CHRONICLING EAST
CAROLINA & CONFERENCE USA
SPORTS
-----
|
View from the East
Saturday, April 14, 2012
By Al Myatt |
 |
Stay tuned for sequel in QB race
By
Al Myatt
©2012 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
View the Mobile Alpha version of this page.
|
|
| |
|
Audio: Spring
Game Pressers |
|
|
East Carolina
head
coach
Ruffin
McNeill
(top), offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley
(bottom left) and defensive coordinator
Brian Mitchell (bottom right) spoke with
the
media
after Saturday's Purple-Gold scrimmage:
Select
clips... |
|
BONESVILLE
BYTES |
 |
|
Audio recorded
by Brian Bailey. |
|
(Photo credits
— McNeill by W.A.
Myatt;
Riley,
Mitchell by ECU SID) |
|
|
Ruffin McNeill's
disposition was as sunny as the weather which blessed the region during
East Carolina's spring football game on Saturday.
The East Carolina coach
saw a lot of what he wanted to see as the program rose to the occasion
before a crowd of 7,114 at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
"We went into the game
today thinking execution on all three sides of the ball," McNeill said.
"We had fans in the stands and how would we execute with that game
atmosphere? We'll have to watch film but I thought it went pretty good
for the most part.
"Coming out healthy was
the second part. I got a little worried when (outside linebacker)
Montese (Overton) got banged but I think he's OK."
McNeill saw good things
from three quarterbacks as last year's backup, Rio Johnson, had the best
numbers, completing 17 of 23 passes for 153 yards. Redshirt freshman
Cody Keith was nine for 18 for 69 yards with one interception. Brad
Wornick, the backup in 2010, completed four of six for 26 yards.
Keith was five of nine on
third down conversions and Johnson converted on both of his fourth down
calls.
Redshirt freshman Chris
Hairston led the running backs with six rushes for 52 yards.
McNeill talked about a
running back committee that would possibly include Reggie Bullock,
transfer Hunter Furr, Michael Dobson and Torrance Hunt. Bullock scored
the offense's only touchdown on a 1-yard run after a long gainer from
Johnson to Justin Hardy on a sprint out pass play.
Hardy had two catches for
48 yards. Reese Wiggins had six receptions for 47 yards. Derrick Harris
made four catches for 38 yards and Dayon Arrington had four grabs for 32
yards.
Inside linebacker Zeek
Bigger led the defense with eight tackles and fellow inside backer
Brandon Williams was in on seven stops. Defensive back Desi Brown had a
32-yard fumble return for a score.
Warren Harvey connected on
a 48-yard field goal into the wind at the close of the third quarter.
Shawn Williams connected on a 27-yard field goal and Matt Millisor was
successful on a 24-yarder.
McNeill was pleased with
the offensive line. Developing depth among the blocking corps was a
spring practice objective.
The ECU coach said the
quarterback competition would continue in preseason camp and would
involve Shane Carden who missed the last two weeks of spring after his
throwing hand hit a helmet as he followed through on a pass.
The Pirates open the 2012
season at home against Appalachian State on Sept. 1.
E-mail Al Myatt
Al Myatt Archives
09/01/2012 08:19 PM
----- |
