Boston College Athletics
Freshmen QBs Fling in Spring
April 12, 2003 | Football
April 12, 2003
Redshirt freshman quarterback Karim El Nokali completed 13 of 30 passes for 203 yards as the white team defeated the maroon team 25-7 Saturday in Boston College's annual Jay McGillis Spring Football Game.
"We threw the ball down the field better today than we have all spring," BC head coach Tom O'Brien said. "Overall, I'm pleased with the progress we made."
El Nokali and fellow freshman Dan Berglund took all the snaps as junior quarterback Quinton Porter, who injured a shoulder earlier in spring drills, watched from the sideline. El Nokali completed passes to eight different receivers, including a game-best 51-yarder to senior Derek Webley.
Senior running back Horace Dodd led all rushers in the game, amassing 66 yards on 16 carries and scoring two touchdowns for the white team. Fellow senior Derrick Knight carried the ball 12 times for 46 yards.
All-BIG EAST place-kicker Sandro Sciortino connected on field goals from 40 and 31 yards for the white team, which also scored a defensive touchdown when defensive back Larry Lester picked off a Berglund pass and returned it 90 yards for the score.
Berglund completed 16 of 30 passes for 162 yards and the game's only passing touchdown, a strike to redshirt freshman wide receiver Tony Gonzalez, who grabbed five completions for a game-high 94 yards on the day. Fellow redshirt freshman wide receiver Jason Lilly caught four passes for 45 yards.
Redshirt freshman Jeff Ross led all rushers for the maroon team, gaining 49 yards on 12 carries. Junior Everett Lee picked up 33 yards on 11 carries for the maroon.
Senior linebacker Brian Flores led all defenders with eight tackles on the day, including five solos.
At halftime of the game, senior strong safety Paul Cook was named the recipient of the Jay McGillis Scholarship, which is awarded annually to the defensive back who best exemplifies the personal qualities of McGillis, a starting defensive back for Boston College who passed away from leukemia on July 3, 1992.
