Football | 4/20/2018 9:06:00 PM

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - Quarterback Erik Benjamin (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) completed 10-of-16 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown and the Gold defense accounted for seven sacks as Gold defeated Maroon, 16-0, as the Bloomsburg University football team held their annual spring game on Friday evening at Danny Hale Field at Redman Stadium.

The teams played one half of football with a traditional - instead of an offense-defense - format. The coaching staff and the four captains were split and then made selections via a draft format based on positions.

"It was a disappointment to some guys that they weren't first-round draft picks," joked head coach Paul Darragh. "But, it was an enjoyable process and a fun way to end our spring season."

Benjamin looked good throwing the football as he connected with Jay Popson (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) on a 61-yard completion during the first drive of the game which led to a six-yard touchdown strike from Benjamin to Popson for the first points of the contest. He later hooked up with Michael Allen (Oley, Pa./Oley Valley) on a 48-yard pass play which led to a 38-yard field goal from Jaco Sattamini (Delaware Water Gap, Pa./Stroudsburg), who served as the placekicker for both teams. Popson caught three passes for 82 yards and a touchdown and added a rushing touchdown from two yards out as he lined up in the "wildcat" on the final play of the game.

Allen finished with a game-high four catches which totaled 78 yards.

The Gold defense stifled the Maroon offense all evening as Chris Gary (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Wood) had a game-high three sacks. Jake Klinger (Berwick, Pa./Central Columbia), who was a Don Hansen First Team All-American this past season, added a pair of quarterback sacks while Chris Monaco (Pocono Pines, Pa./Pocono Mountain West) and Ben Dial (Covington Township, Pa./North Pocono) each had one sack for the Gold in the victory. Dial finished five total tackles and added a pair of tackles for a loss.

Qmac Quiteh (Tobyhanna, Pa./Pocono Mountain West) led the Gold's rushing attack with four carries for 17 yards. Tyreem Welton (Philadelphia, Pa./Penn Wood) added nine yards on four attempts.

Blake Levengood (Boyertown, Pa./Southern Lehigh) attempted only three passes for the Maroon and went 1-of-3 for 17 yards with the only reception hauled in by Kieron Smethers (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro Area). Levengood did add one carry for 14 yards. Hakeem Sillman (Philadelphia, Pa./Frankford) provided a majority of the Maroon's offense as he carried the ball six times for 42 yards which included rushes of 16 and 17 yards.

Alex Annan (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) led the Maroon defense with six total tackles while Aaron Trumino (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley) had five total stops. Alex Findura (Bloomsburg, Pa./Woodland (Ga.)) chipped in with four total tackles, two tackles for a loss, and one sack. Jahmeir Williams (Reading, Pa./Reading) and Nick Argento (York, Pa./Red Lion) also had a sack for the Maroon.

The Huskies closed out the 2017 season with a 7-4 record - Bloomsburg's 19th consecutive winning season dating back to 1999. It is the third-longest streak in PSAC history, behind West Chester's 31 (1940-42, 1945-72) and Clarion's 22 (1964-85). The 19 straight seasons with at least six victories, however, continues a PSAC record. Bloomsburg has now posted a winning record in 23 of the last 24 years.

Bloomsburg is scheduled to open the 2018 campaign on Saturday, September 1 against Merrimack College at Danny Hale Field at Redman Stadium. Start time is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.