Frogs Score 28 Points In Spring Game
4/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 9, 2005
The TCU football squad completed spring ball on Saturday with the annual Purple-White scrimmage at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth. The offense used the big play to score 28 points in the contest, all coming on touchdown passes in a game that was played with four 15-minute quarters of continuous running clock.
It did not take long for the offense to put points on the scoreboard. Senior quarterback Tye Gunn hit Michael DePriest on a crossing pattern and DePriest split the defense down the middle for a 54-yard score on the game's second play. Peter LoCoco converted the extra point to make the score 7-0 in favor of the White team.
The offense added three touchdowns in the second quarter. Gunn hit a streaking Cory Rodgers on a 60-yard post pattern to make it 14-0. A 57-yard completion from junior Jeff Ballard to DePriest put the White team in scoring position again later in the quarter. Two plays later Ballard connected with Rodgers on a 27-yard touchdown pass. Chris Manfredini added the extra point to make it 21-0.
After a fumble recovery, the White team was knocking on the door once again. On the last play of the first half senior quarterback Kyle Kummer hit Robert Merrill on a 31-yard touchdown pass. Kasey Davis added the extra point to make it a 28-0 game at the half.
The defense settled down in the second half and held the offense scoreless for the game's final 30 minutes.
"That was the worst secondary play we've had all spring," said TCU head coach Gary Patterson. "We had a game plan to work on our man defense in the first half and we didn't play it very well. Although you didn't see it today, we got a lot better in our coverage this spring. Where they beat us today was not on third down but on first down. I have a lot of confidence in (Drew) Coleman and (Quincy) Butler to get the job done. We have to be able to play good pass coverage in the Mountain West Conference," noted Patterson.
Six TCU quarterbacks combined to complete 10-of-34 passes for 252 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions. The running game produced 72 yards on 33 carries.
Individually, Gunn completed 2-of-5 passes for 114 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Ballard was 3-for-6 for 89 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Redshirt freshman Justin Watts did the bulk of the rushing, carrying 10 times for 23 yards. Junior Robert Merrill had three carries for 21 yards, while senior Lonta Hobbs was held to five yards on three carries. DePriest had two receptions for 111 yards and one touchdown while Rodgers caught two passes for 87 yards and a pair of scores. Defensively, Coleman and Brian Bonner each had an interception for the Purple squad.
"Everybody got a chance to play today," said Patterson. "We wanted to end the spring on a positive note."
The Frogs will not take the field again until August 9 when fall practices begin. The season opener is set for Saturday, September 3 when the Frogs travel to Norman to face the Oklahoma Sooners. The following week TCU will head to Dallas for the annual Iron Skillet bragging rights against SMU. The home opener and Mountain West Conference opener is set for Thursday, September 15 when TCU hosts Utah in a nationally-televised contest.
RUSHING (Att.-Yds.): Watts 10-23; Merrill 3-21; Ellis 1-17; Huffman 2-11; DePriest 2-8; Hobbs 3-5; James 4-2; Battle 3-2; Nwuli 2-1; Ballard 1-(-7); Kummer 2-(-11); TEAM: 33-72.
PASSING (Comp.-Att.-Int.-Yds.): Gunn 2-5-0-114 2 TD; Ballard 3-6-2-89; Kummer 2-6-0-42 1 TD; Huffman 2-10-0-4; Battle 1-2-0-3; Reagan 0-5-0-0; TEAM: 10-34-2-252 4 TD.
RECEIVING (Rec.-Yds.): DePriest 2-111 1 TD; Rodgers 2-87 2 TD; Merrill 1-31 1 TD; Massey 3-15; Watts 1-5; Stevens 1-3; TEAM: 10-252 4 TD.
