MADISON, Wis. — Alex Hornibrook only completed four passes, but the quarterback certainly made them count.
The redshirt freshman connected twice with junior receiver George Rushing on long touchdown passes that proved to be the difference in Saturday's Wisconsin Football Spring Game at Camp Randall Stadium.
That gave bragging rights to former Badgers wide receiver Jared Abbrederis, who served as honorary coach for the offense and saw his Team Abbrederis score a 28-22 win over Team Schobert, the defensive unit led by former UW linebacker Joe Schobert.
Hornibrook finished 4-for-8 passing for 138 yards and the two scores. Rushing was on the receiving end of both, totaling 89 yards.
"He's been a guy hasn't really had a big role for our team yet, but obviously you saw today that he can make some plays," Hornibrook said of Rushing. "He's probably one of the most athletic guys on the field. To get him running, get him on the offense and to catch his passes has been good."
Vince Biegel led the way for Team Schobert, logging five tackles and a pair of sacks. Zack Baun also wrapped up five tackles, while Ryan Connelly, Lubern Figaro and Nick Thomas recorded four tackles each.
Ty DeForest snagged an interception for the defense and finished with three tackles.
Team Abbrederis put the pressure on early and jumped out to a 16-0 lead on the strength of a Corey Clement 9-yard touchdown run and Hornibrook's 46-yard scoring toss on a long pass over the top to Rushing.
Biegel helped the defense cut into the offense's early lead, recording a pair of sacks that helped the defense end the first quarter with a pair of three-and-outs — and four points based on the game's scoring system.
Early in the second period, however, Hornibrook and Rushing pushed the offense's lead to 23-6 with a 43-yard strike.
"In the off-season, Alex and I, we throw a lot together and we talk a lot. We are pretty close," Rushing said. "I just know, when he's on the field, I know what he's thinking because we watch film together sometimes, trying to see what he sees out there. I felt pretty confident out there with him."
The defense regained control of the game midway through the period, as T.J. Watt grabbed a fumble recovery to switch the momentum and cut Team Abbrederis' lead to 24-12.
A trio of three-and-outs, plus a sack from Kraig Howe, slowed down the offense. When DeForest came up with an interception of a Bobby Dunn pass, Team Schobert found itself within two points, at 24-22.
With the offense driving late, linebacker Keelon Brookins stepped in front of a Hornibrook pass but was unable to hang on to a potential interception that would have tipped the score in the defense's favor.
Instead, Team Abbrederis got a 21-yard field goal from kicker Andrew Endicott and escaped with the victory.
Final score aside, players from both the offense and defense said they can walk away from the 15 practices they logged this spring with momentum for the fall.
"It was fun," Watt said. "I just feel it was good to get out here and show the fans what we've been working on and, definitely as a defensively group, to show what we can do and have fun doing it."
