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SPORTS

Scouting reports

Saturday, October 11, 2008
(Updated 7:54 am)

EAST CAROLINA (3-2)

Who: Virginia (2-3) When: Noon today

Where: Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, Va. TV: WXLV-45 Radio: WPET-950

Watch for: Good luck figuring out this game. The Cavaliers have pitched two shutouts and have lost three times by 28 or more points. The Pirates have handed Virginia Tech its only loss, but have lost twice since some began to speculate they were the Boise State of 2008. ECU is consistent in one respect: It has scored exactly 24 points three times and has gone for 28 and 27 in the other contests. The Pirates have 11 sacks in five games, but don't expect them to do much against UVa T Eugene Monroe, whom one scouting service rates as the best overall prospect in the 2009 NFL draft. "I'd rather walk a city block than try to get around him," as Duke coach David Cutcliffe put it.

N.C. A&T (2-4, 0-2 MEAC)

What: Aggie homecoming Who: Morgan State (2-3, 0-1)

When: 1:30 p.m. today Where: Aggie Stadium, Greensboro

Tickets: Call 334-7749 Radio: WNAA-90.1

Watch for: Devan James, the MEAC's leading rusher (107 ypg). For what it's worth, Morgan beat N.C. Central 49-7; the Eagles just beat the Aggies 28-27. A&T will go with Carlton Fears at QB and still hopes to get RB Michael Ferguson back at close to full strength. Walk-on Nigel Tomlin, who had a big day against Central, will get most of the carries Ferguson doesn't take. The Aggies have lost four consecutive homecoming games and hope to avoid the fallout from another defeat.

ELON (5-1, 3-0 Southern)

Who: The Citadel (3-2, 1-1) When: 2 p.m. today

Where: Johnson Hagood Stadium, Charleston, S.C. Radio: WPCM-920

Watch for: Another key test as the Phoenix continues its push for the Southern Conference title and its first NCAA playoff berth. This one matches Elon coach Pete Lembo against one of his mentors, Bulldogs coach Kevin Higgins, who was his boss at Lehigh before handing off to Lembo and taking an assistant's job with the NFL's Detroit Lions. Elon took a more grounded approach last week, unleashing sophomore RB Brandon Newsome to the tune of 161 yards rushing in a surprisingly easy 31-10 win over Furman. The Citadel features QB Bart Blanchard (82-141-7, 1,004 yards, 8 TDs passing, 188 yards, 2 TDs rushing).

APPALACHIAN STATE (3-2, 1-0 Southern)

Who: Samford (3-2, 1-1) When: 3:30 p.m. today

Where: Seibert Stadium, Birmingham, Ala. Radio: WBLO-790, WZTK-101.1

Watch for: Appalachian played more like a three-time defending national champion last weekend in a 47-21 win over The Citadel. QB Armanti Edwards passed for four TDs and rushed for two more. More importantly Edwards spread the passing wealth among seven receivers. Game matches the conference's stingiest defense (Samford) against one of the nation's most prolific offenses in ASU. Freshman QB Dustin Taliaferro has completed 67 percent of his passes for the Bulldogs. He's shielded by an offensive line that averages 315 pounds.

NORTH CAROLINA (4-1)

Who: Notre Dame (4-1) When: 3:30 p.m. today

Where: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill Tickets: Sold out

TV: WXLV-45 Radio: WTHZ-94.1, WBAG-1150, WLXN-1440

Watch for: WR Michael Floyd, who has 18 catches for 201 yards in the past three games. He's only the second Irish freshman with consecutive 100-yard games. QB Jimmy Clausen, who threw six INTs over the first three games, has thrown 75 passes without a pick. For the Tar Heels, sophomore TB Shaun Draughn came out of nowhere last week to run over UConn. Watch the ratio of carries between Draughn and Greg Little. Carolina probably can't expect to live off its special teams as it did last week. The Heels ran only 49 plays for 263 yards in a 38-12 win.

ALSO PLAYING

Greensboro (2-2, 0-1 USA South) at Christopher Newport (2-1, 1-0), 1 (Webcast at www.ustream.tv/gcpride)

Western Carolina (2-4, 0-2 Southern) at Furman (4-2, 1-1), 2

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