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News Nuggets, 08.26.06
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Top Pirate units overwhelm scout teams

East Carolina's top offensive unit turned in a balanced attack which quickly erased a 7-0 deficit with 35 unanswered points, while the Pirates' top defensive unit allowed just a field goal in the last seven possessions during ECU's final full intra-squad scrimmage Friday afternoon at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, according to a release from the university's athletic media relations department.

In a game which matched Pirate starters and top reserves against scout teams emulating first opponent Navy's offensive and defensive schemes, East Carolina's No. 1 offense picked up two rushing scores off 181 ground yards and netted three passing touchdowns off 192 air yards.

Although ECU's first defensive unit did not record a turnover during the contest, the Pirates tallied three tackles for lost yardage and held the scout unit to just four-of-14 third down conversions.

"Overall, I didn't think we were as sharp and crisp as we needed to be," second-year head coach Skip Holtz said. "This is the first time that we have seen a lot of Navy's stuff coming at us. I just don't think we responded well as a team. I'm not sure if it is that we are at the end of camp, tired, or if we need a couple of days off to come back mentally. But we didn't come out and play with the energy that we need."

Senior quarterback James Pinkney, who completed 11-of-16 passes for 114 yards, hooked up with junior receiver Phillip Henry for 30 and eight-yard TD strikes during first half action. Redshirt freshman Rob Kass accounted for the game's only other aerial score, connecting with junior Steven Rogers on a 15-yarder in the third quarter.

"James Pinkney and the receiving corps have been a bright spot this camp," Holtz added. "James has been throwing the ball well and feeling comfortable behind center. It is a matter of everyone being in the same offense for another year. At the same time, it is also all of the hard work that everyone put in during the summer, throwing on their own. The passing game is all about timing and you have to keep working on it."

Senior running back Brandon Fractious led all rushers with 83 yards on eight carries, which included a three-yard scoring run, while sophomore quarterback Patrick Pinkney accounted for the other score with a 17-yard rush.

After surrendering a touchdown during the scout team's second possession of the contest, the Pirate defensive starters and top reserves allowed just a Ben Hartman 31-yard field goal during the remaining seven series. Junior linebacker Fred Wilson and junior tackle Wendell Chavis recorded 12 stops each while sophomore end Zach Slate and sophomore linebacker Pierre Bell contributed nine and seven tackles each, respectively.

Bell left the contest midway through the third quarter after suffering an apparent shoulder injury. Additional tests and evaluations are scheduled to be performed over the weekend before his game status will be revealed. Senior center Drew Sutton also left the game prematurely after suffering a knee injury early in the first half.

"We have some bumps and bruises and I am a little worried from an injury standpoint with a couple of guys," Holtz said.

The Pirates will take Saturday off before heading into game week preparations Sunday. ECU will open its against the Midshipmen on Saturday, Sept. 2, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, MD.

Coach Holtz ready to take to the air ... waves

The Skip Holtz television show premiers throughout Eastern North Carolina on Sunday at noon on WITN-TV 7, the official station of the Pirates, according to a release from the university's athletic media relations department.

The weekly half-hour show with host Jeff Charles and Coach Holtz will give viewers an inside look at East Carolina football. The program is produced by local NBC affiliate WITN-TV. WITN Sports Director Billy Weaver and sports reporter Brian Meador will each contribute feature pieces throughout the season.

In addition to WITN's coverage each Sunday at 12 noon, the Skip Holtz Show can also be seen on the following stations on a weekly basis throughout the year:

• Sunday, 1:00 PM, WRPX, Raleigh
• Sunday, 1:00 PM, WFPX, Fayetteville
• Thursday, 7:00 PM, ECU-TV (Channel 99), Greenville
• Thursday, 8:00 PM, Suddenlink Channel 68, Greenville
• Thursday, 8:00 PM, Suddenlink Channel 13, Rocky Mount
• Wednesday, 9:30 PM, Time Warner Cable, Morehead City
• Saturday, 11:30 AM, WGSR, Greensboro

The Skip Holtz radio call-in show will also make its debut Sunday at 7 p.m. Coach Holtz will be joined by host Charles. The program will feature in-depth game-by-game analysis from Holtz and a question-and-answer segment for fans.

The show is available online to ECU Total Access subscribers at ecupirates.com and it can be heard on Talk 1070 AM and WSFL 106.5 FM.

ECU volleyball victorious in season opener

The East Carolina volleyball team opened the 2006 season with a 3-1 win over William & Mary in the second match of the ECU Invitational, sponsored by City Hotel & Bistro. Junior outside hitter Kelley Wernert tallied a career-high 10 digs while adding 17 kills to record a double-double, according to a university athletic media relations release.

The Pirates came out strong, winning the first two games 30-25 and 30-17. William & Mary battled back to win the third game 30-25, but ECU was too much for the Tribe, as they won the fourth and final game 30-21.

Sophomore middle blocker Kim Jefferson and junior outside hitter Mignon Dubenion each equaled their career-highs in kills on the night, with 15 each. Freshman outside hitter Stephanie Turner tallied 10 kills in her first match as a Pirate. Sophomore libero Trish Monroe added 11 digs, while senior setter Heidi Krug added 55 assists.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from other sources. Copyright 2006 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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