SMUMustangs.com's version of the Red/Blue game

[Buddha]

Red tops Blue, 34-3
Willis leads red squad to victory

April 8, 2006

DALLAS (SMU) - Quarterback Justin Willis went 16-of-21 for 160 yards and ran for a score as the Red bested the Blue, 34-3, at SMU's annual Red-Blue Game. Willis showed poise in the pocket and great touch on his throws as the redshirt-freshman-to-be nailed down the starting spot heading into the fall.

Johnnie Fitzgerald rushed for a pair of touchdowns for the Red and finished with 10 carries for 67 yards. Fitzgerald got the bulk of the work with the first team as freshman All-American DeMyron Martin missed the game with a tweaked ankle. Fred Turner also notched a pair of TDs on the ground, twice scoring on three-yard scampers. He finished with 31 yards on nine attempts.

Thirteen SMU players hauled in catches, led by Zack Sledge's six grabs for 90 yards. Sledge made a highlight reel catch of a 46-yard Eric Johnson pass in the fourth quarter to bring the crowd to its feet. Blake Warren and Joseph Ferguson each added five receptions.

Defensively, Adrian Haywood notched 1.5 sacks while Dominic Pryor and Brandon Bonds also recorded QB takedowns.

"I thought we had a good spring," said Head Coach Phil Bennett. "I was happy with the improvements we made and I think we can be a good football team this fall."

When asked to handicap the Conference USA title race in 2006, Bennett responded, "Why not us? With the parity in our league, if we come out and play every week, I think we can compete with anyone out there."

2006 Red-Blue Game
Red 34, Blue 3
Scoring Drives
Score Team Plays Yards Scoring Play
6-0 Red 8 76 Fitzgerald, 5 yd. run (Morstead kick failed)
13-0 Red 8 68 Willis, 6 yd. run (Morstead kick good)
20-0 Red 14 87 Fitzgerald, 1 yd. run (Morstead kick good)
20-3 Blue 4 5 Wolcott, 32 yd. FG
27-3 Red 13 79 Turner, 3 yd. run (Morstead kick good)
34-3 Red 8 80 Turner, 3 yd. run (Morstead kick good)



Passing: Willis 16-21-160-0-0; Slater 10-16-98-0-0; Johnson 10-16-117-0-0.

Rushing: Willis 5-11-1; Dorsey 4-10-0; Turner 9-31-2; Henderson 6-2-0; Fitzgerald 10-67-2; Slater 3-(-2)-0; Mapps 5-40-0; Johnson 1-(-4)-0.

Receiving: Sanders 2-15; Warren 5-46; B. Chase 4-30; Turner 1-3; Givens 4-53; Fitzgerald 2-23; Sledge 6-90; Ferguson 5-33; Pellerin 2-10; Cleveland 1-14; V. Chase 2-29; McKinney 1-7; Phillips 1-12.