Good First Scrimmage For St. Aug Football Team

RALEIGH, North Carolina  --  Saint Augustine's University was impressive on both sides of the ball during an intra-squad football scrimmage at SAU Stadium on Saturday, August 17, 2013.

"The offense made big plays and the defense made key stops," Head Coach Michael Costa said. "We are coming along (as a team). The players are starting to see the things they need to do in order to get better."

The offense produced the first big play when Alex Munro (Jr./Ashburn, Va.) rolled right and ran untouched down the sideline. It would have been an 80-yard touchdown had play not stopped in the middle of his run. The defense responded minutes later when three-time All-CIAA linebacker Chaz Robinson (Sr./Hampton, Va.) deflected a pass and defensive lineman Josh Manners (Fr./Suwannee, Ga.) scooped up the interception.

Both units took turns making highlight-reel plays on a cloudy day with cool temperatures and sporadic light rain. Offensively, quarterbacks A.J. Gilford (So./Savannah, Ga.) and Munro threw pinpoint passes to wide receivers Jermaine Jones (R-Sr./Wilmington, N.C.), Brian Richards (R-Sr./Waldorf, Md.), Herman Reeves (R-Jr./Miami, Fla.) and Jordan Turkvant (R-So./Orangeburg, S.C.), whose long catch and run on one drive led to a score.

Costa heaped praise on the offensive line, which returns starters Jadarius Dean (Sr./Milledgeville, Ga.), Ruben Velazquez (R-Jr./Rock Hill, S.C.) and Au'Darius Blackwood (R-Sr./Mooresville, N.C.). The line allowed running backs Roderick Davenport (So./Orangeburg, S.C.), LeQuinton Williams (So./Cairo, Ga.), JJShawn Pinkston (R-Sr./Mooresville, N.C.) and Antonio Thomas (So./Lynchburg, Va.) to break off long runs up the middle. Pinkston was singled out for his aggressive running during the scrimmage.

The defense was stellar as well. All-CIAA defensive end Javarous Faulk (Sr./Macon, Ga.) and Chris Roberts (R-So/Albany, Ga.) led a stout defensive line which included solid play from Michael Oliver (R-Jr./Washington, D.C.) and newcomers Kiante Anderson (Fr./Greenville, S.C.), Maylon Rowland (R-Fr./Garner, N.C.) and Manners.

As usual, Robinson was a force on defense. He and fellow linebackers Carlton Butts (Jr./Thomasville, Ga.) and Dante Devouse (Sr./Phenix, Ala.) were often in the backfield making tackles. Linebacker Durrell Newby (R-Fr./Graham, N.C.) jarred a receiver with a hard hit on a short pass, which drew the biggest roar of the day from his teammates. Dezmon Hopkins (Fr./Manassas, Va.) played well in the secondary.

"My biggest concern (coming into the season) was the offensive line and they did a good job, " Costa said. "They opened some big holes and the backs had some nice runs. The D-line was tough. The linebackers did OK. Chaz did a good job. The secondary is missing a couple of starters but the young guys stepped up. Overall, it was good day."

This was the first of three scrimmages scheduled for the preseason. The next two are Saturday, August 24, at 10 a.m. and Saturday, August 31, at 1:30 p.m. SAU Stadium is the site and admission is free.

The Falcons are picked to finish second in the CIAA Southern Division and third overall in the conference. They are gunning for their third winning record in four seasons. The season opens on the road Saturday, Sept. 7, against North Carolina Central University in Durham, N.C., at 2 p.m.

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION