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COLUMBIA – The Benedict College Tigers got a good look at the future of their quarterback position, as Michael Graham threw for 170 yards and led the Purple Team offense to four scores in the annual Purple vs. White spring game Saturday in Charlie Johnson stadium.

Graham is our starter going into fall camp,” said Benedict head football coach James Woody. “He did some good things out there.”

Graham completed 13-of-23 passes for 170 yards and threw a pair of touchdown passes. He had a 20-yard throw to Kendariss Brown in the corner of the end zone, then found Russell Henley on a crossing pattern for a 23-yard score.

The Purple defense also scored when Barron Thompson picked up a fumble after a completed pass and returned it 20 yards for the final score of the afternoon.

Greg McCrary, competing with Graham for the starting quarterback position, scored on a 10-yard scamper on the first possession in the second half. McCrary and Graham swapped teams at halftime, with Graham leading the White team and McCrary leading the Purple team, until McCrary was hurt in the second half and then Graham played quarterback for both sides.

Walk-on running back Chris Johnson had five carries for 22 yards, including a five-yard touchdown run. He also caught a screen pass for nine yards.

Defensively, DeVonta Avery had a big play with an interception, winning a jump ball battle with the receiver.

“We still have a lot of work to do, but most importantly, we had fun,” Woody said. “Offensively, we put up some good numbers, the defense scored, so we're proud of the way the spring ended. The spring game is all about getting out there and having some fun and making good plays on both sides of the ball and make sure the kids have fun, and it looks like they did.”

The Tigers open the 2012 season on the road against Virginia Union in Richmond, Va., on Sept. 1. The first home game will be Thursday, Sept. 6, in a televised game against Bowie State.

(Benedict College sports information contributed to this report.)