Defense set the tone during the final segment of Georgia Southern's fifth practice of fall camp. Tuesday morning's session, the first practice in full pads, lasted for two and a half hours at the practice field complex.

            The team held a mini-scrimmage at the end of practice, the first time the down marker and chains were used. Georgia Southern's defense forced the offense to a three-and-out on the first four possessions. Damon Suggs recorded a sack on the very first play then later the senior defensive lineman and Harland Bower teamed for another sack to force the offense off the field.

            On the fifth possession, the offense started to click needing six plays to score. Zeke Rozier took the opening handoff and went over 10 yards. Jonathan Bryant caught a Kyle Collins pass for a first down, then Collins scrambled for another first down. Three plays later freshman running back Lamar Brown scored a touchdown.

            True-freshman running back LaVelle Larry caught a TD pass on the next drive. E.J. Webb stopped the offense from making it three straight scores by intercepting a pass.

            The defense forced another change-over on downs thanks to a key third down sack by Kerry Bonds. Later in the session Derek Heyden thought he had an interception but the defensive line was called for offsides. Two pass break-ups later resulted in fourth down. Junior defensive back Ronnie Wiggins picked up a loose ball and ran it back for a touchdown.

            Coach Chris Hatcher was encouraged by what he saw at practice by his preseason 17th-ranked Eagles, especially on defense.

            "Well we had some good work on both sides of the ball. Our first team defense really flew around and just put it to the offense. That was good to see those guys playing with great intensity. I saw some good things out of some of the young players," said the second year head coach. "Some of our young backs looked good out there which was a real pleasant surprise for us. We're not ready to play right now and we don't have to be, so we are trying to get better each day."

            Did Hatcher expect the veteran defensive unit to have the upper hand in such a workout?

            "Yeah, I hope so," he said. "As the offensive coach I'm trying to whip them every single day, but in the grand scheme of things we want those yards to be tough to come by."

            Wednesday will be the first multiple-workout of camp. The team is tentatively scheduled to practice from 8-10 a.m., 2:15-4:15 p.m. then for another hour walk through 7 p.m. Following a Thursday afternoon practice and another multiple-workout on Friday, Hatcher plans on giving the team Saturday and Sunday off.