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Purple beats Gold in scrimmage
RYAN ROCKWELL, Sports Writer
GREENVILLE -- The hard work of spring practice culminated in the Purple vs. Gold scrimmage on Saturday, allowing 8,914 Pirate fans a chance to see their East Carolina 2003 football squad for the first time in competitive real-game action. Led by the explosive receiving of Terrance Copper and solid play from quarterback Desmond Robinson, the Purple dropped the Gold 16-0.
"I'm just really thankful for all these fans," said ECU coach John Thompson after his first Purple/Gold game. "I just want to thank all these fans for all the excitement created through the Pirate family. I am looking forward to doing this again next year.
"I think from a spring standpoint, we said we were going to be physical and I think we were. We established the tone of our team. We did some good things (today)."
Copper, a senior from Washington, who was "a difference maker" according to Thompson, had a pair of touchdowns to sink the Gold team in the 20th annual Purple vs. Gold game.
The game itself consisted of four 12 minute quarters, and was almost like a real game. In lieu of injuries, officials were instructed to blow the whistle prior to tackles being made in certain circumstances.
It took a whole quarter for either offense to get going as defense dominated a scoreless first quarter. Copper gave the Purple team a 7-0 lead in the second. With 7:49 left in the first half, Copper hauled in a lob from Robinson while receiving contact. He broke another tackle on his way to a 48-yard touchdown.
"I think this will be a big year for all of us," said the ever-modest Copper. "I don't worry about the individual stuff. I just want to do my part and contribute. Sometimes I feel like I get in that zone where I can catch anything. Once you get in the program a while, you get more confidence in what you're doing and what position you're playing."
With the score 10-0 and 4:25 left in the fourth, Copper went up high to catch a 10-yard jump ball from quarterback Sakeen Wright, despite tight man-to-man coverage. Copper finished with eight receptions for 126 yards.
"Terrance Copper has been a play-maker for us (all spring long)," said Thompson of the team's leading returning receiver. "Every time Desmond needed a play, he's looking right at Terrance. If Terrance had been on the other side, the outcome might have been different. He's that big of a factor in the game."
Copper has emerged from spring practice as the go-to guy for both Robinson and Troth. The Pirates are still waiting for the rest of the receiving corps to catch up.
"We need a lot of Terrance Coppers," said Thompson. "Those other guys have got to step up and be consistent. We had some drops that we can't have and those guys catch them, then maybe we're talking about them."
The Purple offense outgained the Gold 236-to-164 thanks in part to Copper and Robinson, who showed that he is not just a scrambling quarterback. Robinson hit on 12 of his 17 pass attempts for 182 yards. Troth, last year's starting quarterback, led the Gold with 44 yards passing, hitting on just 4-of-13 passes. Troth was not helped by dropped balls, as Gold receivers had a tough time pulling in the junior's offerings.
After the game Thompson said the quarterback job was very much up for grabs, although Troth remains No. 1 on the depth chart.
"The depth chart is to just get us going," said Thompson. "We're just putting the guys out there. It doesn't matter who we list first. Desmond had a good day and Desmond was the winning quarterback. Paul did some real good things. This summer is real important to our home team and especially our quarterbacks."
Fullback Vonta Leach of the Gold had the most impressive day of any of the Pirate rushers. Leach repeatedly bowled over purple defenders en route to 108 yards on 14 carries. Last year's starting running back, Art Brown, could not compete in the scrimmage because of an injury. Marvin Townes led the purple in rushing with 50 yards on 14 carries.
Leach, who has spent time at linebacker during his career, said he is comfortable in the backfield, whether blocking or running.
"I'm here to do whatever they need me to do," said Leach. "I can run and I can block, it doesn't really matter. Dominique (Hatcher) went down today (with an injury) and coach looked at me and said that they would have to ride me the rest of the day, so they started handing me the ball."
"I thought Vonta Leach has really established himself as a hard-nosed, way-to-play the game football guy whether it's blocking, taking a pounding or running the football," said Thompson.
On the defensive side, Kent Nealy of the Gold led all tacklers with 10 total tackles and six solo from his linebacker position. Gold cornerback Travis Cox was second with seven tackles. Gold middle linebacker Chris Wasielewski had five solo tackles and one sack. Defensive lineman Richard Koonce and Damane Duckett led the Purple, combining for 10 tackles and two sacks.
"I think it was great competition all-around," said Duckett, a 6-foot, 6-inch senior, of the spring game. "I think everybody was going at it as hard as they can. I like what I saw on both sides of the ball. As a team we look good right now."
The one area of concern for Thompson was the kicking game. Punting and kicking were shaky for the Gold. Chris Bagglio missed a 34-yard field goal for the Gold, while Cameron Broadwell made his only attempt for the Purple, a 41-yard field goal in the second quarter, putting the Purple up 10-0. Broadwell missed the extra point attempt in the fourth quarter, however.
"The kicking game has been inconsistent," said Thompson. "I think the Purple team had better kicking until right there at the end. We've got to be better in the kicking game."
With the conclusion of the Purple/Gold game comes an end to spring practices. The team will resume practice this summer.
"Overall I'm really pleased with where we are," said Thompson. "We're going to be a good football team. I'm looking forward to fall camp."
GREENVILLE -- The hard work of spring practice culminated in the Purple vs. Gold scrimmage on Saturday, allowing 8,914 Pirate fans a chance to see their East Carolina 2003 football squad for the first time in competitive real-game action. Led by the explosive receiving of Terrance Copper and solid play from quarterback Desmond Robinson, the Purple dropped the Gold 16-0.
"I'm just really thankful for all these fans," said ECU coach John Thompson after his first Purple/Gold game. "I just want to thank all these fans for all the excitement created through the Pirate family. I am looking forward to doing this again next year.
"I think from a spring standpoint, we said we were going to be physical and I think we were. We established the tone of our team. We did some good things (today)."
Copper, a senior from Washington, who was "a difference maker" according to Thompson, had a pair of touchdowns to sink the Gold team in the 20th annual Purple vs. Gold game.
The game itself consisted of four 12 minute quarters, and was almost like a real game. In lieu of injuries, officials were instructed to blow the whistle prior to tackles being made in certain circumstances.
It took a whole quarter for either offense to get going as defense dominated a scoreless first quarter. Copper gave the Purple team a 7-0 lead in the second. With 7:49 left in the first half, Copper hauled in a lob from Robinson while receiving contact. He broke another tackle on his way to a 48-yard touchdown.
"I think this will be a big year for all of us," said the ever-modest Copper. "I don't worry about the individual stuff. I just want to do my part and contribute. Sometimes I feel like I get in that zone where I can catch anything. Once you get in the program a while, you get more confidence in what you're doing and what position you're playing."
With the score 10-0 and 4:25 left in the fourth, Copper went up high to catch a 10-yard jump ball from quarterback Sakeen Wright, despite tight man-to-man coverage. Copper finished with eight receptions for 126 yards.
"Terrance Copper has been a play-maker for us (all spring long)," said Thompson of the team's leading returning receiver. "Every time Desmond needed a play, he's looking right at Terrance. If Terrance had been on the other side, the outcome might have been different. He's that big of a factor in the game."
Copper has emerged from spring practice as the go-to guy for both Robinson and Troth. The Pirates are still waiting for the rest of the receiving corps to catch up.
"We need a lot of Terrance Coppers," said Thompson. "Those other guys have got to step up and be consistent. We had some drops that we can't have and those guys catch them, then maybe we're talking about them."
The Purple offense outgained the Gold 236-to-164 thanks in part to Copper and Robinson, who showed that he is not just a scrambling quarterback. Robinson hit on 12 of his 17 pass attempts for 182 yards. Troth, last year's starting quarterback, led the Gold with 44 yards passing, hitting on just 4-of-13 passes. Troth was not helped by dropped balls, as Gold receivers had a tough time pulling in the junior's offerings.
After the game Thompson said the quarterback job was very much up for grabs, although Troth remains No. 1 on the depth chart.
"The depth chart is to just get us going," said Thompson. "We're just putting the guys out there. It doesn't matter who we list first. Desmond had a good day and Desmond was the winning quarterback. Paul did some real good things. This summer is real important to our home team and especially our quarterbacks."
Fullback Vonta Leach of the Gold had the most impressive day of any of the Pirate rushers. Leach repeatedly bowled over purple defenders en route to 108 yards on 14 carries. Last year's starting running back, Art Brown, could not compete in the scrimmage because of an injury. Marvin Townes led the purple in rushing with 50 yards on 14 carries.
Leach, who has spent time at linebacker during his career, said he is comfortable in the backfield, whether blocking or running.
"I'm here to do whatever they need me to do," said Leach. "I can run and I can block, it doesn't really matter. Dominique (Hatcher) went down today (with an injury) and coach looked at me and said that they would have to ride me the rest of the day, so they started handing me the ball."
"I thought Vonta Leach has really established himself as a hard-nosed, way-to-play the game football guy whether it's blocking, taking a pounding or running the football," said Thompson.
On the defensive side, Kent Nealy of the Gold led all tacklers with 10 total tackles and six solo from his linebacker position. Gold cornerback Travis Cox was second with seven tackles. Gold middle linebacker Chris Wasielewski had five solo tackles and one sack. Defensive lineman Richard Koonce and Damane Duckett led the Purple, combining for 10 tackles and two sacks.
"I think it was great competition all-around," said Duckett, a 6-foot, 6-inch senior, of the spring game. "I think everybody was going at it as hard as they can. I like what I saw on both sides of the ball. As a team we look good right now."
The one area of concern for Thompson was the kicking game. Punting and kicking were shaky for the Gold. Chris Bagglio missed a 34-yard field goal for the Gold, while Cameron Broadwell made his only attempt for the Purple, a 41-yard field goal in the second quarter, putting the Purple up 10-0. Broadwell missed the extra point attempt in the fourth quarter, however.
"The kicking game has been inconsistent," said Thompson. "I think the Purple team had better kicking until right there at the end. We've got to be better in the kicking game."
With the conclusion of the Purple/Gold game comes an end to spring practices. The team will resume practice this summer.
"Overall I'm really pleased with where we are," said Thompson. "We're going to be a good football team. I'm looking forward to fall camp."
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