Spurlock Directs Blue Team To 27-21 Grove Bowl Win

April 9, 2005

OXFORD, Miss. - With a crowd of 24, 722 looking on at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/Hollingsworth Field, senior quarterback Micheal Spurlock led the Blue team to 18 unanswered points in the fourth quarter on their way to a 27-21 win over the Red team as Ole Miss ended spring football drills in "Grove Bowl" action here Saturday afternoon.

Spurlock completed 16 of 27 passes for 222 yards and three touchdowns in leading the Blue to the win. He also carried the ball four times for 27 yards. Wide receiver Taye Biddle had a big day for the winning Blue team, totaling six receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns.

"I am really proud of our football team, especially in the second half." said new Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron. "He helped himself," Orgeron said of Spurlock's performance, although he stopped short of naming the Indianola senior as the start er heading into August drills. "He played well. I saw the confidence in Micheal in the second half. He has a tremendous ability to make plays. He needs to make the right decisions. I want to credit Noel Mazzone (offensive coordinator), for really working with Micheal on his fundamentals."

After the game, Spurlock talked about his first spring under Coach Orgeron.

"It went by fast, having to learn a new offense and going out and competing everyday," Spurlock said. "Coach O taught us how to play the game fast, and there is only one speed around here, full speed.."

Junior transfer BenJarvus Green-Ellis put the Red team on the board first, scoring on a six-yard run with 3:41 to go in the first half.

Will Moseley hit a 32-yard field goal as time ran out in the first half to make it 7-3 Red team at halftime.

Defensive back Trumaine McBride recovered a fumble and ran it in from 29 yards out to give the Red team a 14-3 lead with 9:49 to go in the third quarter.

Biddle caught the first of his two touchdown passes, a six-yard grab from Spurlock with 5:07 left in the third quarter. The extra point was no good as the Blue team closed to within 14-9.

The Red answered, as sophomore quarterback Ethan Flatt directed the team on a nine- play, 65 yard drive that resulted in wide receiver Carlos Suggs five-yard touchdown reception with 1:20 left in the third quarter to put the Red up 21-9.

Flatt went 11-of-18 for 112 yards and a touchdown to lead the Red team. In receiving, Seth Michaelson caught three passes for 51 yards to lead the Red. Suggs finished with four receptions for 38 yards. Running back Jamal Pittman, who saw action for both teams, rushed for 67 yards on 20 carries.

Trailing 21-9 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Blue team began their comeback. Spurlock hit Biddle on a 23-yard TD pass with 11:52 to go in the game to get within five (21-16). Nearly seven minutes later, Spurlock hooked up with senior wide receiver Mario Hill from 13 yards out to put the Blue ahead for good. Hiram White caught Spurlock's pass for the two-point conversion and the Blue team led 24-21 with 4:55 left.

Junior kicker Hunter Bray connected on a 28-yard field goal with five seconds to go for the final 27-21 score.

Defensively, Kareem Moore, Garry Pack and Viciente DeLoach tallied five tackles each for the Blue team. DeLoach and Corvelli Haynes each had two QB sacks.

The Rebels open the season on Labor Day at Memphis in a game to be televised nationally on ESPN at 3:30 p.m.

Red 0 7 14 0 -- 21
Blue 0 3 6 18 -- 27

Red - Green-Ellis, 6 run (Moseley kick)
Blue - Moseley, 32 FG
Red - McBride, 29 fumble return (Moseley kick)
Blue - Biddle, 6 pass from Spurlock (kick failed)
Red - Suggs, 5 pass from Flatt (Bray kick)
Blue - Biddle, 23 pass from Spurlock (Bray kick)
Blue - Hill, 13 pass from Spurlock (White pass from Spurlock)
Blue - Bray, 28 FG

Att.: 24,722

GROVE BOWL STAT LEADERS
Passing
Blue Team
Spurlock - 16-27 for 222 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
Red Team
Flatt -- 11-18 for 112 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT

Receiving
Blue Team
Biddle -- 6-108 yards, 2 TD; Hill -- 4-64 yards, 1 TD
Red Team
Suggs -- 4-38 yards, 1 TD; Michaelson -- 3-51 yards

Rushing
Blue Team
Spurlock - 4-27; Hiram White - 4-14
Red Team
Pittman - 13-54; Pearson - 7-44

Tackles
Blue Team
Moore - 5 (5-0); Pack - 5 (4-1); DeLoach - 5 (4-1); Sacks - DeLoach (1) and Haynes (1)
Red Team
Haury - 3 (1-2); Sanford - 2 (2-0)
McBride - 29-yard fumble recovery for TD

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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