Posted on Sun, Apr. 20, 2008

BLUE-WHITE SPRING GAME

Back in a clash

Real-game competitiveness pleases Brooks

By Chip Cosby

CCOSBY@HERALD-LEADER.COM

David Stephenson

Marcus McClinton (2) and Ashton Cobb helped break up a pass to T.C. Drake in the end zone. Photo by David Stephenson | Staff

Kentucky football coach Rich Brooks ditched the usual offense vs. defense format to put his team in a competitive, game-like situation for Saturday's Blue-White Spring Game.

Brooks got what he wanted and then some, as the White team held on for a 23-22 win in front of an estimated crowd of 8,500 at Commonwealth Stadium.

Offensive coordinator Joker Phillips and defensive coordinator Steve Brown drafted the two teams earlier in the week, and the rosters appeared to be evenly matched.

"You couldn't have asked for a much more balanced or competitive game," Brooks said. "We couldn't have drawn it up or scripted it better. I was pleased with quite a few things. It's a good testament to where this program has come from to have the depth to put on a game like this and have it look like a reasonable semblance of a football game."

Quarterbacks Curtis Pulley and Mike Hartline both led their offenses to impressive late fourth-quarter drives as they continue their battle to be the No. 1 guy.

Hartline's 2-yard run capped a nine-play, 60-yard drive that gave Phillips' Blue team a 22-17 lead with 4:20 remaining. But Pulley responded with an eight-play, 65-yard drive that was capped by a tantalizing 17-yard run with 1:04 left that put Brown's White squad in front 23-22.

Hartline got the Blue in field-goal range in the final seconds, but kicker Lones Seiber missed a 46-yarder on the game's final play.

Statistically and in terms of production, the quarterbacks played to a draw. Pulley finished 12-for-26 passing for 134 yards and a touchdown while also running for 82 yards on 15 carries.

Hartline was 11-for-28 passing for 124 yards and a touchdown with 38 yards rushing. Both quarterbacks' passing numbers were skewed by several drops by the receivers.

"I've been telling everybody that it's a real competitive battle, and it obviously is," Brooks said. "I think without looking at tape it's going to be very difficult to pick a starter. Nobody has the clear edge at this point."

"Nowadays you need to have two quality quarterbacks, and it's clear today that we have two quality quarterbacks," Phillips said.

It was a nice finish to the spring for an offense that had been much-maligned the past couple of weeks.

For the White team, Dicky Lyons Jr. broke out of his spring funk with 10 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns, including a highlight-reel one-handed grab of a 12-yard pass from Pulley in the end zone. And the UK running game, the one constant of the spring, continued to click with junior Alfonso Smith running for 170 yards on 20 carries for the Blue.

Both offenses also dipped into their bags of tricks for some razzle-dazzle.

On the White's first play from scrimmage, 5-foot-7, 225-pound tailback Moncell Allen took the handoff from Pulley and threw a 27-yard pass to tight end T.C. Drake.

"I woke up this morning wanting to call that play, but I didn't have Moncell," Phillips said. "He can really throw the football, and that wasn't even one of his better throws. T.C. made a heck of a catch on that one."

Phillips responded by calling a flea-flicker, but Matt Lentz picked off Hartline's deep pass intended for Kyrus Lanxter at the 7.

There were whispers in the press box that Phillips might have drafted the stronger team for the Blue when you consider that he had perhaps the best overall player (Jeremy Jarmon) and the three projected starting linebackers (Braxton Kelley, Micah Johnson and Johnny Williams). But Brown didn't see it that way.

"I liked my squad," Brown said. "When I saw the list, I was excited. I thought it would be a landslide (laughs)."

Pulley bobbed and weaved through the Blue defense for the game-winning score, which led to a celebration that was reminiscent of a fall Saturday.

"That drive meant a lot," Pulley said. "We definitely wanted to score and get the win. There was a lot of trash talk going on. It started at nine o'clock in the morning. Neither team wanted to lose, but it was good to see both sides do well."

Kelley had a game-high 12 tackles for the Blue.

Brooks said he hopes Saturday's performance will carry over to the summer workouts and the start of fall camp in August.

"I think we can be a good football team," Brooks said. "In all, I think I am pleased with where we are at the conclusion of spring practice."