NEW YORK –  In standard two-minute drill fashion, the White team, led by rising senior quarterback M.A. Olawale and the first-team offense, drove 80-yards down the field to score the game-winning touchdown in the annual Blue-White scrimmage at Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium.

Olawale, known for his elusive running ability, took to the air in the final 1:41, connecting with Andrew Kennedy for a six-yard gain on first and ten on their own 20.  He hit Kennedy again for five yards and a first down on the 31, before connecting with Mike Stephens for what would be the play of the game, a 59-yard pass caught near the right sideline.  Stephens looked to be end-zone bound until Adam Mehrer caught him on the Blue 10-yard line.

Olawale rushed for four yards on first and goal and then hit Stephens in the right corner of the end zone for the winning touchdown.  Stephens made an impressive catch for the score, jumping up, closely defended, while managing to get a foot down in the end zone before falling out of bounds.

Olawale scored the two-point conversion on a 1-yard run to make the final 28-20.

The Blue team, led by the first team defense and rising sophomore quarterback Jerry Bell and rising junior running back Leon Ivery on offense.  Blue scored on its first drive of the game, on a 43-yard pass from Bell to wide receiver Josh A. Williams.  Ivery had the rush for the PAT to give Blue an 8-0 lead early.

Special teams was dictated by the luck of the draw, literally, as the public address announcer selected various scenarios blindly out of an envelope, giving the offense and defense different situations to maneuver.  Each scoring drive in the first half was aided or affected by one of these situations.

A special teams draw gave the White team the ball on the 20-yard line in the second quarter and White scored in seven plays, ending in an Olawale one-yard rush.  Ray Rangel added a yard of his own for the two-point conversion.

Taylor Joseph put White up 14-8, when a trick play allowed him to receive a 43-yard pass to the back of the end zone. After a number of three and out possessions for both teams, White went 49 yards in 11 plays to score on a one-yard rush by Ray Rangel.

The Blue team slowly mounted a comeback, scoring in the third quarter on a five-yard rush by Ivery, and adding a field goal in the fourth quarter after Bell led them on a 13-play, 53-yard drive to tie the game at 20-20, setting up the late game heroics.

The Blue team defense showed exactly why they are the first team, with the top three players combining for 31 tackles.  Marc Holloway led all defensive players with 12 tackles.  The MIKE, or middle linebacker was named the Lions’ most improved defensive player of the Spring.   The always impressive Alex Gross finished with 11 tackles and Mehrer had a solid game with eight tackles.  

Bell finished with 175 yards passing on 12-of-33 attempts.  Olawale finished with 228 yards on 16-of-30 with one interception and two touchdowns.  

Austin Knowlin had 60 yards receiving and 27 yards rushing, while Stephens and Jospeh had 91 yards and 59 yards receiving, respectively.

Ivery led all players with 74 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Offensive guard John Seiler was named the most improved offensive player of the spring.  

To close out the game, the 2009 team captains were named.  The captains were voted on by their teammates and coaches.

In a stark contrast to last year, the Lions will boast six captains including, junior Alex Gross, and seniors, John Seiler, Millicent Olawale (M.A.), Austin Knowlin, Taylor Joseph and Lou Miller.

The Lions open up the 2009 football season at Fordham on September 19.