The University of Northern Iowa football squad put a bow on the 2008 spring drills with its annual Spring Game in the UNI-Dome on Saturday. The Purple team scored a 15-0 victory over the White squad.
Prior to the game, the Panther football squad served as instructors for a Kickoff Kids Clinic in the Dome. The clinic was free of charge to students in grades two through seven. Head coach Mark Farley estimated the clinic drew more than 250 kids. (see Photo Gallery above)
"It always a nice opportunity to have our players get a chance to serve as coaches and instruct the game of football to a younger generation," Farley said. "It's a change of pace for them to be able to give back to the community and see the young faces as they learn the game of football."
For the Spring Game, Farley had the No. 1 players on the depth chart suit up for the Purple squad, while the players fighting to move up were placed on the White squad. Farley held five players out of action in the game and those players included: Corey Lewis, Johnny Gray, Pat Grace, James Ruffin and De'Veon Harris.
The Purple squad jumped on the scoreboard in the first period on a one-yard touchdown run from Derrick Law. Law's run capped an eight-play 40-yard drive that saw him carry the ball six times.
The Purple defense stepped up in the second quarter and got on the board when defensive tackle Mark Huygens sacked quarterback D.P. Eyman in the end zone for a safety. The safety put the Purple on top, 9-0.
The final score of the day came on the play of the game. Zach Davis hit Maurice Turner on a jump-ball type of play in the south endzone for an 11-yard touchdown pass. Davis finished his day going 12-of-21 passing for 165 yards and a touchdown.
UNI will open the 2008 season Aug. 30 at Brigham Young University. The Panthers' 2008 home opener will be Sept. 6 against South Dakota.