Daniels, Landi put on show

A battle for the backup quarterback position turned Saturday's University of South Florida Green and White Game into a touchdown-fest.

Scoring more points in the first half than the past two spring games combined, redshirt freshmen B.J. Daniels and Evan Landi did all they could to assert themselves as the No. 2 quarterback. Nearly 5,000 fans attended Raymond James Stadium for a game that came down to the wire, with Daniels and the Green team prevailing 21-20.

Daniels completed 11 of 19 passes for 181 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. Landi was 20-for-30 for 189 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Starting quarterback Matt Grothe saw minimal action, playing in two series in the first half, and completed three of four passes for 26 yards.

Daniels put the Green team on the board first with a 1-yard touchdown run. The scoring drive was highlighted by a 55-yard completion from Daniels to junior receiver Dontavia Bogan.

Landi and the White team answered just before the end of the first quarter with their own 55-yard completion, this time from Landi to redshirt freshman receiver Daniel Bryant.

The Green team went ahead at the beginning of the second quarter when Daniels, eluding a tackle, hit sophomore receiver Jeffrey Wilson for a 20-yard touchdown.

Landi threw an interception on the ensuing possession, but the Green team wasn't able to capitalize. Daniels was picked off by Clinton Washington, who returned the ball 95 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 14.

It was one of many big defensive plays. There was a lot of pressure applied by both teams, with a combined six sacks. Overall, the defenses combined for four turnovers.

Landi was picked off a second time, by senior linebacker Chris Robinson, which led to the winning touchdown. The turnover resulted in a scoring drive capped by a 46-yard touchdown pass from Daniels to Bogan. The ball was tipped into Bogan's hands by defensive back Chris Lane.

Down by seven, Landi led his team on an 85-yard scoring drive at the end of the fourth quarter.

As time expired, Landi connected with senior receiver Colby Erskin for a 6-yard touchdown. The White team went for the win with a two-point conversion attempt, but Landi overthrew senior receiver Theo Wilson in the corner of the end zone.

"That was as exciting a spring game as maybe you will ever see," Coach Jim Leavitt said.