SLIPPERY ROCK — Corey Manfull flashed a smile that told the whole story.

His hand fully healed after a freak mishap last fall robbed him of the grip in his left hand and the grip on the starting tailback job for the SlipperyRock University football team, Manfull was back on the field in the Green-White spring game Friday night.

"I was so excited," Manfull said. "I've been waiting to get back this whole offseason. It was so hard last year not being able to play."

Last fall, Manfull severely lacerated his hand when a plate-glass window he was carrying shattered, severing several tendons and ligaments.

But on Friday, Manfull was back in pads and eager to run around and through people. He gained 71 yards on seven carries for the Green team to lead it to a 16-7 win over the White.

"Corey had that year of rust," said SRU coach George Mihalik. "Each day in spring practice, you saw him get more and more comfortable. I thought he ran well tonight. He picked his holes. It's going to be real nice to have him back."

Manfull carried three times for 28 yards on the opening drive of the game. Green marched 80 yards on 11 plays and capped the drive with a 12-yard scoring strike from Nate Crookshank to PaulFavors.

The drive was nearly flawless, withCrookshank connecting on 5-of-7 passes for 53 yards.

Crookshank spent some of those snaps in the shotgun with three wideouts andManfull at his side. Crookshank also ran a lot of play-action fakes on the drive.

Crookshank played only the first half and finished 11-of-22 passing for 143 yards and two interceptions. One of the interceptions came on a deep pass that was picked off at the goal line by Brandon Murarik late in the first half.

The Green team sported the first-team offenses and defenses for The Rock. The White team was charged with the role of ultimate underdog.

The White team did some good things.

After falling behind 9-0 when BrandonFrohnapple was sacked in the end zone by Marty Kern, White scored on a 52-yard pass from Brad Galvin to Dallas Richardson.

The pass was intended for Josh Prigorac, but sailed through his grip and into the waiting arms of Richardson, who then sprinted untouched for the score.

"That showed a lot of concentration," Mihalik said.

It also cut the lead to 9-7.

Green put the game away when outside linebacker Richie Barnes stepped in front of a Frohnapple pass and raced 31 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Up until that point, the game was very competitive.

"I think we learned some lessons tonight," Mihalik said. "The White team learned if you are an underdog, play hard and you can win. And the Green team learned not to underestimate any opponent."

Notes: Prigorac, competing for playing time at wide receiver, caught eight passes for 92 yards for the White team. ... Sarver, a Slippery Rock High graduate who was thrust into the starting tailback role when Manfull was injured, gained 21 yards on eight carries for Green. ...Butler graduate Jade Burka saw some playing time at tight end for White.Green 16,White 7

White 0 0 7 0—7Green 7 2 0 7—16W G5 First Downs 1522-30 Rushes-Yards 36-109162 Passing Yards 20712-23-2 Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) 18-32-2165 Total Yards 3162-1 Fumbles/Lost 4-14-30 Penalties-Yards 4-20

First QuarterG — Paul Favers 12 pass from Nate Crookshank (Kyle Witman kick), 8:01

Second QuarterG — Safety, Brandon Frohnapple sacked in end zone

Third QuarterW — Dallas Richardson 52 pass from Brad Galvin (Mike Zeidler kick), 14:04

Fourth QuarterG — Richie Barnes 31 interception return (Witman kick), 7:29

Individual Statistics

Passing: White, Brandon Frohnapple 1-7-3-2, Brad Galvin 11-16-162-0. Green, Nate Crookshank 11-22-143-2, Brandon Frohnapple 3-4-35-0, Brad Galvin 4-6-29-0

Rushing: White, Demarcus Cleckley 3-13, Brandon Frohnapple 3-(-13), Nate Sipes 6-6, Ryan Lehmeier 5-17, Brad Galvin 1-(-7). Green, Corey Manfull 7-71, Travis Sarver 8-21, Justin Guadagni 2-10, Nate Crookshank 2-(14), Will Page 7-(-6), Brandon Frohnapple 1-(-3), Adam Hambrick 8-28, Nick Till 1-2

Receiving: White, Josh Prigorac 8-92, Dallas Richardson 2-55, Demarcus Cleckley 2-18. Green, PaulFavers 5-46, Terry Grossetti 2-34, Colin Golden 5-52, Ross Hornish 2-24, Nick Till 5-47