Crompton, offense on display in White's 38-16 win

If the Dish Network Orange and White game was any indication, having to replace all but one member of the coaching staff and the starting quarterback from a season ago wasn't even a minor setback for the Tennessee offense. Quarterback Jonathan Crompton completed 13-of-20 passes for 266 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in leading the White team to a 38-16 romp in the annual spring scrimmage.

Tailback Lennon Creer lined up with the first team and did most of the work on the ground, rushing for 59 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.

"I thought early, especially, we executed extremely well offensively," head coach Phillip Fulmer said. "It was good to see Jonathan in that kind of rhythm. There were some really big plays in the passing game. I thought he had a good day except for that last ball. I don?t know his numbers, but they were outstanding the first two-thirds of the scrimmage. Generally, it was a good day for us."

Crompton's first-team offense scored touchdowns on five of six first-half possessions to build a 35-3 halftime lead. The White offense didn't waste much time getting started either, scoring on the first play from scrimmage when Crompton hit Denarius Moore for a 74-yard touchdown. Moore led all receivers with two catches for 91 yards and two scores.

The second touchdown was a three-yard run by Creer that capped a five-play, 71-yard drive. On White's third possession, Crompton hit Josh Briscoe for 18 yards and a 21-0 lead. Briscoe finished with four catches for 72 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

The Orange team opened the second-quarter scoring after becoming the beneficiary of a forced fumble by Vince Faison that C.J. Fleming returned 36 yards to the White 20. Unable to find paydirt, Orange settled for a 30-yard field goal from Devin Mathis. The freshman was a perfect two-of-two on field goals for the day.

White responded with two more scores before halftime, first on a 17-yard strike from Gerald Jones to Moore. The top defensive unit aided in the effort as safety Eric Berry picked off Nick Stephens and returned the ball deep into opposing territory.

White's final score of the half came on a 31-yard pass from Crompton to Briscoe. White moved 67 yards in just 51 seconds on the drive.

The first-team defense made its share of big plays as well. Berry?s interception return set up a touchdown and Demetrice Morley?s pick of Nick Stephens led to a white field goal early in the second half.

Rico McCoy led the first-team with seven tackles, while Anthony Anderson led all defensive players with eight stops. Wes Brown had a big day on the defensive line with four tackles for loss and two sacks. Morley broke up two passes in addition to his interception. DeAngelo Willingham also had two pass break-ups and two tackles.

"We limited the defense a little bit as far as how much they could do with pressure, so that wasn't totally what our defense will be," Fulmer said. "The ones kept knocking the ball loose and getting their hands on some balls and that was certainly a positive thing."

Mathis converted a 45-yard field goal for Orange late in the third quarter to cap the scoring in that frame.

Orange scored its first touchdown early in the fourth quarter on an eight-yard hookup between B.J. Coleman and Tauren Poole. That play capped Orange's best drive of the game, a nine-play, 67-yard effort.

Taka Koyano nailed a 41-yard field goal attempt late in the game for Orange to conclude the scoring.

The offensive starters for the game were tackles Chris Scott and Ramon Foster, guards Vladimir Richard and Jacques McLendon, center Anthony Parker, tight end Luke Stocker, receivers Gerald Jones and Denarius Moore, fullback Kevin Cooper, tailback Arian Foster and quarterback Jonathan Crompton

On defense, those earning a starting nod were ends Robert Ayers and Wes Brown; tackles Dan Williams and Walter Fisher; linebackers Adam-Myers White, Ellix Wilson and Rico McCoy; cornerbacks Dennis Rogan and DeAngelo Willingam and safeties Demitrice Morley and Eric Berry.