Georgia Southern’s football team conducted its first scrimmage of spring practice at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Paulson Stadium.

The scrimmage originally was scheduled for 10 a.m., but GSU decided Saturday morning to move it up because of the threat of inclement weather. The Eagles scrimmaged until 11 a.m. without a delay.

The offense scored eight touchdowns: six rushing and two passing. The defense scored on an interception return.

"The pluses were the big plays for the offense and the big plays for the defense. And the minuses were the big plays for the offense and the big plays for the defense," GSU head coach Jeff Monken said. "You want to have big plays. You don’t want to give up big plays. I don’t know that we played as physical or with the kind of effort that we need to to have a good team, to be a successful team. I’d like to see that improve.

"But there were some good plays, some good hits, some good tackles, some good blocks, some good runs. I thought the guys did a good job kicking the ball."

GSU started drives at the 30-yard line after scores instead of kicking off.

Ezayi "Izzy" Youyoute started at quarterback with the first team. His 1-yard touchdown run was the scrimmage’s first score.

"There’s fire under my butt every day," Youyoute said of competing with Jerick McKinnon for the starting job. "Ever since my freshman year there’s been fire under my butt. But, you know, I just try to come in every day and go a great job."

McKinnon worked at QB with the second team. He ran for a 67-yard gain but was ruled down at the 3-yard line. He capped the drive with a touchdown run.

McKinnon said he was not surprised the offense scored eight touchdowns.

"That’s what we expect," he said. "The object is to move the ball and score every chance we get."

Is it a bad sign for GSU’s defense?

"I would say so," McKinnon said, laughing. "But the defense, they’re good. They’re real good at defending the option. Of course, they’re going to have that fixed real quickly.

"Everything was fluid and, the offense as a group, we were moving really good. A couple of drives didn’t go the way that we wanted them to so we can always improve on those things and get better as a unit."

McKinnon was intercepted by Walter Jackson, who returned the ball for a 35-yard touchdown.

"We’re playing our base defense," Monken said. "I think it’s important from an installation standpoint to put in our base defense, which is an even front, two linebackers. So we try to make that work with what the offense is doing to the defense. And that’s not necessarily our dead-set option plan because we’ve played option teams differently than we’re playing right now.

"But if we can take what we’re doing against traditional offenses and say, ‘Here’s our fronts and coverages, let’s work them into playing the option right now’ it helps our young guys to learn to get lined up where they’re supposed to be. We’ll expand as the spring goes, and we’ll get into a definite option defensive package."

B-back Seon Jones’ 28-yard run set up A-back Devin Scott’s 23-yard touchdown run.

Quarterback Prince McJunkins, competing to be the backup, threw a 60-yard pass to wide receiver B.J. Johnson that set up B-back William Banks’ touchdown run.

B-back Dominique Swope ran 69 yards to the 1-yard line, setting up McKinnon’s 1-yard touchdown run.

Youyoute was intercepted by cornerback Nick Wright.

Tray Butler ran for a 70-yard touchdown on a pitch from quarterback Russell DeMasi.

Youyoute threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Johnson.

"We’ll probably assess that entire situation after spring ball is done," Monken said of the quarterbacks. "I think both of them are doing a really good job. And they both have strengths. But probably we can see one being more valuable than the other because of what he does well. But it’s difficult to say it’s this guy and not that guy because I think they’re both making plays and performing.

"It’s probably pretty plain to see some of the differences between the two guys, but they’re both good players, and we’re going to finish out the spring with both of them at quarterback, then make a decision on who we think has the best chance to help us succeed in the fall.

"And then find another place for the second guy to go. It could be receiver or slot or DB. I think both of them are capable. Obviously, Jerick’s done it. But they’re both capable of playing other positions. We’ll figure that out at the end of the spring."

McJunkins’ touchdown pass to DeVonte Lewis ended the day’s scoring.

"Each and every day, people really see Izzy and Jerick a lot, so each and every time I get a chance to play, I try to improve myself so that people can, later on down the line, possibly, know who I am," McJunkins said. "(Right now) it’s Izzy, Jerick and me."

Monken said McJunkins might be moved to a different position.

"I think the other two are clearly ahead of him, but I hope that he’s developing enough that he can be a backup because I do think the two guys ahead of him are two of our best athletes," Monken said. "And I think Prince is a good athlete. Perhaps maybe Prince needs to move to another position, and he might have to once the freshmen get in here. We’ll figure that out in fall camp."

Monken said none of his players stood out Saturday.

"Hopefully, we’re going to see some real improvement over the next two weeks, and guys that are clearly separating themselves from the other guys at their position," he said.