The first week of practice was a good one for the Chadron State College football team, head coach Jay Long said Saturday after the Eagles played what he called a “situational scrimmage” that lasted about an hour and 15 minutes.

With four quarterbacks in action, each offensive unit took turns running six plays at a time. Long said the defense generally had the upper hand when the top units on offense and defense met, but when the second and third units met, he said, the offense held firm.

“This was our sixth practice and I think we’re ahead of schedule,” Long said. “There’s good competition for playing time at most positions. That means we’ll have good depth.”

There will be 17 more practices starting Monday before the Eagles open their season against Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday, August 29 at 6 p.m.

Long predicted that the Eagles’ defensive line, which includes Hunter O’Conner and Tanner True, both of whom were named to the First-Team All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference last fall, will make it difficult for opponents to pass the ball this fall.

The coach was particularly pleased that there were no injuries in the training game on Saturday.