Ty Johnson made a leaping reception in tight coverage for a 23-yard touchdown from Cole Hodge with around eight minutes left on a running clock for the deciding score as Purple topped Gold, 17-10, in the spring game at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on Saturday.

TyMir Brown intercepted for Purple with under two minutes left to seal the outcome.

There was nothing like a steak or beans meal hinging on the outcome.

“These guys are going to play hard whenever we put the ball down,” said Coach Blake Harrell, eschewing the need for gimmick motivation.

London Montgomery had a 71-yard TD run for the Purple with 7:37 left in the first quarter and Noah Perez added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

After a 52-yard run by Houston transfer Parker Jenkins, Everett Scott kicked a 35-yard field goal to get the Gold within 7-3 with 3:53 left in the first.

The Gold took a 10-7 lead with 12:30 left in the third on a 49-yard run by T.J. Engleman Jr.

Perez made a 24-yard field goal to tie the score at 10.

Kicker Andrew Conrad and Australian punter Tomas O’Halloran did not take part in the spring game.

There was more in the air than passes from quarterbacks Katin Houser, Raheim Jeter, Chaston Ditta, Hodge and John David Black. There was an anticipation for the season opener at N.C. State on Aug. 28 and there was a drone, which caused the scrimmage to be delayed briefly until it was brought down.

Houser, the returning starter, was limited in the spring as he recovered from surgery on his right wrist.

Defensively, Noah Holmes had a pair of sacks for minus-eight, while Jasiyah Robinson added a three-yard sack. Jurnee Lattimore and Brown each had picks. Ja’Marley Riddle and Zion Wilson were credited with pass breakups.

Harrell felt like depth was developed in the spring sessions which were spread out to three practices a week for five weeks. That was evidenced by the number of active participants from the quarterback room in the concluding Purple-Gold contest.

Harrell also has been pleased with the team leadership that has emerged since the Pirates wrapped up an 8-5 season under his direction with running back Rahjai Harris and defensive lineman D’Anta Johnson providing guidance among their peers.

Two phases remain before the 2025 season for the vast crew on the Pirate ship — summer workouts and preseason camp. which is set to begin the week of July 27.

“We want to take this ship to our goals next fall,” Harrell said. “We’ve been saying, ‘Let’s ride.’ The  ride for our program is about playing with relentless effort, intense energy, discipline and execution. Knowing our job and doing our job.

“That’s what we’ve been focusing on. We said we have four quarters of the offseason. The first quarter was winter training. The second quarter was spring practice. The third and fourth quarters are going to be summer training and preseason camp. We’ve got to see how much better we can get between today and August 28th.”