Top Units Shine In Last ECU Preseason Scrimmage
August 27, 2005 | Football
Aug. 26, 2005
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Junior quarterback James Pinkney keyed an impressive offensive effort with 18-of-25 passing for 184 yards while the Pirates' top defensive unit did not allow a touchdown in nine possessions during East Carolina's final full intra-squad scrimmage Friday afternoon at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
In a game which matched Pirate starters and top reserves against scout teams emulating first opponent Duke's offensive and defensive schemes, East Carolina's No. 1 offense picked up a pair of scores and converted seven-of-nine third down conversions. In addition, ECU's first defensive unit recorded three interceptions, netted seven tackles for lost yardage and held the scout unit to just four-of-17 third down conversions.
Junior running back Brandon Fractious led all rushers with 112 yards on nine carries, which included a seven-yard scoring run, while sophomore Chris Johnson added 70 yards on 14 attempts and a two-yard TD rush. Edwin Burke and Dominique Lindsey paced the scout squad with 27 and 25-yard efforts, respectively.
"This was a full dress rehearsal for the Duke game today," said first-year head coach Skip Holtz. "We went through pre-game drills, sideline control, put coaches in the press box and pretty much did everything we would do in a real game."
Junior Kort Shankweiler, guiding the top reserves at the quarterback position, was 11-of-17 through the air for 104 yards and added 12 more on the ground. Junior transfer Aundrae Allison topped all receivers with four catches for 80 yards while Fractious came out of the backfield to haul in four receptions for 42 yards.
After surrendering a pair of Ben Hartman field goals on the first pair of possessions, the Pirate defensive starters shut out the scout squad for the remaining seven series. Senior linebacker Chris Moore recorded eight tackles, including a sack, while cornerback Erode Jean and tackle Marcus Hands contributed six stops each. ECU also got interceptions from Jean, cornerback Demetrius Hodges, linebacker Dashaun Stephens and cornerback Travis Williams.
"We made a few mental mistakes with delay of game penalties and we simply had a too many drops," Holtz added. "Our scout teams ran Duke's plays and, for the most part, I thought we did well. We need to polish up a few things and start getting ready for next Saturday."
The Pirates will take Saturday off before heading into game week preparations Sunday prior to their season opener against the Blue Devils Sept. 3 at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
STATISTICAL LEADERS:
RUSHING: Brandon Fractious (9-112, TD), Chris Johnson (14-70, TD), Edwin Burke (9-27), Dominique Lindsay (8-25), Jerek Hewett (1-13), Kort Shankweiler (4-12), Phillip Henry (1-8), Rob Kass (1-4), Zulu Nwankwo (1-3), James Pinkney (1-<-1>), Davon Drew (3-<-7>), Brett Clay (3-<-7>).
Totals - 55-259 (4.7 ypr).
PASSING: James Pinkney (25-18-1, 184), Kort Shankweiler (17-11-0, 104), Davon Drew (5-3-1, 26), Brett Clay (8-1-1, 5), Rob Kass (1-0-1, 0). Totals - 56-33-4, 319.
RECEIVING: Aundrae Allison (4-80), Steven Rogers (1-45), Brandon Fractious (4-42), Phillip Henry (2-27), Brian Howard (5-25), Jay Sonnhalter (1-14), Michael Hickman (1-14), Juwon Crowell (2-13), Bryson Bowling (1-12), Shawn Levesque (2-10), Will Bland (1-10), Jerek Hewett (2-9), Reggie Williams (1-6), Edwin Burke (1-5), Sean Harmon (1-4), Chris Johnson (2-2), Dominique Lindsey (1-1), Derehl Staton (1-0). Totals - 33-319.
TACKLE LEADERS: Chris Moore (8, 2.5 TFL, sack), Erode Jean (6, INT), Stacy Walls (6), Marcus Hands (6, TFL, sack), Pierre Parker (4), Travis Williams (4, INT), Mickey McCoy (4), Pat Dosh (4), Kyle Chase (4), Quintin Cotton (4, TFL), Josh Chilsom (4, TFL).
TOTAL OFFENSE/TOTAL DEFENSE: 111 plays, 578 yards (5.2 ypp)
THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS: 11-of-26/42.3 percent
FUMBLES/LOST: 1/1
PENALTIES: offense/5, defense/1
SCORING: OFFENSE - Chris Johnson 2-yard run, Brandon Fractious 7-yard run
KICKING: Robert Lee (2-2 PATs, 38-FG, 24-FG, 34-missed), Ben Hartman (24-FG, 39-FG)
