Purple Team Victorious In Kansas State Spring Football Game
Apr 26, 2003 | Football
April 26, 2003
MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Purple team earned a 34-14 victory over the White team, as Kansas State ended the spring football season with the annual Purple-White game in front of 12,231 spectators at KSU Stadium Saturday.
The Purple team, K-State's starters, built a 14-0 lead going into halftime, but after the score was reversed at halftime to give the No. 1 team the experience of overcoming a deficit, the Purple team tied the scored in the third quarter and took the lead in the fourth for the win.
Senior quarterback Ell Roberson, junior tailback Darren Sproles and senior James Terry highlighted the play of the Wildcat offense. Roberson connected on 16 of 34 passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed for 116 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown while playing for the Purple team. Sproles rushed for 107 yards on 13 carries and one touchdown. Terry caught seven passes for 94 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Purple team. Sophomore tailback Carlos Alsup had 19 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown playing for both the Purple and White teams.
Roberson was involved four of the eight Purple squad touchdowns in the game. In the opening quarter, the Baytown, Texas, native scored on a 13-yard rush that capped a three-play, 36-yard and 23 second drive. In the second quarter, Roberson hit James Terry for a 25-yard touchdown and a 14-0 halftime lead.
After flipping the score at halftime, Roberson found Thomas Hill at the goal line with a 9-yard pass that completed an eight-play, 71-yard drive in the third quarter. Roberson connected with Terry again in the third stanza for the longest passing play of the day. Roberson hit Terry for a 34-yard touchdown pass with 1:48 remaining in the third quarter.
Sproles tallied his touchdown in the third quarter. The Olathe, Kan., native had a 43-yard run at the 11:24 mark. The Purple team's third rushing touchdown came in the fourth quarter when Alsup switched from the White to the Purple team and rushed for 20 yards and a 31-14 Purple lead.
Junior Joe Rheem connected on a 37-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter and also had five extra points in the game.
The Purple team's final points came on a 28-yard field goal by redshirt freshman Jeff Snodgrass with 2:03 remaining in the game.
During pregame and halftime ceremonies, former POW Pfc. Patrick Miller, Sgt. Jacob Lee Butler and Brigadier General Frank Helmick were honored by Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder, K-State President Jon Wefald, Wildcat Athletic Director Tim Weiser and Senator Pat Roberts.
Miller was one of seven POWs held and released in Iraq. Butler, a cavalry scout in the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division was killed in combat. His twin brother Joe Butler was in attendance to honor Sgt. Butler on their 25th birthday. Helmick is the Commanding General of the 24th Infantry Division Mechanized.
Proceeds from today's game go to the Kansas State Library and to the Anthony Bates Memorial Fund.
Kansas State opens the 2003 campaign against California on August 23 in the Black Coaches Association Football Classic in Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
