NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State football team concluded its first week of preseason camp with its first full intrasquad scrimmage on Monday morning at Dick Price Stadium.

The scrimmage was originally scheduled for Saturday night, but was postponed due to inclement weather. Despite the early-morning start time, there was no shortage of enthusiasm from the Spartans during the 70-plus-play session.

Coach Pete Adrian said that defenses are usually ahead of offenses early in preseason camp, and that statement held true on Monday, at least to start. The first-team defense forced a pair of three-and-outs against its first-team offensive counterparts to begin the session. On the scrimmage's third drive, sophomore defensive back Dionte Sullivan intercepted a pass from Jake Basmagian as the second units went head-to-head.

With the first-team units back on the field, a defensive penalty jump-started a drive for the first-team offense. Nico Flores completed a pair of passes on the drive, which ended in a 24-yard Everett Goldberg field goal. It was the first of three field goals by the All-MEAC preseason first-team selection.

It was then Basmagian's turn to lead a scoring drive. He completed passes of 18 yards to tight end Tevin White and 12 yards to Derrick Demps to move the team into field-goal range, but a third-down sack by Lynden Trail brought Goldberg back onto the field. The senior kicker connected from 31 yards out this time.

The third-string units got two possessions against one another, neither of which resulted in points. Following special teams work at the halfway point of the scrimmage, the first-team offense came back on the field with a possession on the defensive team's 40-yard line. A 19-yard completion from Flores to Kelvin Lewis set up another field goal, this one from 32 yards away by sophomore Ryan Lee.

That marked the start of four straight possessions in which the offense scored. Thanks in part to a 15-yard completion from Basmagian to Wilonte' Roscoe, the second-team unit converted its possession into points when Goldberg hit from 37 yards out.

Both the first and second teams found the end zone during red-zone possessions. Redshirt freshman Brendon Riddick capped the first with a 1-yard TD run, and Dallas Simmons did likewise on the second drive.

Flores completed 5-of-10 for 38 yards. Basmagian was 3-for-8 for 45 yards. Spartan kickers combined to go 4-of-4 on field goals and 2-of-2 on extra points.

Adrian applauded the effort from all three phases of the Spartans' performance on Monday.

“It was a good first scrimmage for us,” Adrian said. “We had a few costly penalties on defense that we need to clean up. But the effort and enthusiasm were definitely there, and we'll look to build on this in week 2.”

The team's second scrimmage is tentatively scheduled for Saturday morning at 9 a.m.