NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State football team conducted its second preseason intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday morning at the NSU practice field. The scrimmage lasted roughly 50 plays and signaled the end of preseason camp prior to classes beginning on Monday.

Sophomore UCF transfer quarterback Nico Flores scored the only touchdown of the scrimmage on a 2-yard run on the last drive of the morning. Other than that, the Spartan defense held the offense to a trio of field goals – two by Ryan Estep covering 40 and 37 yards, and one by Everett Goldberg also covering 40 yards. Two of the three field goal drives began across midfield as the team practiced beginning possessions at varying distances from the end zone.

The defense came up with two big stops to thwart promising drives in the red zone. One ended on a sack by Syracuse linebacker Chad Battles on a 3rd-and-6, and the other came when defensive linemen Joey Christine and Josh Turner snuffed out a 4th-and-2 run by Randy Maynes inside the 5-yard line.

“I think the defense held the upper hand for most of the scrimmage,” Spartans coach Pete Adrian said. “But we expect that. Our defense knows what plays our offense likes to run, and then again, our offense didn't show (all of its wrinkles) today.”

Adrian was most pleased with the fact that his team escaped the morning's scrimmage, and most of preseason camp, without any major injuries.

“I think we played under control today,” Adrian said. “There was some good hitting, but we realize that 'Norfolk State' is not on our schedule. We're not out here to beat on each other. Now, we can turn all of our focus toward Virginia State.”

The Spartans host Virginia State in the return of the Virginia Lottery Labor Day Classic on Saturday, Sept. 3 at Dick Price Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.