Spring
Preview
2009
Conference USA Spring Game Reviews
Spring Game Reviews
- ACC |
Big East |
Big Ten |
Big 12 |
C-USA |
Ind.
- MAC |
M-West |
Pac 10 |
SEC |
Sun Belt |
WAC
The Spring Games So Far ...
East Carolina
April 18 - Sparked by the passing of Patrick Pinkney, ECU defeated the
Pirates, 31-10. The senior, recently awarded an additional year by the
NCAA, chewed up the defense, going 19-of-26 for 229 yards and two
touchdowns, adding a third score on the ground. He got plenty of help
from versatile J.R. Rogers, who ran for 51 yards and a score on 14
carries, adding five catches for 31 yards. S Chris Mattocks was the
defensive standout for ECU, making six stops, two tackles for loss,
forcing two fumbles, and picking off a pass.
Marshall
April 25 - The White team dominated the Green team in all facets, taking
the annual spring game, 31-8. Leading the way on offense for the victors
was redshirt freshman RB Martin Ward, who carried 22 times for 110 yards
and a touchdown. In the hotly-contested battle at quarterback, Jake
Laudenslayer and Brian Anderson stood out statistically, throwing for 78
yards and 74 yards, respectively. The defenses were air-tight throughout
the afternoon, scoring a touchdown, recording a safety, and picking off
two passes. LB Tyson Gale was the game’s top tackler with 10 stops.
Memphis
April 18 -
Although score wasn’t kept, it was clear in the annual Blue-Gray game
that the speedy Tiger defense was ahead of the offense. The D held the
offense under 300 yards, while racking up 19 tackles for loss. The
Defensive MVP of the game was Auburn transfer DeRon Furr, a talented
defensive back, who had seven tackles, two tackles for loss, and a
54-yard interception return for a touchdown. On offense, WR Marcus
Rucker picked up the hardware for his side of the ball, catching four
passes for 126 yards and a score. Another SEC import, former Mississippi
State LB Jamon Hughes also stood out, making 10 stops and three tackles
for loss.
Rice
Although the defense defeated the offense, 46-44, in the annual
Blue-Gray spring football game, most of the storylines were generated by
offensive players. The quarterbacks were especially sharp, throwing for
400 yards and getting a solid effort from sophomore Nick Fanuzzi. The
Alabama transfer was 6-of-8 for 136 yards and three touchdown passes.
Sophomore Tyler Smith continued his recovery from a serious knee injury,
leading all rushers with 62 yards on six carries and adding five catches
for 31 yards. Owl fans also got a first look at RB Sam McGuffie, the
touted Michigan transfer, who’ll have to sit out the 2009 season.
SMU
April 25 - The Mustangs concluded their spring session with the annual
Red & Blue scrimmage, which consisted of 40 plays and was predictably
highlighted by the passing attack. The three SMU quarterbacks combined
to go 23-of-36 for 203 yards without throwing an interception. Starter
Bo Levi Mitchell was the busiest hurler, going 12-of-16 for 108 yards.
While the running game was virtually non-existent, 10 different
receivers caught passes. Cole Loftin had a game-high four receptions,
and Bradley Haynes and Terrance Wilkerson had four catches apiece.
Tulane
April 25 - The
quarterbacks were the headliners as Tulane wrapped up its spring session
with a 50-play scrimmage. Kevin Moore, Joe Kemp, and Ryan Griffin, all
competing for the starting job, combined to go 17-of-25 for 227 yards
and a touchdown. Griffin threw the lone touchdown to Kevin Burris, Moore
had just a single incompletion. Kemp started the game with the first
unit. The running game was quiet, averaging just 2.3 yards a carry, as
starter Andre Anderson sat out the scrimmage. TE Cody Sparks was the
favorite target of the three passers, finishing with a game-high four
catches for 60 yards.
UAB
In the
final scrimmage of spring, a team comprised of the first-team offense
and No. 2 defense defeated the combination of the first-team defense and
No. 2 offense, 42-30. Starting QB Joseph Webb was the catalyst in the
first half, going 21-of-29 for 283 yards and three touchdowns, while
rushing for 35 yards and another score. Against a depleted defense, the
game featured three 100-yard receivers, led by Frantrell Forrest’s eight
catches for 113 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, Jae Fitzgerald was
the workhorse, logging 13 carries for 66 yards and a score.
UCF
In the annual spring game, the White team
(offense) jumped out to a big lead and held on for a 77-61 victory over
the Gold team (defensive). As is likely to be the case when the games
count, RB Brynn Harvey led the way, rushing for 47 yards and a score on
nine carries and catching a 25-yard touchdown pass. That hookup came
from starting QB Rob Calabrese, who finished 7-of-13 for 65 yards and
the lone touchdown. The defense may have lost, but it was predictably
feisty, generating 10 sacks, three from Jarvis Geathers and two apiece
from Torrell Troup and Bruce Miller.