a 4th-and-8 situation.

Sophomore running back Andre Wilson (Denver, Colo./George Washington HS) will be looking to replace UNC's all-time leading rusher Adam Matthews. Wilson did not miss much of a beat on Saturday as he rushed for 115 yards on 13 carries. Wilson finished the scrimmage with a 30-yard touchdown scamper down the sideline.

The Bears will close out their spring drills next Saturday, April 10, with the final spring game. The game will also take place at Nottingham Field.

SCORING
TD - Aaron Henderson 97-yard kickoff return
FG - Justin Zaitz 27 yd FG
FG - Justin Zaitz 38 yd FG
TD - Clint Wright 27 yd pass from Craig Blaser
TD - Andre Wilson 30 yd run

PASSING: Tony Christensen (13-27, 124 yds, INT), Craig Blaser (6-10, 108 yds, TD), Matt Thomas (3-8, 60 yds, INT), Miles Scheer (3-9, 12 yds)

RUSHING: Andre Wilson (13 att, 115 yds, TD), Jahir Waterman (12 att, 34 yds), Tony Christensen (2 att, 21 yds), Matt Thomas (5 att, 9 yds), Craig Blaser (1 att, 10 yds), Jamar Farbes (1 att, -4 yds)

RECEIVING: Matt Stewart (4 rec, 51 yds), Jamar Farbes (4 rec, 22 yds), Tyrees Bingham (3 rec, 67 yds), Paul Sweitzer (3 rec, 56 yds), Clint Wright (3 rec, 40 yds), Jens Lundeen (3 rec, 30 yds), Vincent Jackson (3 rec, 26 yds), Jahir Waterman (2 rec, 3 yds), Andre Wilson (1 rec, 9 yds)

INTERCEPTIONS: Weston Hielsher (1 INT), Darcy Shaw (1 INT)

FUMBLE RECOVERIES: Reed Doughty (1 FR), Weston Hielsher (1 FR), Aaron Henderson (1 FR)

QUARTERBACK SACKS: Vinny Pallone (1 sack), Jeff Spletzer (1 sack), Trenton Dietz (1 sack), Matt West (1/2 sack), Thomas Smith (1/2 sack)