Florida Atlantic football concluded spring practices with its annual spring game.

The red team — which featured the team’s probable starters — dominated the game both offensively and defensively, defeating the white team 55-0.

The coaching staff regularly changed the quarterbacks throughout the game for both squads. The two quarterbacks fighting for the starting gig, redshirt sophomore Jason Driskel and redshirt freshman Daniel Parr, swapped duties for the red team while sophomore Joshua Cartwright, redshirt freshman Raymond Rizk and freshman Trent Wessel exchanged series for the white team.

Driskel finished the game completing 20-of-27 passes with two touchdowns passes and one interception. Parr went 9-for-12 with three total touchdowns — two through the air and one on the ground. Each quarterback completed a touchdown pass of over 50 yards.

“They both handled the deep ball very well today,” head coach Charlie Partridge said. “They both showed signs of good things today and I am excited about that progress.”

On a day where most of the running back focus was on junior Greg Howell and redshirt junior Marcus Clark (sophomore Trey Rodriguez and senior Jay Warren were both absent due to injury), the spotlight was stolen by redshirt freshman Kerrith Whyte.

Whyte only carried the ball nine times and pulled in three catches but finished with three total touchdowns, two receiving and one rushing.

“He’s got the potential and the talent for that,” Partridge said when asked if Whyte can become a player whose name can be called regularly. “Everyone knew what he was going to bring to the table as a Seminole Ridge [High School] graduate.”

Whyte capped off an 80-yard drive with a six-yard run for the first touchdown of the game in the first quarter.

Parr was the next one to add to the lead, keeping the ball on an option for a 17-yard rushing touchdown.

After yet another punt by the white team, Driskel hit redshirt junior receiver Kalib Woods on a 45-yard touchdown pass to add to what was already a 17-point lead red team.

Led defensively by sophomore defensive backs Ocie Rose and Jalen Young, sophomore linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and senior defensive end Trey Hendrickson, the red team gave the white team’s offense no room to breathe. They recorded several sacks in the game while constantly putting pressure on the opposing quarterbacks as well as the white squad’s wide receivers.

“The dominance by the defensive line was really fun to watch” said Partridge. “They root and compete for and with each other, so that makes life for the back seven pretty fun.”

Sophomore safety Richie Kittles was able to make a play for the white squad defensively to by intercepting Driskel early in the third quarter, but the white offensive was unable to take advantage.

The red team was able to add to the lead once more when Parr connected with Whyte one a 17-yard touchdown pass.

The dominance continued when Whyte followed an interception by redshirt sophomore Jake Stoshak with a one-yard run, his third and final touchdown of the game.

On his last series of the day, Driskel connected with redshirt freshman Tavaris Harrison for a 54-yard touchdown pass. Parr’s last series ended with a 52-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Nate Terry.

The Owls offense scored 31 points when led by Parr, compared to 24 by Driskel.

FAU opens the 2016 season on Sept. 3, versus Southern Illinois University at FAU Stadium.

Video of Coach Partridge’s press conference by Mohammed F. Emran

Hans Belot Jr. is a contributing writer with the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him at @Don_Phenom_.