Purple Blanks Gold, 16-0, in Spring Game
April 12, 2003 | Football
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Terrance Copper caught two touchdown passes and the Purple defense recorded three sacks to highlight the Purple team's 16-0 win over the Gold in East Carolina University's Spring Game, held Saturday at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
With nearly 9,000 fans in attendance, the Spring Game made its return to Dowdy-Ficklen after a five-year hiatus and was the focal point of ECU's Pigskin Pig-Out Party weekend. Earlier this week, the Pirates had split its team into two separate, balanced squads in preparation for the game, with the winning players earning the privilege of having a team meal served to them by the losers.
The game format featured 12-minute quarters and a running clock in the second half.
Copper, a senior, was the favorite target of Purple quarterback Desmond Robinson as he caught eight passes for 126 yards. Robinson was sharp, completing 12 of 17 passes for 182 yards.
Fullback Vonta Leach led the Gold effort with 108 yards on 14 rushes.
"Vonta Leach really established himself as a hard-nosed, way-to-play-the-game football guy," ECU first-year head coach John Thompson said, "whether it's blocking, taking a pounding, or running the football."
The Purple opened the scoring in the second quarter when Copper hauled in a pass from Robinson and darted 48 yards through Gold defenders to the end zone.
Purple kicker Cameron Broadwell extended the lead to 10-0 with a 41-yard field goal just before halftime.
Copper scored again with 4:25 left in the game when he was on the receiving end of a 10-yard strike from quarterback Sakeen Wright.
"You saw what he's been doing all spring long," Thompson said of Copper. "He's been a playmaker for us and really did well there."
The Purple defense pressured Gold quarterback Paul Troth for most of the day with Richard Koonce, Damane Duckett, and Derek Helms all registering sacks. Sophomore cornerback Reicko Jones added a game-high two pass breakups and an interception for Purple.
Gold linebacker Kent Nealy led all tacklers with 10 stops on the day, while teammate Travis Cox recorded seven.
"Overall, I'm really pleased with where we are," Thompson said. "Our kicking game was inconsistent. We turned the ball over a couple of times, made some bad snaps, and had a couple of foolish penalties that we'll get cleaned up. But we're going to be a good football team. These guys want to work and get better. I'm looking forward to fall camp."
ECU defensive line coach Art Kaufman served as the head coach of the Purple squad and was rewarded on the sideline with a Gatorade dunk by Pirate players following the game.
The Spring Game concludes four weeks of spring practice for the Pirates.
