News and Notes from East Carolina, Conference USA and Beyond

PREVIOUS NUGGETS

09.01.06: UAB game off limits to Peterson's Dad ... Tulsa rolls past Stephen F. Austin in opener ... Pirates announce nine women's track signees

08.31.06: Ex-Buc Witter hits home run to complete cycle ... Herd player helps team to international win ... UAB takes aim on opener, plans to honor Tuck

08.30.06: Army six wins away from San Diego trip ... Rivers will get starting assignment for Chargers ... With Campbell in goal, ECU shuts out Camels

08.29.06: Holtz indicates Pirates are ready ... C-USA teams face stiff season-opening tests ... Three C-USA QB's on O'Brien watch list

08.28.06: Herd loses top receiver Moore for WVU opener ... Memphis puts more walk-ons on scholarship ... Hokies claim title in ECU volleyball event

08.27.06: Butkus watch list features seven from C-USA ... UAB substitution scrimmage pleases Brown ... Host ECU volleyball team falls to Furman

08.26.06: Top Pirate units overwhelm scout teams ... Coach Holtz ready to take to the air ... waves ... ECU volleyball wins season opener

08.25.06: ECU announces Metcalf in compliance post ... ECU women's soccer starts season at ODU ,,, Pirate volleyball hosts invitational

08.24.06: Former ECU standout joins Godwin staff ... It's not the Fort Worth Bowl anymore ... Brown lightens up on banged up Blazers

08.23.06: Camp behind them, Pirates refocus on Navy ... ECU checking student body for diamond talent ... Buckeyes' bank account $wells

08.22.06: End of preseason camp in sight for Pirates ... ECU's Ray gets honor for summer league play ... Miami, Northwestern set tribute to Walker

08.21.06: Irish 'bump' into possible NCAA infraction ... Offense produces in ECU's second scrimmage ... Herd extends Snyder's contract through 2013 ... ECU nipped in women's soccer scrimmage

08.20.06: No updates on this day while implementing site network changes

08.19.06: Note to readers: Sunday content to be limited ... Pirates set to scrimmage, meet fans today ... Marshall hires NCSU aide as baseball coach ... Stitt leaving WSSU for hometown post

08.18.06: Goal line work livens up flat ECU practice ... 'Pack third sacker defects to Cowboys ... Indiana's Sampson sanctioned by NABC

08.17.06: ECU kicker Lee selected to Groza watch list ... Another Pinkney gets plaudits for Pirates ... Individual ECU game tickets go on sale

08.16.06: Bucs have depth chart heading into scrimmage ... Calipari assistant named UTEP hoops coach ... Clemson gives Leggett new five-year contract

08.15.06: Get ready to "Meet the Pirates" ... Depth chart looms as Bucs continue drills ... Red Raiders dedicate season to fallen coach

08.14.06: New thumbnails: Freeney, McNeil, Perryman ... Blazers hold first scrimmage on Sunday ... NCAA clears Snider to play this season at Tulsa ... Kansas officials undergo NCAA grilling

08.13.06: Dye goes into college football hall of fame ... ECU scrimmage helps shape depth chart ... Memphis works out at Liberty Bowl

08.12.06: ECU recruiting thumbnail: Ben Herlocker ... Pirates tune up for Saturday scrimmage ... Blazers preparing for opener with Oklahoma ... SMU golfer qualifies for U.S. Amateur

08.11.06: Pirates dodge heat with nighttime drills ... ECU's Thorsen claims Norwegian amateur title ... Manning pledges $1 million to Vols

08.10.06: Thursday 'Nuggets' sacked by network glitch

08.09.06: Lou's book says Skip was promised USC job ... Humid weather doesn't dampen ECU drills ... 'Bright House' will be home for Golden Knights

08.08.06: Pirates shifting to full-gear practice mode ... Hattiesburg pro takes over USM golf program ... Sooners turn to Thompson to fill QB void

08.07.06: Pirates strap on shoulder pads ... Ex-Duke lacrosse coach has new program ... NIT will trim field from 40 to 32 teams

08.06.06: Media day no day off for Pirates ... Drew-Skip check goes to Greenville Rec. Dept. ... Coordinator of ACC refs hanging up whistle

08.05.06: Holtz likes what he sees as camp starts ... Buckeyes pegged as team to beat; WVU #7 ... Groh reinstates senior safety Tony Franklin ... Four from C-USA on Thorpe Award watch list

08.04.06: Judge: Buckeyes owe ex-coach big bucks ... Marshall takes preseason volleyball accolades ... Conference USA adds administrator to staff

08.03.06: Four Hurricanes will miss opener with FSU ... Report says Sooners QB canned ... Tigers' Tate takes aim on Women's Amateur

08.02.06: Kragthorpe lassoes new pact, new transfers ... ACC champ to Orange; makeup policy defined ... Blazers launching prep baseball league

08.01.06: C-USA releases schedule of televised games ... 'The Voice' adds morning duties on local AM's ... Huskers, Huskies set dates in 2010, 2011

Texas-El Paso built a 24-point lead in the second half before holding off a feverish San Diego State rally and edging the Aztecs, 34-27, in the teams' 2006 season opener on Thursday night at Qualcomm Stadium.

Jordan Palmer completed 19 of 28 passes with three touchdowns and four interceptions for the Miners. Palmer passed for 205 yards as UTEP compiled 243 yards of total offense, according to an account on the Conference USA website.

Early on, the scrambling ability of Aztec signal-caller Kevin O'Connell gave the Miners fits. O'Connell had three rushes for first downs in the first quarter. His 28-yard scamper on third and six on the Aztecs' first offensive possession set up Garrett Palmer's 46-yard field goal, putting San Diego State ahead 3-0.

UTEP dominated the second quarter to take a 14-3 lead into the locker room. The Aztecs were held to 36 yards in the period. Palmer connected with tight end Jamar Hunt for a 13-yard touchdown to give the Miners a 7-3 lead. On the next possession, UTEP marched 36 yards on three plays, ending with Marcus Thomas' five-yard run into the end zone. Florida State transfer Lorne Sam made his first impact of the 2006 season on the drive. Sam came in at quarterback and ran for seven yards on the first play of the series. Then he handed off to Thomas for back-to-back runs of 19 and five yards.

Safety Quintin Demps picked off O'Connell on the opening drive of the second half, and the Miners capitalized with their third touchdown of the night. Palmer hit Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr., for an 11-yard score, the 20th TD of Higgins' career. It moved Higgins into sole possession of second place on the UTEP career touchdown receptions list, eight behind the record-holder Lee Mays (28). The extra point attempt by Reagan Schneider was no good, ending a string of 95 consecutive made PATs by the senior kicker.

Later, lineman Alfonso Auelua recovered a fumble by O'Connell in the end zone, extending the Miners' advantage to 27-3.

San Diego State's offense received a boost when O'Connell was pulled and sophomore second-stringer Darren Mougey was inserted into the game. Mougey directed the Aztecs on three straight touchdown drives to close the gap to 27-24. He scored on runs of one and 14 yards, then handed off to Lynell Hamilton for a one-yard TD.

Mougey rushed for 41 yards, including two TD's, and passed for 178, completing 12 of 16 in limited action in the third and fourth quarter.

Once again Demps saved the day for the Miners, intercepting Mougey on the Aztecs' next drive to set up Palmer's seven-yard touchdown pass to Jake Sears for a 34-24 lead.

A 35-yard field goal by Palmer drew SDSU to within a touchdown (34-27) with 1:59 to go. But the Miners recovered the onside kick to preserve the victory.

UTEP will host Texas Tech next Saturday (Sept. 9) at 7 p.m., the first meeting between the Miners and the Red Raiders since 1998 and the first matchup between the schools in El Paso since 1963.

Four Pirates recorded double-digit kills as the East Carolina volleyball team defeated Wright State in five games Friday night in the opening match of the Jefferson Cup Volleyball Tournament on the campus of the University of Virginia.

The Raiders (1-4) won the first two games, 30-24, 30-27, before the Pirates (2-3) won three games in a row to win the match, according to a university media relations release.

Freshman Stephanie Turner and junior Kelley Wernert each tallied double-doubles in the win. Turner registered 18 kills and 12 digs, both career-bests, while Wernert's 22 kills and 18 digs were also career-highs. Junior Mignon Dubenion tallied a personal-best 18 kills in the win. Senior setter Heidi Krug added 13 digs, four block assists and 70 assists.

Jenny Schultz led the Raiders with 20 kills and 15 digs while Sarah Poling also recorded a double-double with 14 kills and 15 digs. Tara Geegan and Alisha Kimbro each added 16 kills on the night.

East Carolina got goals by freshman Sarah Kirkley and Kami York-Feirn, en route to a 2-0 women's soccer win at Western Carolina on Friday night, according to a university athletic media relations release.

Freshman Jessica Swanson and sophomore Blair Heffner each got an assist in the game.

Starting in net for the third consecutive game was Amber Campbell. Campbell has now allowed one goal in 265:48. The lone goal came during overtime in a 1-0 loss to Old Dominion in the season opener.

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.