Pirate Football Holds First Preseason Scrimmage
August 12, 2002 | Football
The Pirates endured a two-plus-hour scrimmage session on a hot, humid afternoon at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium while running about 120 plays. It was ECU's first day in full gear and fourth day in the preseason camp.
"I liked the effort today," Logan commented. "The perimeter of our offense has got work to do. I saw a lot of things that we can build on. Our kicking game and punt return had some bright moments. Our kickoff return has a lot of work to do. In this first scrimmage, we were really just trying to run the ball and see if we could tackle anybody. The times when we did throw the ball, we were not in rhythm. The times when we were in rhythm, we would drop the passes."
Logan cited the encouraging play of new starting quarterback Paul Troth and running backs Art Brown and Marvin Townes. Troth, a sophomore, completed 9-of-23 passes for 136 yards, including a 55-yard completion to senior wide receiver Torey Morris. Junior fullback Brown was the scrimmage's leading rusher with 68 yards on nine carries. Townes, a sophomore fullback, tallied 38 yards on 10 carries, including a two-yard touchdown run.
Junior wide receiver Richard Hourigan had a team-high five catches for 60 yards.
On special teams, a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown by senior Richard Alston and a 76-yard punt by senior Jarad Preston on his first kick of the day were among the highlights. Preston, the nation's No. 12 punter last season and a preseason All-Conference USA pick, averaged 51 yards on five punts. Senior place kicker Kevin Miller made a 44-yard field goal and was perfect on three extra point attempts.
Five quarterbacks took turns under center. Troth and fellow sophomore Desmond Robinson shared the majority of the snaps, with true freshmen James Pinkney and Kort Shankweiler and redshirt freshman Sakeen Wright also seeing action. Shankweiler, a product of Greenville's J.H. Rose High, and fellow rookie Kevin Roach of Williamston (N.C.) High highlighted the play of the newest Pirates as they hooked up on a 53-yard pass play for a touchdown late in the scrimmage.
On the defensive side of the ball, several veterans also produced as expected. All C-USA linebacker John Williamson tallied two tackles for losses, a sack, and a fumble recovery. Senior safety Anthony Adams had a sack and an interception. Redshirt freshmen Richard Koonce and Jermarcus Veal, both vying for starting roles at inside linebacker, helped their causes. Koonce had two sacks while Veal recorded two tackles for losses, a sack, and an interception.
The team will enjoy a "light day" of drills tomorrow with just one helmets-only practice on the schedule. The Pirates will return to three-a-days on Wednesday in full pads and will have their second and final scrimmage of the preseason on Saturday, August 17.
ECU opens its 2002 season on August 31 at Duke (6 p.m.).
