Spirited Competition Period Concludes Lone Practice
August 19, 2004 | Football
GREENVILLE, N.C. ?? Although temperatures hovered around 90 degrees, East Carolina held one of its most spirited practices of the preseason Thursday afternoon inside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. After enduring four practices and a 120-play scrimmage in the past three days, Thursday afternoon's practice was the lone session of the day.
ECU concluded practice with its "competition period", placing the ball just outside the red zone. Zach Baker intercepted a pass in the corner of the end zone to give the defense its second score of the period and the lead. The defense almost completed a goal-line-stand, but Marvin Townes leaped into the end zone from the one-yard line on fourth down to score the touchdown. Quarterback James Pinkney then ran the ball across the goal line for the two-point conversion and momentary bragging rights for the offense.
"On the hottest day both sides really competed," said head coach John Thompson. "They really pushed through today. They didn't just get through it, they competed and got better. I was pleased with how we practiced today."
After watching his team practice for the 12th time in 10 days, Thompson also noted that his team had shown significant improvement since its first preseason practice on Aug. 10.
"We're a whole lot better," he said. "We're not a confused team anymore. People know what they're doing. Today is the last full hitting we'll do until Saturday afternoon and try to get healed up for our next scrimmage."
The Pirates will hit the fields twice on Friday at 8:15 a.m. and again at 5:30 p.m. The second scrimmage of preseason practice is slated for 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon on Bagwell Field at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, which will be followed the annual "Meet The Pirates Night" at 7 p.m.
