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University Prep Bounces Brashear 20-6.

Tagged under: District 8, Gameday Hub, News

| October 23, 2020

University Bounces Brashear 20-6.

After last week’s defeat to Westinghouse, one where they got smacked around a bit in a 30-0 loss, questions remained for University: Could the line hold up? Were they just too darn young this year? Where’d the air raid go?

We got answers tonight in their 20-6 victory over Brashear. University’s line held up on both sides of the ball, their young players made the biggest plays and the air attack is alive and well.

THE GAME

The opening kick was squibbed and recovered by Terell Allen-Dukes and taken past the 50 for University. On 3rd and 8 from the 33, Junior QB Keon Smalls uncorked a perfectly placed pass to freshman Amare Gee for a University TD. They added a conversion to make it 8-0.

Brashear began at their 30 after a 15 yard return by junior Daquan Griffin. They moved the sticks behind two carries by sophomore running back Shawn Solomon. After a sack on 3rd down resulting in a 10 yard loss, Brashear punted from its own 30. Their punter flipped the field, setting University up to start from its own 30.

University’s second drive of the night began with six straight running plays to move the sticks, including a Smalls keeper on fourth down, but the drive would stall after that, forcing University to bring on the punt team to start the second quarter.

The teams traded a series of 3 and outs in the second quarter.  University, however, continued to run the ball once they took over midway through the quarter. Smalls kept several carries in a row for a first down. He then unleashed a 37 yard rifle to Murray for his second TD pass of the night, one that was nearly picked by Brashear’s super sophomore Ta’Mere Robinson, and after bouncing off a Brashear corner’s shoulder, fell into Murray’s hands. The kick was wide right, and the score stood 14-0 with 2:30 to go in the half.

On the ensuing Bulls drive, Nelson was dropped for two sacks, setting up 3rd and 25 from their 3.  Electric Junior Rasheed Saunders carried 26 yards to give them a new set. Nelson was sacked twice in a row for big losses and Brashear punted out to midfield. Smalls was pressured on first down but managed to get a pass off that Gee reeled in for a 15 yard gain, giving University a new set of downs at the 33 with :10 to go, an incomplete pass later, it was halftime.

 

Brashear’s opening drive of the third  went backwards and they punted from their endzone on 4th and 31. University took over at the Bulls 40. On 3rd  and 1 University fumbled and it was recovered by Brashear’s Dante Douglas, giving the Bulls life with 8:07 to go in the third. Saunders plowed into University territory with a 17 yard gain several plays later. Nelson then unloaded another big play, 42 yards in the air to Kevin Smith, and the Bulls were inside the University red zone for the first time with 3:35 to go in the quarter.  They got to the goal line, but got stuffed on three consecutive plays and Nelson was tackled for a loss on fourth down.

 

In the fourth quarter, University took over and went 3 and out. They punted to midfield, giving Brashear another great starting position. Nelson hit Daquan Griffin for 16 and a first down inside the 40. Saunders carried for 6 on first down but the drive burned out as the Bulls lost yardage on the ensuing carries. Their punt was blocked and University took over on their 43 with 8:08 to go, holding on to a 14-0 lead.  University added on another score as Smalls hit Murray for a 22 yard TD pass with 4:07 to go. The conversion failed and the score stood 20-0.

Brashear got on the board late on a 12 yard pass from Nelson to Robinson to set the final score of 20-6 in favor of University.

FINAL THOUGHTS

University: A much better performance this week than what we saw against Westinghouse. University’s pass-first approach paid off in the first quarter and they were able to spend some time working on the running game that hurt them last week. Their defense played much better and was able to get some good penetration to send Nelson scrambling. Smalls was, by my count, 10 for 10 for 150 yards and 3 TDs, a masterful performance. The line was able to protect him, and the results were marvelous. When he has protection, he may be the best QB in the City. On the ground, Zisean White hit my magic number in regards to what City League teams need to do to close out games, averaging 4.5 yards per carry, with no “big gainer”—his longest run was 17, and it was his last one.  He had under 50 yards, but the way he ran tonight and got protection tonight allowed University to move chains and set up those big passing TDs.

Brashear: The Bulls fell victim to what I stressed was a City-League-Wide issue last week. They have big play capability and we saw it in bursts(Saunders two big runs of 26 and 17 and Nelson’s 42 yard rifle to Smith) but their ability to take small gains and consistently move the sticks continues to elude them. Late in the third quarter, they got down to the goal line and on three attempts failed to find paydirt, a drive they desperately needed to score on given the defensive intensity of the contest. They paid for it as University tacked on the score that pushed the game out of reach. They need to improve on those little things on the offensive line that create the opportunity to be that 3-4 yard per carry type team. Their defense played well throughout the contest but their pass coverage could have been better as Smalls went the entire night without an incomplete pass.

 

 

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