FAIRHOPE — The Fairhope Pirates completed their first week of fall practice with some ups and some downs.

Head coach Mark Lasseter said 10 days into the 2007 season, the Pirates were looking good and that he was pleased but also bothered that the “injury bug” may show up at anytime.

“The kids have worked hard, we’ve been a little sloppy at times, but our work ethic is there. The kids are getting after it and going hard. I feel they are going to be there every play, every game giving it all they’ve got and keep us in position to win. I’m real pleased with what I’ve been seeing.They believe in them selves and I think that’s going to win a lot of ball games for them.

Of course you always have to worry about the injury bug. If we stay free of injury, we’ll have a chance to win a bunch of ball games, but if we get some people hurt, then we’re going to struggle. But that’s football, that’s the way it is with every program in America. we’ll just have to deal with it.””

Lasseter said it looks like sophomore Daryl Norris will get the start at quarterback and the new no-huddle offense is coming together well.

“We are going to no-huddle it every play and that’s the way it’s going to be. We have been running it now since the latter part of April so it’s not as new to us as some may think. So far we like the way it’s going but we really won’t know until we line up against Alma Bryant and St. Paul’s and then we’ll see where we really are.”

Fairhope will play the Alma Bryant Hurricanes Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. in a preseason game. The Pirates then travel to St. Paul's to meet the 5A Saints in their season opener.