Memphis Spring Game Blue/ Gray Game

Here is the release summing it up


Due to construction at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, the University of Memphis Tiger football team held its annual Blue-Gray Scrimmage at Rhodes College for the second consecutive year. An estimated crowd in excess of 4,000 attended the event, which was sponsored by Mutual of Omaha.

The Tigers received strong offensive performances from junior quarterback Patrick Byrne and senior wide receiver Mario Pratcher, who shared the Paul Gingold/SAE Blue-Gray MVP Award for 2005. Byrne completed 12-of-17 pass attempts for 192 yards and two touchdowns, while Pratcher caught five passes for 155 yards and two scores. A graduate of Trezevant High in Memphis, Pratcher also received one of the Chris Faros Most Improved Player Awards during pregame ceremonies.

Byrne, who has lettered for two seasons as the Tigers' kickoff specialist, received his second spring MVP award during Saturday's event. He won his first Blue-Gray MVP Award in the spring of 2003, when he threw for 129 yards and three touchdowns during the spring game competition at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

Freshman quarterback Billy Barefield led all rushers with 55 yards on seven carries, while tailback Jamarcus Gaither gained 44 yards on 12 attempts and Joseph Doss, who received one of the True Tigers Awards for the spring, gained 31 yards on four rushes. Senior receiver Maurice Avery tallied one rushing touchdown on the afternoon.

Defensively, safety Jake Kasser led all tacklers with seven stops. End Rubio Phillips, linebackers Tim Goodwell and Quinton McCrary and defensive back Sam Brewer were credited with five tackles each. Sophomore defensive tackle Brandon Farrar had a fumble recovery and Keith Collins grabbed a pass interception when he snared a tipped Will Hudgens pass.

Numerous awards were handed out during pregame ceremonies at Rhodes. The 2005 Chris Faros Most Improved Player Awards went to Mario Pratcher for offense and Rubio Phillips and Rod Smith for defense. The Glenn Jones Award was given to tailback DeAngelo Williams and defensive end Marcus West. Brandon Patterson, a safety from Germantown High School, was awarded the Rex Dockery Memorial Scholarship and freshman defensive lineman Ryan Williams was presented the Ralph Hatley Scholarship. Williams prepped at CBHS in Memphis. The True Tiger Award, which is selected by the Memphis coaching staff, went to Joseph Doss and safety Wesley Smith.


Key Statistics

Passing
Patrick Byrne – 12 of 17 for 192 yards and 2 touchdowns
Will Hudgens – 4 of 9 for 23 yards and 1 interception
Billy Barefield – 6 of 8 for 26 yards
Maurice Avery – 1 for 1 for 65 yards and one touchdown
Mario Pratcher – 1 of 1 for (-5) yards

Receiving (Catches-Yds.-TD)
Mario Pratcher – 5-155-2
Ryan Scott – 4-71-1
Carlton Robinzine – 6-40-0
Maurice Avery – 2-15-0
Brett Russell – 1-9-0
Earnest Williams – 1-8-0
Antonio McCoy – 2-7-0
Joseph Doss – 1-(-3)-0

Rushing (Carries-Yds-TD)
Billy Barefield – 7-55-0
JaMarcus Gaither – 12-44-0
Joseph Doss – 4-31-0
Brian Davis – 10-15-1
Maurice Avery – 4-4-1
Patrick Byrne – 3-4-0
Brandon Feagans – 1-3-0
Earnest Williams – 1-2-0
Antonio McCoy – 1-2-0
Will Hudgens – 1-(-1)-0

Defensive Highlights
Brandon Farrar – 1 fumble recovery
Keith Collins – 1 interception
Jake Kasser – 7 tackles
Quinton McCrary – 5 tackles
Sam Brewer - 5 tackles
Brandon Patterson - 5 tackles
Rubio Phillips - 5 tackles
Tim Goodwell - 5 tackles
Olen Whitely – 4 tackles
Josh Fletcher - 4 tackles
Tyus Jackson - 4 tackles
Dustin Lopez - 4 tackles

Special Teams
Field Goal - Trey Adams – 36 yards
Punting – Michael Gibson – 2-35.5

Scoring Plays
Trey Adams, 36 yard FG
Brian Davis, 1 yard run; PAT good by Trey Adams
Maurice Avery pass to Mario Pratcher 65 yards; PAT good by Kittrell Smith
Patrick Byrne pass to Mario Pratcher 36 yards; PAT good by Kittrell Smith
Patrick Byrne pass to Ryan Scott 43 yards
Maurice Avery, 3 yard run