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Offense struggles in Mississippi St. spring game

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Chris Relf hit Co-Eric Riley with a 25-yard touchdown pass on the second play of overtime to give the Maroon squad a 6-0 win over the White team Saturday in Mississippi State’s spring game.

The pass was one of the few big plays as both offenses struggled with turnovers and penalties.

“We had too many turnovers and too many penalties on first down,” said coach Sylvester Croom, who spent the first half in the television booth and the second half in the stands. “That’s something that was consistent in other scrimmages and it’s something we’ve got to get straightened out.”

The White squad lost a chance to win in regulation when kicker Eric Richards missed long field goal attempts of 52 and 57 yards.

Defensive end Cortez McCraney, making a bid to replace Titus Brown, led the Maroon defense with three sacks and six tackles.

The Maroon offense, made up mostly of first- and second-team players, wasn’t as successful. The group committed four turnovers.

Maroon quarterbacks Relf and Wes Carroll, the incumbent, each had one interception and completed just two passes. White team quarterback Tyson Lee was 12 of 21 for 127 yards with an interception.

No player rushed for more than Robert Elliott’s 15 yards.

Yet coach Sylvester Croom said he was not concerned, having seen offensive progress in a scrimmage last Tuesday.

“I’m not judging anything based on today,” Croom said. “It’s not a true picture of where we are. My idea of how we finish spring is how we finished the scrimmage on Tuesday.”

© 2008, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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