Washington, DC—Caylin Newton ran for two touchdowns and passed for another, but the defense came up with key stops as the Defense held off the offense, 31-28 in the Annual Howard University spring football game at Greene Stadium on Saturday on a driving rainstorm. 

The game capped off the three-week spring football schedule under new head coach Mike London. 

The scoring system, which featured the defense vs the offense, was based on a point system with the defense getting points for stops and turnovers. 

The defense took control early and consistently forced punts. Then the offense, under Newton, a freshman from Atlanta, Ga, began to find some rhythm and engineered a drive that he capped off with a three-yard run off the left side that put the offense on the board. 

The defense never wavered from its all-around team effort that featured various players making plays until sophomore running back Carlton "CJ" Rainey found a hole off the left side and sprinted 64 yards for the offense's second score. 

On the offense's next possession, Kalen Johnson and Newton combined to lead a drive that was capped off by a short pass from Newton to tight end Justin Chaney to draw them closer. 

Then the defense stood tall and stopped the offense on consecutive possessions and increase its point advantage. 

The offense, again led by Newton marched down the field and the freshman finished off the drive with a two-yard scamper to close out the scoring. 

"I am really pleased with the improvement from the beginning of spring practice until today's game," said London. "We made great strides. We talk all the time about changing the culture through collective effort." 

He continued. "The defense played well collectively. There were no all stars, just different players stepping up at different times." 

The offense played without two of its key player, senior running back Anthony Philyaw and sophomore wide receiver Kyle Anthony, who were both nursing minor injuries. Despite the heavy rain, there was only one turnover by the offense. 

The team announced the following team awards: 
 

The Jay Walker Award for Most Improved Player on Offense: Tight End Phillip Fleming 

The Pep Hamilton Award for MVP on Offense: Wide Receiver Cody Williams, Jr. 

The Bruce Williams Award for Most Improved on Defense: Defensive Lineman Tyler Fuller 

The Antoine Bethea MVP on Defense: Defensive Lineman Royce Myers, Jr. 

The Steve Wilson Community Service Award: Linebacker Leon Fields 

The Johnnie Fairfax Academic Achievement Award: Punter Dakota Lebofsky