Double Coverage - 2018 Twin Counties Football

DOUBLE

COVERAGE

2018

TWIN COUNTies

FOOTBALL

Jaquan Lynch: Jason Battle’s quarterback project p. 22

Melik Ward: Tarboro’s defensive engine P. 24

Shyheim and Zonovan: Get to know 252’s fINEST P. 8

Title replay: Relive Tarboro and Rocky Mount Academy’s championship GAMES P. 26

SOUTHERN NASH’s ZONOVAN KNIGHT

2 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 2018

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The

Able Home The LLC Telegram Playbook Health Care, 8-11 Q & A with Zonovan Knight

& Shyheim Battle Team Previews • 12 Rocky Mount • 14 Southern Nash • 16 Northern Nash • 18 Nash Central • 20 SouthWest Edgecombe 22 Jaquan Lynch & Jason Battle 24 Tarboro’s Melik Ward 26 Tarboro State Title 28 Rocky Mount Academy State Title Team Previews • 30 Tarboro • 32 North Edgecombe • 34 Rocky Mount Prep • 36 Rocky Mount Academy • 38 Faith Christian 40 Coaching Breakdown 41 Master Schedule 43 Staff Picks 44 2017 Players of the Year

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AHHC promise to you... is Sarah basedLouya on Alan Campbell Photographer Photographer our family’s values and our commitment to excellence that has distinguishedPublisher Able Home Kyle Stephens Health Care since its beginning in 2000.

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ContentsNC may27820 not be reproduced without the consent of the publisher.

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854 Tiffany Blvd. #101 Becky Wetherington Design & Layout Rocky Mount, NC 27804 Correspondent Jessie H. Nunery

2018 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 5

2018

BISHOPS FOOTBALL

Home games, shown in bold, are played at the Rocky Mount Athletics Stadium.

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2018 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 7

Next stop:

N.C. State

There’s a recognizable amount of respect between Zonovan Knight and Shyheim Battle.

They aren’t necessarily best friends, and they didn’t grow up together learning the game that has unlocked a considerable amount of opportunity for both of them. They go to different schools, play different positions, and were raised in different towns, but 8 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 2018

there’s a knowing handshake you give to a fellow power five recruit from your area who’s been through all the same pitches and pressures along the way.

Knight, a running back and rising senior for Southern Nash, committed to N.C. State in early July. Battle, a cornerback and rising senior for Rocky Mount High, followed along with his word to the

An exclusive Q&A with Zonovan Knight & Shyheim Battle Written By Samuel Evers Photos by Alan Campbell

Wolfpack later in the same month.

In between, there was some nudging from Knight to his contemporary, throwing out the idea of two athletes from the 252 area code teaming up in Raleigh in 2019 for N.C. State.

After this football season, both will graduate early and enroll in college for the second semester

of the school year, making that scenario a reality.

The two met up earlier this month at Rocky Mount High to discuss their future team, their two current teams, who’s going to win the Big East this year, long visits to Indiana, group chats, the time Knight got a step on Battle for a touchdown, and more.

2018 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 9

Rocky Mount Telegram: How well do you guys know each other? When did you guys meet?

Shyheim Battle: Middle school. Seventh grade.

Zonovan Knight: I didn’t really knowknow Shyheim until high school. I think our relationship really clicked this year when we played them. He was a wide receiver and I had to guard him. I just kept telling him, ‘Good job,’ ‘Good job,’ after every play. That’s where we clicked.

RMT: When did you take notice of Zonovan?

SB: When we first played Southern Nash in middle school, I didn’t know who he was, but every time he got the ball he was running up the sidelines. He frustrated me. In high school, I come to find out he’s a fast kid. A pretty good kid. Had to keep my eye on him. He’s a good baller.

RMT: Of Shyheim?

ZK: I think my sophomore year when Sherrod Greene was here. We played them and they came to us.

RMT: You’re in the same grade and in the same area getting the same kind of recognition. Did that make you closer as friends?

SB: Yeah. I started hitting him with the direct messages. I think we followed each other, starting DMing each other: Who you like? Where you going to go? That type of stuff. Our relationship started growing when we found out we were the top two guys in our area. We started communicating more.

RMT: Who followed who?

(Pause) ZK: I can’t even remember. (Laughs) SB: I just know we started texting around the time we got some more offers.

ZK: It’s just something that happened.

RMT: What do you remember about those conversations?

ZK: Like Shyheim said, most of the time when we were talking we were just asking what our top schools were.

RMT: You guys committed to N.C. State pretty close to each other. (Zonovan) was in early-July. (Shyheim) was later that month. In that time between, did you guys talk at all?

SB: He was persuading me to commit.

I kept telling him I would think about. I might make a move. When it all came down to the end, I thought about who was there the longest.

RMT: What kind of stuff were you telling Shyheim?

ZK: At first, he was kind of telling me that State was his first option. That was back when I was committed to Duke. And, like, once I decommitted, that’s when I started seeing, and we’d talk about, all the good stuff (Shyheim) liked about State. When I committed, I tried to recruit him. Tell him we had a good class coming in. He kind of surprised me when he committed.

RMT: How’d you find out? Twitter?

ZK: No, we were messaging each other on Instagram. He said he “flipped the switch.” I didn’t know what that meant.

Then I started getting all these alerts — four-star cornerback commits to N.C. State. I texted Coach Doeren, he said he did.

RMT: How’d you find out about Zonovan?

SB: He told me right after, but I had a feeling he was going to go there. He visited N.C. State a lot of times. I was like, ‘Man, he’s at N.C. State everyday.’

ZK: Yeah, everybody already knew.

(Laughs) SB: Yep. I said, ‘He’s got to be going.’

RMT: It seems like it’s the movement right now for in-state players to go to N.C. State. Did that matter to you?

ZK: It played a big role. We had a group chat. We were all connected through the group chat, saying what we liked about State.

RMT: All you guys with a bunch of offers had a group chat?

ZK: It wasn’t everyone. I don’t think Shyheim was in it. We had (N.C. State commit) Josh Harris, he was in it. (N.C. State commit) Drake Thomas was in it.

We all knew we were going to commit before we said it, but we didn’t really say anything.

RMT: You guys both had chances to go pretty far. When you see a guy like Zonovan commit close to home — and there are a bunch of others from around here — is that a perk to be familiar with teammates? Instead of somewhere you wouldn’t know many people?

SB: When Coach Doeren was recruiting

10 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 2018

me, when he first offered me, he sold that — ‘You won’t have to travel far. You can save money. You’ll have that connection with the area.’ That type of thing. You don’t have to travel way on the other side of the country. You won’t have to start a new life. That’s a good thing to me.

RMT: What did your moms say when you decided to stay close?

SB: She was shocked, surprised. But they’re behind me. They supported me.

They can just drive up the street. They say they’re going to move, too.

ZK: My mom kind of already knew. I think when I went on my official visit to Purdue, that kind of sealed the deal. I knew I wanted to be close. I didn’t want to be too far from home. I wanted to go visit my parents.

RMT: All the way in Indiana?

ZK: Yessir. It was a different kind of feel. The first day there I knew it wasn’t for me. It was a great school. I just knew I wanted to be home.

RMT: Maybe that visit was a good thing, just to know you wanted to be close.

ZK: Before that, I was telling coaches I didn’t mind going across the country.

That one visit showed everything to me.

(Laughs) RMT: Dave Doeren is a champion for Raleigh. He’s always touting the city and the facilities. Did his passion stick out to you guys?

SB: He’s really big on the area. He hasn’t been there so long but he says he doesn’t want to leave. He wants to raise his family there. He really likes it, the people he works with. My dad showed me something the other day, that another program was trying to take his guys, so he offered them raises so they won’t leave.

ZK: Really, he was family-based.

Making sure my family was close, so they wouldn’t have to spend much money coming to the games. I grew up in Raleigh before I moved to Middlesex, so he didn’t so much have to sell me on the city. I already knew it was a great city.

RMT: What sticks out to you about Shyheim as a cornerback?

ZK: His break on the ball. He’s a great player. Most of the time, I guard him when we play. I watched his film. His ability to break on the ball is really good.

He’s lanky. It gives him an advantage.

RMT: Shyheim?

SB: Everytime he gets the ball, I know he’s going to take a couple of steps, find a hole, and from there, ain’t nobody touching him. I can promise you, he’s got breakaway speed. He got three steps on me one time. I knew it was over. I know how it is when you have that speed.

RMT: If you both switched positions, who would be the better player at what?

ZK: Being an NCAA Division I athlete, a lot of people expect different things from you. Expect you to do better. That was a hard adjustment for me.

RMT: Was all the attention weird?

ZK: At some point it feels like people want to be around you for that reason.

Before all the offers not too many people were around.

ZK: I’d probably be the better corner (Laughs). But I like the feeling of scoring versus defense.

RMT: You guys are all wrapped up college-wise. But there’s still a senior season to be played. Who’s going to win the Big East this year?

SB: I was a good running back in middle school. On the high school level I might not be so good. Maybe quarterback, wide receiver, not running back.

SB: Good question. I’m pretty confident in my team. Other than us two in the conference though, I don’t think there’s nobody else there.

RMT: What’s one thing that surprised you throughout the whole college recruiting process?

ZK: I’m going to go ahead and agree with that.

SB: The attention. Once you’re a bigtime recruit they treat you like a celebrity.

It’s kind of like a respect thing. It makes you feel good but you’ve got to know what you’re worth too.

RMT: Are you going to miss playing with Kendrick Bell?

ZK: I’m going to miss it a lot. Our relationship was pretty good. This past season we had to take over. The relationship over the course of the year

grew through football, basketball and track.

RMT: How’s he doing at Charleston Southern?

ZK: Last time I talked to him, he was beat. He said they hadn’t touched the ball yet. Just conditioning. (Laughs) RMT: The last thing I’ll ask — being from this area, being two marquee athletes in your grade — do you guys take pride in that?

SB: I take pride. I know I’m a competitor.

I don’t like to be beat. I lost an All-Star Game and it got me good. I want to be the best at what I do. I’m going to work for it.

ZK: I feel like I have a lot to prove. You hear all those stories about the people that almost make it or don’t make it because of injuries and other things. I don’t want to be one of those people.

I want to be one of those people that actually makes it. I want to change my families lives and take care of my mom.

Rocky Mount High's Shyheim Battle, left, answers a question while being interviewed with Southern Nash's Zonovan Knight at Rocky Mount High School. The duo has committed to N.C. State.

2018 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 11

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Able Home ocky Healthount Care,LLC locally owned & operated in-home health care services it most by defeating Northern Nash

Personal AHHC employs qualityin the final game Care of theServices: regular season for the• playoffs • Bathing Groomingwith four caregivers to assist to qualify individuals and families wins. • Dressing • Toileting This year’s squad should be more • Hygiene in their homes. competitive in •a Walking leveled-out Big East Conference.

The Gryphons lose • Mobility • Eating We are dedicated to their top three rushers to graduation, a trimmed Care:down backfield helping our clients lead though Respite will help junior Lawrence CommunityTashaun Alternatives dignified, independent and senior Rodell Bridges to get more Program lifestyles in the comfort and consistent carries.for Disabled is looking forward to his (CAP/DA) safety of their own homes BattleAdults

rushing attack, as both players will compete for the lion’s share of the Rodell Bridges touches.

Elsewhere, RMHper has high Medicaid may pay for up to 80 hours expectations for its passing game. month for an in-home caregiver to provide Jaquan Lynch returns as a junior after spending a full season as starter personal care services.

Light housekeeping a year ago. Lynch showed promise as tasks and meal preparations covered Story by Patrick Mason a sophomore are withalso a strong, accurate Photo by Alan Campbell arm incare throwing for 1,415 yards by the personal program.

When the Rocky Mount High having Revis,” Gryphons coach Jason and 16 touchdowns with just four interceptions. football team opens its season on Aug. Battle said. “You’re talking about a guy We accept private pay.

“He’s coming along well,” Battle said 17 against visiting Apex Middle Creek, that started the last 43 games at one the Gryphons will do so without position, never missed a game. That’s of Lynch. “He’s a quick learner and he AHHC promise to you... is based on De’Trell Revis. hard to replace because for the most grasps concepts well. He’s got to work on and his touch the time, and to I stay on ourfree family’s values our all commitment Revis will long be remembered by part nobody else played safety for him about footwork things, but as far the 99-yard touchdown reception he 43 games. excellence that has distinguished Able Home as understanding, you couldn’t ask for made in the 2016 playoffs that forced “We talked all the time, as coaches, a better kid.” overtime against Havelock a game that he made up for so many Care thingssince its beginning in 2000.

Health “A Passion for inCompassion” Speaking of talent, Shyheim Battle, the Gryphons would win in the extra that could have happened, but the fact a recently committed N.C. State period to advance to the state title that we had him back there negated recruit, will play corner and receiver game. a lot of big things that could have But in the coaches room, the happened to us over a three-year span. again. Battle, a player who projects as high-level todaythat forthe a complimentary weawill comedefensive to you!back in college, graduation of Call Revisusmeans He could find theconsultation… ball, man.” doesn’t get to show off his skills around RMH secondary will have a lot of As the Gryphons search for the (252) 535-4400 | (252) 973-8534 | www.AbleHomeHealthCareNC.com work to do. Revis started since his next safety of the future, the team the ball as often at the high school sophomore year, and started 43 is working on rebounding after the level as a lot of teams on the Gryphons consecutive games for the Gryphons, first losing season under Battle, who schedule prefer to run the ball. This that the coaching staff has to pulling down interceptions is entering his St. seventh season the means 1078 Hwy 48 in bunches, 114 East Main 854asTiffany Blvd. #101 and making game-saving tackles. head man. The Gryphons played hard find ways for the star defensive back to Roanoke Rapids, NCacross, 27870but the Conway, NC a27820 Rocky Mount, NC 27804 impact a game when a team decides to “We’re pretty solid all throughout tough season, and gained first thing that sticks out to me is not a much-needed win when they needed not throw his way.

the 2018 Gryphons

Compassion, Integrity, Respect, Expertise & Cost-Compassion

12 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 2018

Gryphons Schedule

STATS

Aug. 17, 7 p.m.....................Apex Middle Creek Aug. 24, 7 p.m................... @ Greenville Conley Aug. 30, 7 p.m......................... Hertford County OPEN Sept. 14, 7 p.m.................................. Havelock Sept. 21, 7 p.m.........................@ Nash Central OPEN Oct. 5, 7 p.m................................... Franklinton Oct. 12, 7 p.m....................................... @ Hunt Oct. 19, 7 p.m.................................Wilson Fike Oct. 26, 7 p.m........................@ Southern Nash Nov. 2, 7 p.m.............................Northern Nash

Classification: 3-A, Big East Last season: The Gryphons lost to Fayetteville Terry Sanford, 36-16, in the first round of the playoffs.

Record: 4-7, 3-2 Big East Conference Points for: 278 Points against: 325 4-1: That’s the ratio of touchdown passes to interceptions for quarterback Jaquan Lynch, which is tops in the conference. Lynch threw for 16 TDs against 4 picks. Only two quarterbacks even threw more touchdown passes than interceptions in the conference Key losses: De’Trell Revis, Jalen Watson, Charlie Williams III, Kevon Daniels, Marquez Pittman Key returners: Jaquan Lynch, Shyheim Battle, Daquon Horne

Did you know: These Gryphons marched together Story by Patrick Mason

A calendar was never really needed in Rocky Mount when it came to figuring out when football season had arrived.

“You knew it was football season when you saw the team coming down your street,” longtime Rocky Mount High athletic trainer Darrell McCalop said. “There was no mistaking that for anything else.”

The “click-clack” sound of cleats on the sidewalk, the cadence of the Gryphons’ marching band echoing through neighborhoods that reached eardrums blocks away, and the laughter from children that followed the line of uniformed players signaled a happy moment in the community.

When the old high school was downtown on Tillery Street, most of the after-school sports were held off-campus.

So before every home game the football team would follow behind the marching

band and walk to the stadium. It soon grew into a tradition that involved not only the football team and the band, but with the neighborhoods, too.

It was a short walk, several blocks, but a memorable trip.

“It was one of those things that we did. We didn’t ride no bus, just walked, every game,” McCalop said. “We had neighborhood kids following behind the team the whole way. I still remember it. We came out the back of the school from the fieldhouse, crossed Hammond Street, (we’d) go down Pine Street, (we’d) go about three blocks and take a left.”

Those who lived in the homes along the streets would sit outside and watch the procession. Players remember kids and people reaching out for handshakes.

Some even waited at the gate to greet their favorite Friday night performers.

It was a throwback to the days where Rocky Mount football was a community event.

“It was incredible because it felt like the whole town was out,” said Fonte Lyles, a 1992 RMH grad and current coach. “You got the bass drum boomin’, and the whole atmosphere of the community around you.”

The team switched stadiums after 1990, so Lyles got just one varsity year to make his walk. He soaked up every bit of it.

“We switched stadiums after 1990, so we didn’t have to walk like that,” Lyles said. “We wanted to do it like the Gryphons did, and I got in there just in time to get my walk.

“It was a great tradition and something you looked forward to doing once you got to high school. These kids don’t know now how big a deal that was for us. It was truly a great tradition.”

2018 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 13

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Able Home outhern ash Health Care,LLC locally owned & operated in-home health care services

every one of them. All seven of our Foster said.

Personal Care Services: AHHC employs qualityblockers,” Luckily, the one player still • Grooming caregivers to assist standing• Bathing is a good one. Zonovan Dressing Toileting individuals and families Knight,•one of the •state’s top running backs who recently committed to • Hygiene • Walking in their homes.

N.C. State, is back for a senior year • Mobility • Eating We are dedicated to that will follow a special junior He teamed with Bell to create Care: helping our clients lead season. Respite a monstrous rushing duo in 2017.

Community Alternatives dignified, independent With the latter now gone, Foster Program Cooley, for Disabled lifestyles in the comfort thinks and Quinton a junior who Adultsto(CAP/DA) safety of their own homes was named NCPreps’ Preseason All-State Team as a kick returner, can help fill the void and act as that Medicaid may pay for up to 80 hours per co-rusher with Knight in an offense month for an in-home caregiver to provide that favors a balanced rushing attack rather than one featured player. personal care services. Light housekeeping Quinton Cooley Cooley played outside linebacker tasks and meal preparations are alsoandcovered last year on defense, only got 12 carries care on offense because of the two by the personal program. players ahead of him.

Story by Samuel Evers a football player,” Foster said.

Photo by Alan Campbell We accept“He’s private pay.

“He’s real smart to the game. He’s got Another hot and sticky summer what I’m doing.” top ofisit.”

AHHC to on you... based on training camp, another year coaching Like any, this August has promise been talent At quarterback, Matt Foster, for Southern Nash’s Brian Foster, who about replacing those who have our family’s values and our commitment to as the enters his 29th overall season with moved on. This one just happens to Brian’s son, will start the season the Firebirds and his 21st as the head be a little more dramatic. excellence that has distinguished Able Sessoms.

Home replacement for Lorenzo coach.

From a season ago, where the On defense, Nadir Thompson “AthisPassion Compassion” At point, the for seasons blend Firebirds were among Health the best Care in 3-Asince its beginning in 2000.

(Virginia Tech) and Dae’one Wilkins together. The fleeting moments of with a 12-2 record and a run to the summer are mopped up by August, third round of the playoffs, they’ll have (Furman) are among the handful of and this preseason in particular has to reassemble a defensive backfield key departures.

But despite the turnover, most of been as bad weather-wise as he can and almost the entire offense. will22come toare you! remember it. Call us today for a complimentary On that side,consultation… the tight ends arewethe starters penciled in. Play But all is (252) well for535-4400 a man who knows The offensive line is gone. on the field will determine Southern | (252)gone.

973-8534 | www.AbleHomeHealthCareNC.com he’s doing what he’s meant to do.

Kendrick Bell, a prolific high school Nash’s fate.

“I know where I’m supposed to running back who is just getting “We’ve got people that are capable. be,” said Foster after a rain-drenched started at Charleston Southern, is They just haven’t done it in a varsity practice last week.

“If48 you’re down on 114 gone.

And so St. is their quarterback.

1078 Hwy East Main 854 Tiffany Blvd. #101 what you’re doing, or don’t believe in In all, 10 starters graduated this past setting,” Foster said. “It’s going to be Roanoke Rapids,than NC 27870 Rocky Mount, NC 27804 totally different. But we deal with what you’re doing, you’re doing Conway, spring. NC 27820 the wrong thing. I feel good about “Tight end to tight end — we lost that every year.”

the 2018 Firebirds

Compassion, Integrity, Respect, Expertise & Cost-Compassion

14 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 2018

Firebirds Schedule

STATS

Aug. 17, 7 p.m............................... Green Hope Aug. 24, 7 p.m..........................@ Nash Central Aug. 30, 7 p.m......................................@ Bunn Sept. 7, 7 p.m............................ West Johnston Sept. 14, 7 p.m.......................... @ Wake Forest Sept. 21, 7 p.m.................................White Oak OPEN Oct. 5, 7 p.m...................................Wilson Fike Oct. 12, 7 p.m........................ @ Northern Nash Oct. 19, 7 p.m................................Wilson Hunt Oct. 26, 7 p.m...............................Rocky Mount Nov. 2, 7 p.m............................... @Franklinton

Classification: 3-A, Big east Last year: Lost to Havelock, 49-39, in the third round of the 3-A playoffs Record: 12-2 3,404: The number of yards that Zonovan Knight and Kendrick Bell rushed for last season One: The number of starting returners the Firebirds will have on offense Key losses: Kendrick Bell, Nadir Thompson, Dae’one Wilkins, Hunter Perry, Lorenzo Sessoms Key returners: Quinton Cooley, Zonovan Knight

Did you know: These Firebirds FLock together Story by Samuel Evers

Anyone who has covered, attended, coached, or played at a Southern Nash home game understands the campus isn’t your friendly neighborhood high school.

It’s off of US-64, but it’s not right off of US-64. There are still miles to be driven from the exit. It’s winding and dark at night.

When it’s time to send out report cards, the slips get sent out to seven different area codes.

In short speak, it’s rural. That’s part of what makes the continuity in the Southern Nash coaching staff notable.

“It’s not a little city where everybody’s together,” Foster said. “Not talking bad about other teams, but if we can do it here — you see where we are.”

In head coach Brian Foster’s 21 years of coaching the Firebirds, all but one of his assistants has played for him in some capacity, either with he himself as

the assistant or as the lead man.

The one exception is Robbie Kennedy, who has been with Foster all 21 years of his head coaching life.

That list, of course, includes the seven assistants Southern Nash will take into the 2018 season: Brian Batchelor, Brian Rice, Kwamaine Battle, Adam MontsDeOca, Jordan Bass, Sterling Leonard, and Foster’s son, Zack. It’s hard to overstate the importance of the familiarity.

“They know what I’m thinking, what I’m going to say, before I say it,” Foster said. “They’ve heard it since they were eighth graders. Some before that in youth ball.”

Such tradition has created a chain.

Matt, Foster’s other son, who enters the season as the Firebirds’ starting quarterback, and Zack have only known their father as SNHS’s football coach. They’ve been going to practices since they could walk.

Matt’s hero used to be Kwamaine Battle. Now Battle coaches Matt. On the sidelines these days during summer practice sessions, are other young Firebirds.

“You hardly ever come to one of our practices and not see our coaches’ kids,” Foster said. “It’s a lot like how my kids grew up.”

The only person missing, as Foster pointed out, for this year will be Aaron Keen, the assistant and “water boy” who died in a car crash this past February. He was on his way to being a Southern Nash lifer, a personality that stuck out among the sometimes-tooserious world of football.

“He was part of us,” Foster said.

“That’s something that’s going to be difficult. He was beside me every football game. Coaches knew he was the only one who could get away with asking questions. Southern Nash was him.”

2018 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 15

Able Home Northern N ash Health Care,LLC locally owned & operated in-home health care services AHHC employs quality caregivers to assist individuals and families in their homes.

We are dedicated to helping our clients lead dignified, independent lifestyles in the comfort and safety of their own homes

Personal Care Services: • Bathing • Grooming • Dressing • Toileting • Hygiene • Walking • Mobility • Eating Respite Care: Community Alternatives Program for Disabled Adults (CAP/DA)

Medicaid may pay for up to 80 hours per month for an in-home caregiver to provide personal care services. Light housekeeping Davontae Wiggins tasks and meal preparations areback, alsoincluding coveredsenior offense is coming quarterback Wiggins. by the personal careDavontae program.

the 2018 Knights

“Offensively we feel pretty good,” Farriss said. “Davontae Wiggins has got Story by Samuel Evers We accept private to be big time forpay. us this year.”

Photo by Alan Campbell On defense? Not so much. The All the assistant coaching seasons in Smithfield-Selma. He joined the Knights AHHC promise to you... based on starters Knights have onlyisthree returning the world can’t prepare a new head coach last season as the offensive line coach, and from last our year, acommitment fact Farriss hopesto will help ourhe’s family’s values and for the onslaught of phone calls, practice he’s familiar with the team inheriting. questions, and paperwork checkups on Still, there’s nothing like the first training breed some healthy competition for those excellence that has distinguished eight open spots. Able Home the first day of a new high school football camp.

“We have kids who look good,” he season.

“I’ve talked to someHealth of my buddies, Care since its beginning in 2000.

“A Passion for Compassion” That’s what Northern Nash’s Andrew and they’re kind of on cruise control,” he said. “They’re just unproven.”

Farriss was up against earlier this month, joked. “They know exactly what’s coming From the quarterback position, and that’s what he had been waiting nearly and how to handle all that, and I’m just a Wiggins was a bright spot for the 20 years to get to deal with. little bit frazzled trying to make sure I get Knights in 2017. He completed 123 “It’s been fun Call and stressful to have think everything covered.” us today for a complimentary consultation… wepasses, will come to more you!than 150 yards averaged about all those things,” said Farriss, who Farriss and the Knights will indeed per game through the air, and compiled was named (252) Northern Nash’s new |lead a lot of work| and game-planning to 17 touchdown passes. But all that meant 535-4400 (252)have 973-8534 www.AbleHomeHealthCareNC.com man this past winter after Randy Raper’s get in this season. retirement. “Even though I’ve done this A young Northern Nash team never little for the junior compared to the small for almost 20 years, it’s like everything is found its groove last year in Raper’s last number in the win column.

“We #101 understand how to win more than new again.”1078 Hwy 48 season, 114 Eastfinishing Main St.with a 1-10854record.

Tiffany Blvd. we did last year,” Wiggins said. “We have Farriss, though new to head coaching, The good news, though, for Farriss, who Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870 Conway, NC 27820 Rocky Mount, NC 27804 key parts coming back from a younger has been on high school football staffs enters the season with a good amount in the area since 1999, starting with of team-familiarity, is that most of the group. I think we’ll do better.”

Compassion, Integrity, Respect, Expertise & Cost-Compassion

16 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 2018

Knights Schedule

STATS

Aug 17, 7 p.m....................................@ Orange Aug. 24, 7 p.m......................Southeast Raleigh Aug. 31, 7 p.m......................................Tarboro Sept. 7, 7 p.m...............................Nash Central Sept. 14, 7 p.m............................ Northeastern Sept. 21, 7 p.m......... @ SouthWest Edgecombe Oct. 5, 7 p.m.............................. @ Wilson Hunt Oct. 12, 7 p.m............................Southern Nash Oct. 19, 7 p.m................................. Franklinton Oct. 26, 7 p.m............................. @ Wilson Fike Nov. 2, 7 p.m............................@ Rocky Mount

Classification: 3-A, Big East Last year: Finished the season with a 40-12 loss to Rocky Mount Record: 1-10 Points for: 154 Points against: 418 Seven: The number of wins Wiggins hopes to get as the quarterback and leader of the Knights.

Eleven: That’s the week the Knights head over to Rocky Mount for their annual rival game against the Gryphons Key losses: Da’Shawn Liggins, Trevor Sledge, Bryce Miles Key returners: Davontae Wiggins, Austin Curtis, Michael Bunn

Did you know: That rock has staying power Story by Samuel Evers

All of these years later, despite the immeasurable number of football-gloved hands that have fingerprinted its stature, the black-painted rock over at Northern Nash still stands proudly on the locker room side of Death Valley.

It’s become a small but important tradition over the years: Before a game, the Knights are to run out of the locker room and give the jagged rock a little tap. On the side facing the field, the words ‘HARD, TOUGH, STRONGER’ are painted on.

But how did that symbol of the football program get there? It took a new coach a few decades ago, who had the hope of creating the type of routine it’s known for now.

It arrived in 1994, and was the

idea of Jim Brett, who was then the new coach of the Knights.

He would go on to have two coaching stints with NNHS, first in the mid-90s and later in the 2000s, also serving at a point as athletic director.

Upon arrival, he looked around and figured his new digs could use a landmark; a notable and uniting factor.

He had coached at Tarboro in the 1980s, and had done the same thing there. (The Vikings’ rock, painted purple with the logo in the middle of it, still stands in Tarboro as well, right before the entrance to the stadium).

“It was something I felt like would motivate the kids when they went to walk out on the field before the game,” said Brett, who is now retired and lives in Emerald Isle. “I envisioned them

always having a habit of touching it right after leaving the locker room, kind of like what Clemson has always done with its rock.”

With the plan in motion, the actual rock, about six-feet tall, was picked from a rock quarry on U.S. 301. The owner of the quarry brought it along to the field, and helped dig up the ground and install the future staple of Northern Nash football games.

The initial reception, recalled Brett, was warm. The players were happy to have an emblem they could attach themselves to.

Figuring it would be around for the long haul, he loaded up on that supplies for its upkeep.

“I just remember everybody really liked it,” Brett said. “So we knew we had to keep it painted and looking nice.”

2018 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 17

Home Nash CAble entral Health Care,LLC locally owned & operated in-home health care services

instead. Lee said that High’s athleticism would be better served elsewhere on the Personal Care Services: AHHC employs qualityfield as the team is already searching to fill • Grooming caregivers to assist a number•ofBathing positions.

“I have a couple kids competing • Dressingyoung • Toileting individuals and families at quarterback and if they can take it then Hygieneon•offense Walking in their homes.

I can play• (High) and defense.

Mobility Eatingfor the price That way•I’ll get two•players We are dedicated to of one because if he plays quarterback just play Care: quarterback,” Lee said. helping our clients leadthen he’llRespite really counting on those two Alternatives dignified, independent “So I’m Community sophomores, and I may just bite the bullet Program Disabled lifestyles in the comfortand androll with that for because, number one, (CAP/DA) I’ll have Adults them for two more years after safety of their own homes this year, and number two, Chris is such a KENDALL WINSTON good defensive player.

Medicaid may pay“He forcan upplay to 80 deephours in theper secondary for us and he can catch and play a little month for an in-home caregiver to provide running back,” Lee continued. “Chris is a utility Light guy, hehousekeeping can do a lot of things, personal care services.

Story by Patrick Mason sweeps, catch some passes, and he could Photo by Alan Campbell tasks and meal preparations are also covered line up at quarterback as well.”

Onecare position of comfort might be the personal program.

The Nash Central football team finds receiver TaRod Brown. Kendallby Winston itself in a unique position — at least is the top returning rusher, with 425 yards the offensive line, where three starters returnprivate from a unit through the lens of its school’s history. and two TDs last season.

We accept pay.that blocked one As practices opened across the state this “On offense we lost a ton,” Bulldogs of the more dynamic rushing attacks month, the Bulldogs have been preparing coach Chris Lee said, “so that hurts us a around. While the depth isn’t much, AHHC promise to you... is based on Hines, for a season that comes on the heels of the bit.” returning players like Saivon program’s first conference championship.

On defense, coaches look values to Jarode and KamerontoPender our will family’s andGarrett our commitment With the 2018 season underway, Brandyn Petteway to soften the losses make it a formidable line, which in that has distinguished Able Home expectations and aspirations to duplicate of Alex Nobles — aexcellence walk-on at UNC past seasons was athletic enough to a successful second year in 2-A coincide. — Malachi Ruffin, Kailum Cooper and block for sweeps to either sideline, Health Care since its beginning in 2000.

Compassion” Only“A thisPassion time, if the for Bulldogs are to Zalon Brown — all of which had at least as well as power runs through the make the playoffs for a third consecutive 60 total tackles a year ago as seniors. middle. season, it will come with a brand new cast Petteway, a rising junior, led all players The success of the offensive line did of players at important positions. in tackles last season with 134, and will be wonders for the Nash Central passing The team loses a starter at just about the anchor of a transitioning defense.

Call us today for a complimentary consultation… we will come to threw you!for 2,227 yards game, as Griffin every skill position on offense. Travis As for available options for the Griffin, a two-year at quarterback position, Chris High was the and 30 TDs last season. In 2016, he (252)starter 535-4400 | (252)quarterback 973-8534 | www.AbleHomeHealthCareNC.com and the Telegram’s 2016 Offensive Player logical choice to step in as he is the lone also was the area’s top passer, throwing of the Year, graduated, along with leading player on the roster who has experience for 1,506 yards, more than double receiver Jay Smith and two-way player playing the position at the varsity level. anyone else.

This#101 year’s front should be up to HighEast completed each of his three pass Blvd.

McKinley Lyons.

1078 Hwy 48 114 Main St. 854 Tiffany the task.

Byron Hawkins, the team’s leading attempts for 32 yards in 2017.

Roanoke Rapids, NC927870 NC 27820 Rocky Mount, “No NC 27804 worries up front except for Lee, however, is leaning toward starting rusher with 688 yards and touchdowns, Conway, transferred to Northern Nash along with either one of two sophomore options depth,” Lee said.

the 2018 Bulldogs

Compassion, Integrity, Respect, Expertise & Cost-Compassion

18 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 2018

Bulldogs Schedule

STATS

Aug. 17, 7 p.m..................@ North Edgecombe Aug. 24, 7 p.m...........................Southern Nash Aug. 30, 7 p.m....................... Smithfield-Selma Sept. 7, 7 p.m........................ @ Northern Nash Sept. 14, 7 p.m..............................@Goldsboro Sept. 21, 7 p.m.....................Rocky Mount High OPEN Oct. 5, 7 p.m.......................@ Farmville Central Oct. 12, 7 p.m............... SouthWest Edgecombe Oct. 19, 7 p.m................ @ Wilson Beddingfield Oct. 26, 7 p.m....................................North Pitt Nov. 2, 7 p.m........................ @ North Johnston

Classification: 2-A, Eastern Plains Last season: Lost in second round of 2-A playoffs to Randleman, 57-19 Record: 10-3, 4-1 EPC Points for: 515 Points against: 291 One: Last year’s conference championship was a first for the football program. The Bulldogs finished 4-1 in the Eastern Plains Conference.

4,185: That’s how many yards of offense that the Bulldogs will have to replace - either through graduations or transfers. Nash Central gained 4,879 in total in 2017 Key losses: Travis Griffin, Byron Hawkins, McKinley Lyons, Alex Nobles, Tarod Brown Key returners: Chris High, Brandyn Petteway, Saivon Hines, Jarode Garrett, Kendall Winston

Did you know: The Bulldogs are coming IN HOT Story by Patrick Mason

It didn’t take long for Nash Central to secure its first winning football season. In 2004, the team posted an 8-3 mark which came soon after the school was established in 2002.

That productive year, so early in the beginnings of the program, acted as a promising start that brought optimistic feeling about the future.

But in the seasons that followed, Nash Central never really got much better. The Bulldogs put together six winning seasons across their first 14 years. But a breakthrough occurred at the conclusion of last season — the team won a conference championship.

“It’s a big step,” running back Kendall Winston said. “Just a few years back in our history we went winless twice, and won one game

another year. And now we’re on top for the first time and it feels good.”

The conference title in football came on the heels of a school-wide emergence of its athletic program.

The girls track team won the 3-A Big East Conference title in 2017, the final season before dropping to 2-A. It was the first time a team not named Rocky Mount High won the girls track title, and it signified a shift in athletics at the newest high school in Rocky Mount.

The Bulldogs won the Wells Fargo Cup — given to the Eastern Plains Conference team that had earned the most cumulative points based on conference standings — for the 201718 school year. Simply put, teams began to win.

And the football team was the hallmark success of the bunch. After

a pair of 0-11 seasons, Chris Lee took over in 2015 and managed to secure one win, then guided the Bulldogs to back-to-back playoff appearances.

The players, who dealt with one losing season after another, felt energized again. In the hallways, it wasn’t hard to notice an uptick in school pride. The stadium filled out, and the feeling of having a foundation of success in place began to sink in.

“In the hallways people would come up and joke with you about how much you’ll lose by,” two-way player Chris High said. “Now we don’t get that. Once you start winning all of that switches. People start to realize that this group is starting a new culture.”

2018 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 19

SouthWestAbleEHome dgecombe Health Care,LLC locally owned & operated in-home health care services AHHC employs quality caregivers to assist individuals and families in their homes.

We are dedicated to helping our clients lead dignified, independent lifestyles in the comfort and safety of their own homes

Personal Care Services: • Bathing • Grooming • Dressing • Toileting • Hygiene • Walking • Mobility • Eating Respite Care: Community Alternatives Program for Disabled Adults (CAP/DA)

Medicaid may pay for up to 80 hours per month for an in-home caregiver to provide Darntrell personal Councilcare services. Light housekeeping tasks and meal preparations are also covered by the personal care program.

the 2018 Cougars Story by Patrick Mason Photo by Alan Campbell

We accept private pay.

As prep football practices opened a passing game that would make the third on the team in rushing last with is 477based yardsonand six offense.promise Even season up across the state during a rain- team more versatile onAHHC to you... filled couple of weeks, the SouthWest a slight uptick in pass attempts would touchdowns on 64 carries. Council values andinour togames. played ninecommitment of the team’s 13 stylefamily’s for a team Edgecombe football team spent a lot be a shift in playingour A series of injuries Able that piled up kept owns a run-first of time keeping the football off the that traditionally excellence that has distinguished Home Council off the field. mentality. wet grass.

Care51sinceSWE its beginning 2000. around “A Passion for Compassion” turned its infortunes Last season, SWE Health attempted The ball was airborne often with a 10-3 campaign that reached the as throwing and catching drills passes while rushing 587 times.

Lewis will have a big target to throw second round of the playoffs, a stark dominated portions of practice time.

The practice content signals a shift to, in 6-foot-3 junior receiver Keishon improvement from a 5-7 showing in — the Cougars could look a little Porter. Porter played on junior varsity 2016 that featured a leaky defense Call nights us today for a complimentary consultation… willinconsistent come to you! offense. last season, though he had a breakoutweand different on Friday this fall.

The Cougars opened the 2017 The Cougars are excited about year in basketball, and has impressed (252) 535-4400 | (252) 973-8534 | www.AbleHomeHealthCareNC.com season 9-1, with their lone loss in quarterback Jayden Lewis, who was coaches during summer workouts.

In the backfield, the Cougars that stretch coming against rival forced into action last season after the team scrambled to find a replacement lose leading rusher Alex Foster to Tarboro High — the eventual 1-AA It was SWE’s only graduation.

Foster rushing at the position when 1078 Hwy 48 its original 114 East Main St. had 1,461854 Tiffanystate Blvd.champions. #101 starting quarterback was injured yards and 12 touchdowns. Darntrell shutout loss of the season, having Roanoke NC 27870 Mount, NC 27804 scored at least seven points in every Council NC is 27820 next in line toRocky fill that before WeekRapids, 1. Lewis, because of Conway, his throwing ability, could open up production. Council, a senior, was other game.

Compassion, Integrity, Respect, Expertise & Cost-Compassion

20 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 2018

Cougars Schedule

STATS

Aug. 17, 7 p.m....................Pasquotank County Aug. 24, 7:30 p.m.............@ North Edgecombe Aug. 30, 7 p.m........@ Winterville South Central OPEN Sept. 14, 7 p.m................................. @ Tarboro Sept. 21, 7 p.m..........................Northern Nash Sept. 28, 7 p.m....................... Currituck County Oct. 5, 7 p.m......................................North Pitt Oct. 12, 7 p.m...........................@ Nash Central Oct. 19, 7 p.m.........................Farmville Central Oct. 26, 7 p.m...........................North Johnston Nov. 2, 7 p.m................. @ Wilson Beddingfield

Classification: 2-A, Eastern Plains Last year: Lost to Southwest Onslow, 63-28, in the second round of the 2-A playoffs Record: 10-3 Points for: 412, Points against: 270 Six: Cougars coach Jonathan Cobb is entering his sixth season as head coach. Cobb has turned in winning seasons in three of his first five years, with no worse than a 5-7 finish Four: That’s the week of the season in which the Cougars travel to Tarboro. The rivalry between the two squads made for a much-anticipated game last season. SWE kept the score close for a while, but couldn’t find a way to score in a 28-0 loss. SWE brings back a lot of talent, and is always looking to upend the Vikings, which should make for a memorable game

Did you know: SouthWest Edgecombe has booming tradition Story by Patrick Mason

Some teams take the field by bursting through a breakaway sign. Others might enter at the urging of the school band.

At SouthWest Edgecombe, you get the entrance to a WWE match.

For those arriving late, or in the popcorn line, the signal that football is on the way is clear. After lining up along the hill behind the north endzone, the team parades down a concrete staircase to the sounds of cannon blasts and church bells.

“You get pumped. You got your helmet on, walking down the stairs and hearing that cannon, it’s a thrill,” senior running back Darntrell Council said.

“You know it’s about to be game time.”

The routine is the same for each home game. The players exit the locker room and line up on the hill behind the north endzone. The captains head to midfield for the coin toss, then make their way toward the hill as the show begins.

A siren blares before giving way to loud church bells. Soon, cannon fire

sounds from a brass cannon situated near the nearby baseball field. That cannon — which consumes gunpowder and old newspapers — is active throughout the game with a blast for every home touchdown.

Unsuspecting visitors, and even longtime Cougars fans, are often startled by the loud staccato blast that shakes the grounds.

“When I used to be in the crowd I remember me getting that chill when it’s going on,” senior Tanner Wittig said.

“Now, it’s a great feeling knowing you’re in that line and they’re in the stands feeling that way for you.”

For the players, the introduction is special. It makes the home games more enjoyable, and even makes for a wry smile when their road opponent’s tradition pales in comparison.

“We see their entrance and we know that we out-do it,” Zykei Callahan said.

It wasn’t always this way. The team used to walk onto the field via a ramp, which is now almost entirely covered

in pine needles. That stopped in 2004 when Raymond Cobb took over the program. SouthWest Edgecombe wasn’t known as a football powerhouse, and the new coach was looking to make some changes.

And Cobb had an idea that involved an introduction that would shake things up. Recently retired SouthWest Edgecombe JROTC instructor Col. Mike Whitehurst and his students have operated the cannon, siren and bells ever since.

When current coach Jonathan Cobb took over in 2013, he kept the traditions as is. But he has added tweaks throughout the years, though not many stick. For one home game, the Cougars had a blackout theme.

The stadium lights shut off, and students surrounded the field with glow sticks.

That wss a one-time deal.

“We lost that game so we don’t do that anymore,” cracked Cobb. “I’m a little superstitious.”

2018 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 21

Battle, Armed LCoach ynch look to and switch the ready: style up Story by Patrick Mason Photos by Alan Campbell

Gnats buzzed in bunches across Rocky Mount High’s practice football field. The flying insects parted when an athlete barrelled through a swarm. Heavy rains washed through hours earlier, and the thick, humid air seemed to suspend the flying annoyances.

No grouping seemed safe from disruption as Jaquan Lynch sent footballs all over the field during a practice in early August. It was as if each cluster was a target.

The junior quarterback showed off a strong arm by zipping a tight spiral to a receiver on his right. The next play called for Lynch to attack the secondary. He tossed a downfield pass that traveled close to 50 yards before landing just out of reach.

“Touch, it’s all about touch,” Lynch said after the practice. “That’s all I’ve been

hearing since last season ended. I’ve been working on it and getting better. The big thing is reminding myself to not throw it 100 mph every time.”

Important work is being done on the back fields behind the bricked school. The Gryphons and their coach Jason Battle have spent the past couple years working with the young quarterback with the hope that he will guide the team back from its first losing season since 2011.

And there’s reason to believe he’s the guy to do so. A successful first year as a starter made a promising project turn into a safe bet with great upside. As a sophomore, Lynch showed he has the physical tools to make difficult throws, and the mental acuity to make proper decisions.

It’s the blend of attributes that Battle has

Coach Jason Battle 22 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 2018

been searching for.

“You always look for that kid, you look for kids that got it. I always say, of all the positions, it’s difficult to build a quarterback because there’s so many parts to the position,” Battle said. “The kid has to be a confident kid, he’s got to have ice water in his veins, stay even keeled, but also has to have leadership skills. The biggest thing now is our team follows (Lynch). They trust him as a guy who will get us in the right position.”

••• Jaquan Lynch caught the eye of Rocky Mount High football coaches when the young quarterback was in the eighth grade.

At that point, it was Lynch’s ability to comprehend what was being asked of him that drew the interest of Gryphons coach Jason Battle.

The two talked often, and it was during those conversations that Battle knew he had something in the young athlete. Everything just seemed to click. Battle found himself being able to speak about passing concepts, what different defensive alignments look like and what they are trying to take away, as well as emergency plans once a play breaks down.

It was clear that Lynch wasn’t overwhelmed by the wealth of information spewed his way.

“Some kids, they play quarterback in middle school or wherever and you just talk football to them and everything just looks and sounds foreign,” Battle said. “But with him, we were throwing things at him and five minutes later he got it. The next day, you’re building on the things you talked about. You’re not going back. You might review, but you’re not re-teaching.”

Since that initial meeting, Battle began

Jaquan Lynch envisioning scenarios where Lynch would be the quarterback of the future for a Gryphons team that hadn’t had, or needed, a true passer in years. Oh, the opportunities this could create.

During the Gryphons state championship-winning season in 2015, Forrest Bell threw for over 1,600 yards, but tossed just eight touchdowns with five interceptions on a team that was carried by a group of talented running backs and a hardhitting defense.

The following year, when RMH advanced to its second consecutive title game, the team did so on the same merits — tough defense and hard running. A pair of senior quarterbacks split time in that 2016 season, and the tandem combined for 1,199 yards, eight touchdowns and four picks.

Lynch could be the answer to a more balanced approach.

••• Jaquan Lynch was frustrated.

Quarterback is a tough position and he was figuring that out on the fly.

Lynch got his first varsity start in the 2017 season opener on the road in Apex.

The outcome was a 33-15 loss to Middle Creek. Though the box score suggested he had a strong game — passing for 210 yards, a touchdown and an interception — it could have been so much more.

A series of overthrows, missing open receivers, and the lack of the ever-important touch on his passes all amounted to a stressful Friday night. Frustrations began to boil over. Then a sophomore, Lynch admits that he couldn’t escape his emotions and his play would be altered.

Lynch’s solution? Throw harder. He was wild at times, but if he threw the ball hard enough, he thought, it would get to where it needed to go before the defense could react.

Only it didn’t work out as planned.

“Early on I would try to throw the ball 100 mph every throw,” Lynch said. “I know that’s why I had a lot of overthrows. Or I’d hit guys before they had time to react.

Especially in the Middle Creek game, oh my, I overthrew like five touchdowns.”

Lynch can smile about those errors now, mostly because he knows how to fix the problem in a more constructive way. The junior looks back at those games and sees a kid learning the ropes of the most important position on the field.

“It’s OK to make mistakes. I know that now,” Lynch said. “As long as I don’t make the same ones again.”

••• Those around the Rocky Mount High program see Jaquan Lynch’s ascendance to starting quarterback, and his future, as a fulfilling project taken on by Jason Battle.

Long before he became the Gryphons coach, Battle was a stellar two-sport athlete at Senior High.

Battle went on to play baseball and football at N.C. A&T, and played quarterback for the Aggies from 1999-2002.

Battle ranks eighth in program history in career passing yards, and ranks ninth in career completions.

It would be fair to say that the education of Jaquan Lynch is being handled by the ideal man for the job, seeing as how Battle, himself, did it at a high level for years.

“It’s a real comfortable setting knowing

that he’s already been there and played the position before,” Lynch said. “He does a good job of knowing how I feel, and what questions I have, and because he’s done it before he is a good person to talk about it with.”

The two haven’t always had a smooth relationship. Sometimes the growing pains and failures that come with learning the intricacies of the quarterback position would cause tension.

Battle had to teach himself patience, and to look for another avenue to get through to a young mind. And Lynch had to come to terms with the fact that he wouldn’t become an elite passer overnight. Both parties grew and came to understand the other a bit better.

“I feel like one of the biggest things of playing as a sophomore in Game 1 last year was he did get frustrated and rattled,” Battle said. “It’s going to happen because he’s never been there before.

“And at first it frustrated me to the point that me and him got off the same page.

But I learned how to coach the kid better.

He still gets frustrated at times, he’s just an incoming junior, but I can see growth in him. He’s got a lot more growing to do but he has the opportunity to be real good.”

••• Jaquan Lynch threw for 1,415 yards to go with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions last year, which was good enough for the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in the area.

To do that as a sophomore is encouraging.

The Gryphons are hoping Lynch can improve on those gaudy numbers, and lead a team in a year where the offense is populated by a number of young, unproven athletes. If the quarterback can make things happen, RMH will follow suit.

Even more encouraging is that Lynch is a willing participant. He wants to work on his craft.

“I’ve always wanted to play quarterback and I knew what it would take to play it successfully,” he said. “It sounds off, but it’s not all about throwing. It’s about reading defenses and knowing matchups, and basically that’s what I’m interested in learning about. It’s how I’ve always been.”

As for Battle, he will make sure to keep a close eye on his protege.

“More importantly than him being a quarterback, he’s a great kid and phenomenal student,” Battle said. “Just a good guy all across the board. Just a model kid that I appreciate having in our program.”

2018 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 23

Since day one Senior Melik Ward sets the Tarboro tone Story by Samuel Evers Photos by Alan Campbell

24 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 2018

D

uring this past footballfilled summer, senior defensive lineman Melik Ward traveled to about a dozen football camps throughout North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

To each one, he brought and wore his purple, team-issued shorts with that familiar Viking logo on the side. It was more of an afterthought to bring and wear them.

It turns out, that color and that patch have become quite the recognizable combination among people in the prep football scene.

“Every camp I went to, they just knew Tarboro,” Ward said. “They know we do it the right way, like I had a reputation just because of those shorts.”

Of course, Ward denied no such praise.

“I mean, I guess it was just that Tarboro tradition,” he said, smiling.

Indeed, it’s been a solid run for the Vikings, who capped a 15-0 state title run in December, unveiled a brand new Home of Todd Gurley II sign in April, heard graduate Tyquan Lewis get his name called at the NFL Draft later that month, and sent eight seniors from last year’s team to various area colleges.

This year, Ward will be featured as part of another competitive team in 1-AA. The senior, who so far has four scholarship offers from NCAA Division II and Division I-FCS teams, has been an important piece of the program’s success since he was a freshman. He’s started for four years; one of only two kids in coach Jeff Craddock’s time in charge to do so.

And, if you ask Craddock, Ward is one of the few key examples of what has made Tarboro, Tarboro. It’s kids like Ward, and players like Tyquan Lewis and many others before him, who are so vital to the program’s coaching philosophy.

“With him we have some proof in the pudding: If you do it in a certain way, this is what you can become,” Craddock said. “Melik’s been bought in since day one.”

“I’ve coached some great ones. He’s maybe not as tall. Not as big. But he’s just a really solid, good football player.

And now, you can see his work has paid off,” he continued. “I don’t know what school he’s going to go to, but it’s going to be a really nice school and he ain’t going to pay for it.”

All of this success — the offers to go to college on scholarship, the on-field accolades, the praise from his coaches, the little advantages he finds during film sessions that even the coaches don’t pick up on — has been second nature to Ward, who said he entered high school already knowing he wanted to do everything in his power to play the sport at the next level.

“There was never a moment I started to think about it,” Ward said. “It just has always been my dream to play college football. Always.”

If there was going to be one potential roadblock, it would have been when he tore his ACL during his sophomore year of high school. He sustained it toward the end of the season in a game against North Edgecombe. The team trainer thought it could be one of two things: only swelling, or a torn ligament.

When he went to the doctor’s, he found out it was the latter: a season-

ending injury that kept him out of the playoffs. But he had his surgery on Dec. 19, 2016, and was back to full health, terrorizing other team’s offensive linemen, by about Week 3 of the 2017 season.

Now, when many of the interested college coaches check up on him with Craddock, they don’t suspect a thing.

“Trust me,” Craddock said. “College coaches don’t even know it.”

Ward was a foundational player of last year’s dominant defense, drawing double-teams and clogging up running lanes for opposing teams. He’ll be back for a final season of a notable high school career that will likely end with more offers from more college teams.

But he insists he isn’t worried about the individual stuff, at least not yet. It’s the same attitude he’s had at Tarboro since he got the nod to start for varsity as a freshman halfway through the season.

“We heard he was good as an eighth grader,” Craddock said. “We needed some help that year so he came on up.

Shortly thereafter, we realized: that boy’s going to be good.”

Added defensive coordinator Andrew Harding: “And he has been.”

2018 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 25

A LOOK BACK

Tarboro takes home

fIFTH state title Story by Samuel Evers Photos by Alan Campbell

Ja’viyes Massenburg

This story originally ran in the Dec. 10, 2017 edition of the Telegram.

RALEIGH — The snow, the rain, the sleet and the cold only seemed to serve Tarboro. The undefeated Vikings this season were ground-and-pound specialists, anyways, not passing experts.

On a stingy state title Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium, a faithful and bundled crowd from Tarboro watched its team clinch title No. 5 against Western opponent Mount Airy (14-1), a 32-7 final in a contest that favored a few key defensive possessions far more than flashy plays.

It was the second smallest offensive output of the year for Tarboro — a season that ended a perfect 15-0 — but

Joseph Lyons

the statistics weren’t exactly the first priority for Vikings’ coach Jeff Craddock when the final kneel down was recorded, especially not with the possibility of a Gatorade bath as the final seconds ticked away.

Stats-wise, Mount Airy entered the state title game with three prolific players. One at quarterback, wide receiver and running back, respectively, and they flashed that for a brief moment midway through the fourth quarter, when Ian Holder lofted a pass to receiver Donavon Greene, who wrestled a 36yard touchdown away from two Tarboro defenders to make the score 18-7.

With the extra-point, suddenly a formality became interesting, especially

26 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 2018

after kicker Robert Brown recovered his own ensuing onside kick.

Two plays later, however, with the Granite Bears down just 11 at midfield, Tarboro’s Zion Brooks jumped a slant route for an interception. Four plays after that, Deontae Williams was rushing in the title-clinching touchdown. Jaquez Edge punched in another a few minutes later for good measure.

In all, the Granite Bears totaled just four possessions in Tarboro territory.

Kicker Robert Brown punted away five possessions, the most costly of which came in the second quarter, when an errant snap flew past Brown’s head. In an attempt to salvage some field position, he recovered the ball about 30 yards from the line of scrimmage and booted it away.

An opportunistic Jyron Albritton was waiting for it.

He hauled in the makeshift punt at the 36-yard line and did the rest, returning the play for a touchdown and a 12-0 lead.

Tarboro had taken the lead earlier in the second quarter on a six-yard run by Keon Caudle, which capped an 88-yard drive that started with an interception of Mount Airy quarterback Ian Holder.

An 18-0 lead for the Vikings was taken with 6:38 left in the game after a scoreless third quarter — a one-yard dive from Deontae Williams.

It looked for all the world like the scoring for both teams would stop there, but then came the flurry, started by Mount Airy’s long touchdown pass.

But it was too little, too late. And soon after the adrenaline of that play died down, the Tarboro Vikings were state champions for the fourth time in nine years.

Tarboro Vikings get their

championship rings Story by Patrick Mason Photos by Alan Campbell

This story originally ran in the March 6, 2018 edition of the Telegram.

The moment arrived, nearly three months after the final snap.

The Tarboro High football team received their championship rings on Monday night during a ceremony at Edgecombe Community College attended by players, coaches and family members. The event celebrated the Vikings’ 1-AA championship this past fall, which was secured with a 32-7 victory over Mount Airy on Dec. 9.

It was the fifth state title in program history, and this was a good a reason as any to celebrate.

Tarboro coach Jeff Craddock, who has been a part of four of these ceremonies, said his favorite part is watching his players’ faces after they unbox their ring. He likens the experience to gift giving around Christmas time.

“Leading up to this I’m most excited to say ‘one, two, three’ and watch as these kids open these boxes and see these absolutely beautiful rings,” the longtime coach said.

“It’s almost like giving a nice gift for children

Tarboro coach Jeff Craddock, center, celebrates with Matthew Medford, left, and Jaquez Edge following the Vikings’ 32-7 win over Mount Airy in NCHSAA 1-AA state championship game at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh.

at Christmas, and you can’t wait for them to open it up to see their reaction. That’s how I am today. I’m really excited for these boys to enjoy that ring on their fingers.”

Craddock, who designed the rings, 79 in all, said that the ability to host such an event

Tae Randolph

and provide the rings was made possible by a host of generous donors in the community, a close-knit group of Tarboro football fans that have had much to celebrate over the years.

The team held an awards banquet earlier in the year to officially wrap up the season and hand out team awards. There, more time was spent reflecting on the season and talking about specific moments or games.

Craddock took time to speak about each player during a banquet that lasted around two hours. That 15-0 season, including six shutouts, was relived in detail.

On Monday, the focus was more about gathering the team — players and coaches — together for likely one final time to share fun stories and memories.

“Tonight is an absolute celebration,” Craddock said. “The last thing I’ll tell these guys is that life is about the memories you make. The rings will get lost or will lose their color, and the T-shirts will become dust cloths.

“But what never leaves is the memories you put in the mind and the heart, and tonight is, other than winning a title, is the best feeling.”

2018 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 27

A LOOK BACK

In overtime shootout, Eagles emerge as

champions Story by Patrick Mason Photos by Sarah Louya

This story originally ran in the Nov. 12, 2017 edition of the Telegram.

KINSTON — Jacob Braddy got a haircut on Saturday in Kinston.

His wavy, brown hair couldn’t escape the shears wielded by Rocky Mount Academy coach Terrell Hudgins, who proudly showed off a handful of his prize to those still celebrating the team’s state

championship by their cars in the parking lot.

Moments earlier, the Eagles capped an undefeated season with a defensive stand in overtime to beat Kinston Parrott Academy, 66-60, in the 2-A NCISAA state championship game. RMA defensive lineman Chandler Gazaway pounced on a Patriots fumble on their first snap to seal

Isaiah Thomas

28 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 2018

the win.

“We got a great push,” Gazaway said.

“I saw the ball hit the lower part of their running back’s arm, the ball hit the ground.

I’ve never held onto anything so tight in my life. I probably will never even hug my mom that hard.”

The win gave RMA its first state championship since the 2014 season when it also beat Kinston Parrott.

This one — the program’s third overall state title —- was much closer. That’s because Braddy made sure of it.

Braddy hadn’t cut his hair since the season began, and if there were anyone who deserved to be treated to a spa-like experience right away, it was the junior running back. Braddy turned in a monster game for the Eagles.

He was unstoppable in the open field, and his blockers made sure he got there. He gashed the Patriots defense time and time again with the football cradled in his arms.

He scored six touchdowns and finished with 472 yards of offense. He dazzled with cutbacks and spin moves for 318 yards on the ground, and sliced through the Parrott secondary for 154 receiving yards.

“I’m pretty tired,” Braddy said. “The adrenaline was pumping and kept me going. Coach T told us at halftime that he believed in us to be able to score quickly.

And in the second half when we started scoring I knew it was going to be a good game.”

The Eagles defense was gashed right away as Kinston Parrott broke off two touchdown runs of 66 and 67 yards on consecutive possessions. RMA trailed 16-0 after the first quarter.

RMA sandwiched a pair of scores around a Patriot touchdown in the second quarter, and trailed 24-16 at halftime.

“We were consistently down by two touchdowns for a while,” Hudgins said.

“And we were kicking off to them in the second half. But the guys got it together and played one heck of a second half.”

Kinston Parrott (9-2) scored three plays into its opening drive of the second half to push the lead back to 16 points. But Braddy ran them down.

“We knew to beat these guys we had to keep our intensity up the entire time,” offensive lineman Thomas Griffin said. “As a lineman, there’s really no better feeling than seeing your running back 15 yards upfield making moves.”

The second half was a whirlwind of touchdowns from both teams. Of the 16 combined drives in the second half, 11 ended up as touchdowns. Braddy had five of those scores.

“He is devastating when he gets into some space,” Hudgins said. “We wanted Isaiah to throw, but we knew that would take some carries away from Braddy and Caleb (Lambert). All three of those have an opportunity to change a game, and tonight it was Jacob.”

Thomas ran for 213 yards in a regularseason win over the Patriots, but he played in Saturday’s title game with an injured left knee that limited his run game. Thomas, a two-way player who leads the Eagles in interceptions, didn’t play defense until the second half.

That left Braddy to man the safety position, and he broke up four passes intended for Patriots star receiver AJ Banker. The 6-foot-4 Banker finished with 185 receiving yards, but he was denied a pair of scores by Braddy.

“I had to step up on defense definitely,” Braddy said. “It was a relief when Isaiah came back in the second half. We had to try to keep it together without him. Banker was a tough assignment. He’s tall, and I tried to stay with him the best I could.”

Kinston Parrott tied the score with 41 seconds left, and the Eagles couldn’t move down the field in regulation. Braddy scored on the opening possession of extra time, then celebrated as the Eagles recovered a fumble on the Patriots’ possession.

“I’m going to sleep good,” Braddy said.

Rest up.

Jacob Braddy

Caleb Lambert

2018 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 29

T

Able Home arboro Health Care,LLC locally owned & operated in-home health care services

weight room and on the practice field, trying to replace a handful of Personal Care Services: AHHC employs quality key figures to last year’s team.

The• Bathing Vikings • will be without Grooming caregivers to assist and defensive leader • Dressing • Toileting individuals and families linebacker Phil Willoughby, who will walkHygieneCarolina • WalkingA&T, and in their homes. on at •North Tae Randolph, starter • Mobility a• three-year Eating We are dedicated to at quarterback, who is continuing his playing Respitecareer Care: at Louisburg helping our clients lead College.

Those two will be among Community Alternatives dignified, independent the toughest to replace.

On offense, Vikings are Disabled lifestyles in the comfort and Program forthe still auditioning a few different (CAP/DA) and return a safety of their own homeskids atAdults quarterback, deep running back group similar to last year’s, where a second- or Medicaid may pay for up to 80may hours third-stringer haveperbeen a Ja’viyes Massenburg startercaregiver on another 1-AA team. month for an in-home to provide Defensively, two names will be making Light big plays for the Vikings this personal care services. housekeeping season: senior Melik Ward, whom tasks and meal preparations aredefensive also covered Craddock and coordinator Story by Samuel Evers Andrewcare Harding could not speak Photo by Alan Campbell by the personal program. highly enough of, and junior Ja’viyes Massenburg, a 6-foot-4 defensive Last month, during the North the seniors, because now theyWe want accept private pay.

Carolina Coaches Clinic in to get back and do it their senior end who made many big plays for a great defense last season.

Greensboro, Tarboro coach Jeff year.”

AHHC promise to you... on What madeis based the Vikings so Craddock was talking to a colleague Indeed, there seems to be formidable last year, among a couple who, like Craddock and his staff did something unique toour Tarboro and its family’s values and our commitment to with Tarboro last fall, had coached football program, which beat Mount of other reasons, was a phrase that Craddock used: they his own team to a 2017 state title. distinguished Able were HomefocusAiry last year, 32-7,excellence to completethat the has driven.

They watched and broke In the Vikings’ head coach, he undefeated season and earn the 1-AA Health Care since its beginning in 2000.

“A Passion for Compassion” down film in a way that was advanced confided: After a year on top, his state title, it’s fifth in school history for the high school level, and team had lost a good deal of its sense and first since the three-peat from entered each game with a definitive of urgency.

2009-2011.

He asked Craddock if the same was “With the teams I’ve coached in gameplan.

Can this group in 2018 match true in Tarboro: If, after a dominant the past, that was always the attitude.

Call us today for a complimentary consultation… we will come to you! that level?

15-0 season, his team had lost some Right after we had won two, it was “We have a long, long way to go. of its hunger. all right boys, what do you want (252) 535-4400 | (252)like, 973-8534 | www.AbleHomeHealthCareNC.com But as far as the attitude, the coachThe answer was no. to do? We want to win three,” said ability, that’s what I tell them — you “I told him, ‘I’m going to be Craddock, whose Vikings open up at can’t coach effort,” Craddock said. honest with you, our boys are biting home on Aug. 17 against Washington “As long as at the bit.’1078 TheyHwy got a48 little taste of it 114 County. four.Tiffany We Blvd. #101 you allow us to coach East “We Mainwanted St. to win 854 last year, finally. They’ve been talking came up short and didn’t win four, you, you have a chance to be great.

Roanoke Rapids, NCsaid.

27870 NC 27820 Rocky Mount, NC 27804 about it,” Craddock “There’s Conway, but that was the prevailing attitude.” This group will have a chance to be been a great buzz. It’s coming from The summer has been spent in the great.”

the 2018 Vikings

Compassion, Integrity, Respect, Expertise & Cost-Compassion

30 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 2018

Vikings Schedule

STATS

Aug. 17, 7 p.m.................@ Washington County Aug. 24, 7 p.m................................Washington Aug. 31, 7 p.m....................... @ Northern Nash Sept. 7, 7 p.m.......................North Edgecombe Sept. 14, 7 p.m............. SouthWest Edgecombe Sept. 21, 7 p.m.......................... @ South Creek Sept. 28, 7 p.m................................. Southside Oct. 5, 7 p.m............................. @ Jones Senior Oct. 12, 7 p.m.......................@ Pamlico County Oct. 19, 7 p.m.................. Northside - Pinetown Oct. 26, 7 p.m.....................................Riverside

Classification: 1-AA, Coastal Plains Last season: Beat Mount Airy, 32-7, in the 1-AA state title game for the School’s fifth championship

Record: 15-0, 6-0 Coastal Plains 4.4: That’s the number of points the Vikings allowed per game last season

64: That’s the number where former Tarboro Viking Tyquan Lewis was selected in the 2018 NFL draft, after four successful years at Ohio State Key losses: Phil Willoughby, Tae Randolph, Deontae Williams, Jacoby Ward Key returners: Ja’viyes Massenburg, Melik Ward, Clifton Joyner, Jr.

Did you know: Tarboro is building a pipeline Story by Samuel Evers

Though some of the players from Tarboro football certainly have, not every high schooler can end up in the Big 10 or the SEC. For the other talented players, there’s junior college, NAIA, NCAA Division III, Division II, Division I-FCS and every other conference in Division I-FBS. The Vikings’ program has made its splash in its recent era with flashy names like Todd Gurley (Georgia, Los Angeles Rams) and Tyquan Lewis (Ohio State, Indianapolis Colts), but the Vikings’ football program, the defending champion in 1-AA, has served a tangible purpose to so many more than the few who make it big time.

In a town of roughly 10,000 in a downtrodden county, coach Jeff Craddock and his staff have helped

turn a football team into a pipeline for those who take all the right steps.

Of the senior crop from last year’s title team, eight in all will be playing football in college this upcoming fall. One is walking on at N.C. A&T, three are at NCAA Division II St. Augustine’s, and the other four are at Louisburg Community College.

“Oh, we loaded up that Louisburg roster,” Craddock said.

This year’s class will have its share of players who move on to the next level as well, including defensive end Melik Ward, who has already received offers from the Division II and the FCS level.

He’ll serve as a prime example of what can be done for the juniors — and the lower classmen, and the middle schoolers — when a player buys in, goes to class and takes advantage of his ability.

Before Ward was the example, it

was Lewis, Gurley, and so on.

“We have some great examples of young men who have shown in the classroom, weightroom and football field that you can go on and do it the right way and be successful,” Craddock said. “These kids understand that, if you are blessed with that God-given natural talent, the size and the speed, and if you do work hard and do what you’re supposed to do, and your job is to make it to the NFL — obviously we’ve had players here that have been able to do that, especially coming from a small town of 10,000 and 11,000 people.”

Want to know the next potential name in the Tarboro football line to pay attention to? Junior defensive end Ja’Viyes Massenburg.

“Could he the next big name to come out? He could,” Craddock said. “But that’s up to him.”

2018 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 31

Able Home North Edgecombe Health Care,LLC locally owned & operated in-home health care services

work cut out for him this season, with a typically small roster for the 1-A school that Personal AHHC employs qualityfinished last year 4-7Care with Services: a loss in the first playoffs•against Plymouth.

Grooming caregivers to assist round of •theBathing Miller doesn’t expect this team to have • Dressing • Toileting individuals and familiesoverwhelming size or strength like the North Edgecombe that finished 11-2 • Hygieneteam • Walking in their homes. in 2016, but thinks the athleticism and skill • Mobility • Eatingcould lead to a few different positions We are dedicated to from success.

Respitewho Care: helping our clients lead One player could help that is running back Devonte Barnes, who rushed Community Alternatives dignified, independent for 96 yards in the opening game last season for Disabled lifestyles in the comfortbut andlater Program left the field with a concussion, and didn’t return for the Adults (CAP/DA)rest of the season safety of their own homes because of it. Barnes, along with upcoming junior Erick Moss, could shoulder a good amount the rushing for the Medicaid may pay forofup to 80 load hours perWarriors.

“If it wasn’t for him getting hurt last year — not to say we could been a state month for an in-home caregiver to have provide champion — but we would have been personal care services.

Light much better off housekeeping if he were around,” Miller said.

“He’s kind of quiet he leads by tasks and meal preparations are also and covered example.”

Defensively, Tyvon Evans, a senior this by the personal care program. year, will help Miller in leading the unit.

The two have been together since Evans was We accept private a freshman on thepay. junior varsity team with Miller as the coach. during season, AHHC promise Attotimes you... isthat based onthey’d have no more than 13 kids dressed for a game.

Devonte Barnes our family’s values and ourwave commitment to asking Evans would over to his coach, to be taken out of theAble game.Home Miller would excellence that has distinguished wave back, signaling for him to stay in the gameitssimply because there was no one else Health Care since beginning in 2000.

Story by Samuel Evers to put in.

Photo by Sarah Louya “He just really embraced it — ‘Yeah, I’m tired but I have to dig down deep and find This past May, a few days after the that, whenever Parisher did choose to step something for my teammates,’” Miller said.

Memorial Day Call long usweekend, former In his first year as head coach of the down, he wouldn’t consultation… have to go very far towe will today for a complimentary come to you!

North Edgecombe coach Keith Parisher find his replacement. varsity team, that so far has been his biggest 535-4400 | (252) 973-8534 approached (252) Jason Miller, the Warriors’ And now, after| www.AbleHomeHealthCareNC.com starting his coaching challenge — to find a group of leaders. longtime assistant and junior varsity coach, career at Phillips Middle School in “Some guys like Tyvon and Devonte, with a tidbit of news.

Battleboro 14 years ago, the head coaching they call guys and they’re like, ‘You need “He just said, ‘You know what, I’m going job for North Edgecombe is finally Miller’s. to be here for practice, for this workout.’ to go ahead1078 and retire,” have Main been waiting,” Miller 854 said. Tiffany “But I Blvd.

HwyMiller 48 remembered 114“IEast St. want #101 those types of guys,” Miller said.

I’m a loyal person. I feel really fortunate to “The better leaders I have, the less work I during a recent preseason practice.

Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870 Conway, NC 27820 Rocky Mount, NC 27804 It was matter of fact, and that was that. have such a great mentor.” do, because it seems like they can hold kids The latest leader for the Warriors has his much more accountable than we can.”

The two had talked previously and agreed

the 2018 WARRIORS “A Passion for Compassion”

Compassion, Integrity, Respect, Expertise & Cost-Compassion

32 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 2018

Warriors Schedule

STATS

Aug. 17, 7 p.m..............................Nash Central Aug. 24, 7:30 p.m......... SouthWest Edgecombe OPEN Sept. 7, 7 p.m................................... @ Tarboro Sept. 14, 7 p.m..............................South Creek Sept. 21, 7 p.m.............................@ KIPP Pride Sept. 28, 7 p.m.............@ Northampton County Oct. 5, 7 p.m......................................... Weldon Oct. 12, 7 p.m....................... Southeast Halifax Oct. 19, 7 p.m....................@ Northwest Halifax Oct. 26, 7 p.m.......................Rocky Mount Prep

Classification: 1-A, Tar-Roanoke Last year: Lost to Plymouth, 38-8, in the first round of the 1-A playoffs Record: 4-7 Points for: 250 Points against: 343 Two: The week in the season the Warriors will host SouthWest Edgecombe.

Five: The number of touchdowns leading receiver Marvin Tucker caught last season.

Key losses: Mark Williams, A’naize Warren.

Key returners: Devonte Barnes, Marvin Tucker, Jaquaylon Thorne.

Did you know: The glory days still linger Story by Samuel Evers

Not too long ago, North Edgecombe was the Twin Counties’ most dominant team. The Warriors won two state titles in the 1990s (‘94 and ‘97), reached several more championship games, boasted one of the state’s most prolific running backs (Milton Shaw) and broke the record for most rushing yards in a season (5,980, ‘96).

Shaw, who played for the Warriors in the early ‘90s, then for Clemson and N.C. A&T, died last year. But much of the foundation that made up that decade of great football is still around the program today.

Just ask new head coach Jason Miller.

“Every so often, I still get those guys who were on those teams coming up to me,” Miller said. “They want to know when we’re going to win another one like they did.”

Two players on the 2018 Warriors — Jamel Lyons and Ja’Quain Knight — had fathers on one of those title teams.

When it was time for Lyons to choose a school, his mother wanted him to go to Northern Nash. Instead, he wanted to go where his father had made his memories.

“He talks about it. It’s a big deal — something he can look back on from his sophomore year, he can say he won the championship,” Lyons said of his father, Ray Lancaster, who was on the ‘94 team.

But the walking history book for these current Warriors is assistant coach Calvin Phillips. An offensive lineman and linebacker for North Edgecombe in the mid-to-late ‘90s, he later went to to play for East Carolina after a successful career with the Warriors.

As an eighth grader in ‘94, he and the rest of his middle school team traveled to Chapel Hill to watch the generation above him win their state title.

In ‘96, during his sophomore season, his team reached the state title game, losing to Murphy, 13-0. They regained the throne in 1997, finishing the year

15-0 with a 38-20 win in the final game.

“And it wasn’t even that close,” Phillips said. “We were state champs by half time.”

In his senior year, the Warriors reached the final game again, this time losing after a failed two-point conversion, 22-20. It was a less-thanideal way to go out, but his three years on varsity stamped his group’s name in the school’s history books.

“After we saw that ‘94 team, we didn’t want to be the weak link,” Phillips said.

“Our group vowed to get back there.

We just didn’t know we would do it three times.”

These days, he’s “chasing ghosts” with the Warriors as their defensive coordinator. He wants another ring, in a figurative sense, to bring back that North Edgecombe glory. In a literal sense, he needs another ring. He lost that thing in Hurricane Floyd.

“People ask me, ‘Why are you still here?’” he said, laughing. “I tell them, ‘I have to get my ring.’”

2018 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 33

Able HomePrep Rocky Mount Health Care,LLC locally owned & operated in-home health care services

program as it has the numbers to be successful. He’d prefer freshmen and Personal Care at Services: AHHC employs qualitysophomores to remain the JV level, suit up on Friday nights • Bathing • Grooming caregivers to assist rather than they aren’t ready.

• Dressing • Toileting individuals and families when “Throwing them to the wolves isn’t • Hygiene Walking in their homes. realistic,” Jackson •said.

“We need to give them the opportunity • Mobility • Eating to learn We are dedicated to and perfect their skill sets and not be

by Care: playing varsity ball Respite helping our clients lead discouraged against bigger and faster players.”

Community dignified, independent Jackson said Alternatives he envisions a where for players begin at the Disabled lifestyles in the comfort program and Program middle school level and progress into Adults (CAP/DA) safety of their own homes college-caliber athletes.

It’s not a stretch for Jackson, who has coached with the Enfield Medicaid may pay for up to League 80 hours per squad Warriors Little football since 2005. month for an in-home caregiver to provide Some of those players are now Katayvious Lawrence personal care services. housekeeping currentlyLight on the Jaguars’ roster.

“They trust me, and know when tasks and meal preparations are also covered I say, ‘I have your back,” I mean it,” Jacksoncare said.program. by the personal Most of the Jaguars’ top talent have Story by Jessie H. Nunery big bodies.

Stevepay.

Hunter, a defensive We accept private Photos by Sarah Louya tackle, will return from a calf injury Stability has not been a luxury the at Northampton County. That will that forced him to miss most of last AHHC promise to you... is based on Rocky Mount Prep football program be the norm for now on.

We want to season.

Junior Donnie Tillery is ato6-foothas enjoyed in recent seasons. build an identity asour a program family’sand values and our commitment 7, 285-pound offensive tackle, and Year by year, coaches have changed, not just be a year-to-year team.” distinguished Able Home linemen Christian Pearce and Tyrone player retention has dropped, and The Jaguars are excellence coming off athat 2-9 has Davis are both 6-foot-5. the “A results on the field been season in 2017 — one win came Health CarebysinceThey’ll its beginning in 2000.

Passion forhave Compassion” make room for fullback miserable. forfeit — when Jackson served as an Katayvious Lawrence, a junior whom First-year coach Omar Jackson assistant. The New Jersey native said Jackson said is a hard worker on and seemingly has the patience for a Rocky Mount Prep had a schedule off the field.

Jaguars turnaround. that was too tough for its talent pool.

There isn’t a lot of depth, but us today a complimentary consultation… will come to you!

In addition Call to some of the for shortThat has changed some this year,weJackson knows that is a process of term, offseason efforts he has put in where the Jaguars have added a few developing and keeping kids in the (252) 535-4400 | (252) 973-8534 | www.AbleHomeHealthCareNC.com place along with a long-term vision, programs who are in their infancy or program.

Rocky Mount Prep might soon have rebuilding stages.

“Programs take time to build,” the program it has long desired.

Sure, it would be nice to win a few Jackson said. “It may take three years, “We’ve 1078 done Hwy a lot48 of things Prep 114 moreEast games Rocky Mount Prep will be a name Mainthis St. season, but 854again, Tiffanybut Blvd. #101 hasn’t been known to do,” Jackson Jackson is thinking past this fall. people speak of when they talk about Roanoke Rapids, 27870 NC 27820 Rockyclose Mount, NC 27804 said.

“We sent a fewNC kids to camps, Conway, Jackson will be paying football, and I plan on being here for and we attended a 7-on-7 scrimmage attention to the junior varsity the day it happens.”

the 2018 Jaguars

Compassion, Integrity, Respect, Expertise & Cost-Compassion

34 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 2018

Jaguars Schedule

STATS

Aug. 17, 7 p.m...................................Columbia Aug. 24, 7 p.m.................@ Bear Grass Charter Aug. 31, 7 p.m.....@ Harrells Christian Academy OPEN Sept. 14, 7 p.m..............................@ Louisburg Sept. 21, 7 p.m.............@ Northampton County Sept. 28, 7 p.m..................... Northwest Halifax Oct. 5, 7 p.m.....................................KIPP Pride Oct. 12, 7 p.m....................................@ Weldon Oct. 19, 7 p.m......................@ Roanoke Rapids Oct. 26, 7 p.m...................@ North Edgecombe Nov. 2, 7 p.m........................ Southeast Halifax

C lassification : 1-A, T ar -R oanoke L ast year : D id not make NCHSAA 1-A playoffs R ecord : 2-9 O ne W in on the field for J aguars .

I t ’ s game against N orth E ast C arolina P rep was won by forfeit .

F ive : N umber of times the J aguars ’ offense was shut out in 2017 K ey losses : M ontrell S tanley , T yrique W hitaker K ey returners : K atayvious L awrence , D onnie T illery

Jordan Bethea

Kyon Bryant 2018 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 35

Able Home Rocky Mount Academy Health Care,LLC locally owned & operated in-home health care services Smelcer — who will play football at

Personal Care AHHC employs qualityUNC-Charlotte this Services: fall. Smelcer Division I recruit from • Bathing • Grooming caregivers to assist is the first RMA. • Dressing • Toileting Isaiah individuals and families Elsewhere, quarterback • Walking in their homes.

Thomas• Hygiene was recently cleared to play after spending more than nine • Mobility • Eating We are dedicated to months recovering from an injury. injuredCare: his left knee in the helping our clients leadThomasRespite playoffs last season, but was cleared Community dignified, independent to practice on Aug.Alternatives 7.

Thomas was a key two-way player Program for Disabled lifestyles in the comfort and for the Eagles during Adults (CAP/DA)their title run, safety of their own homes

locking down the secondary on defense, as well as using his arm and legs at the quarterback position Medicaid may pay for up to 80 hours per to gash defenses. The team, and month for an in-home caregiver to provide Thomas, expect that he will return to form. personal care services.

Light housekeeping Jacob Braddy Jacob Braddy, the offensive spark tasks and meal preparations also championship covered plug of thearestate game, returns and the thought of by the personal care program. him having less competition in the backfield to fight for carries should We accept Story by Patrick Mason scare private defenses. pay.

Braddy is a tough, Photo by Alan Campbell agile runner who has proved that he to doesn’t haveis abased problem AHHC promise you... on creating RMA and Parrott Academy will ways to score against eight-man Rocky Mount Academy returned our tofamily’s values and our commitment to open the to football royalty last season with play in Rocky Mount defenses. a state championship. When the season. the defensive sideHome of the ball, excellence that has On distinguished Able “We know that we are the the front took a big hit. Gone are Eagles defeated Kinston Parrott Health Care asince its beginning 2000.Griffin, “A Passion fortheyCompassion” we have Academy in overtime, halted defending champs and defensive stoppers in Thomas a chance at three consecutive target on our back because of it,” Corbett Cobb and Jarrett Snipes.

Hudgins said. “Last year, Parrott Hudgins said that while the defense championships for the Patriots.

Now, the Eagles are heading into was coming into the game having does have returners, finding ways to their post-championship season won two in a row and they were replace some of the mainstays will Call us today for a complimentary consultation… we will come to you! with expectations to repeat, and, gunning for it. Now I’m sure they’re be tough. for us. It| www.AbleHomeHealthCareNC.com will be good to get like most teams, have the same “We lost a good amount of guys, (252)won’t 535-4400 | (252)coming 973-8534 players across the board to make it that game out of the way early.” but we’re not rebuilding,” Hudgins RMA lost several key pieces from said. “Really, the biggest part for happen. But, in what turned out to be a interesting scheduling quirk, that title team. The offense will us was getting the new linemen to Main St. Tiffanyunderstand Blvd. #101 concepts and things lookEast quite different with 854 running the Eagles1078 won’tHwy have48 to wait long to 114 back Caleb Lambert gone due to find out how they stack up against a like Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870 Conway, NC 27820 Rocky Mount, NCthat.

27804Once we get everyone graduation, as well as tight end Trey comfortable we’ll be fine.” tough team.

the 2018 Eagles

Compassion, Integrity, Respect, Expertise & Cost-Compassion

36 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 2018

Eagles Schedule

STATS

Aug. 17, 7:30 p.m.......Kinston Parrott Academy Aug. 24, 1 p.m..@ Virginia Episcopal School (Va.) OPEN Sept. 7, 7 p.m...........@ Raleigh Grace Christian Sept. 14, 7 p.m.......................... Faith Christian Sept. 21, 7 p.m................ @ Raleigh St. David’s OPEN Oct. 5, 7 p.m........... @ Kinston Parrott Academy Oct. 12, 7 p.m.......Southampton Academy (Va.) Oct. 19, 7 p.m............................. Cary Christian

Classification: NCISAA 2-A, Colonial Carolina Last season: Beat Kinston Parrott Academy, 66-60, in overtime, to win 2-A NCISAA state championship

Record: 12-0 Points for: 559 Points against: 216 201: That’s how many combined points Rocky Mount Academy and Kinston Parrott scored against each other over two games. RMA won both by a combined six points, including a 66-60 overtime win in the state championship game

2: In Week 2, RMA will travel out of state to Lynchburg, Va. to play Virginia Episcopal School Key losses: Caleb Lambert, Trey Smelcer, Thomas Griffin, Corbett Cobb, Jarrett Snipes Key returners: Jacob Braddy, Isaiah Thomas, Chandler Gazaway, Peyton David

Did you know: RMA uses each season to prove it belongs Story by Patrick Mason

There’s always something to prove on the football field at Rocky Mount Academy. No matter the size of success, eight-man football teams are often overlooked as the traditional 11-man game steals the spotlight.

To be a respected team in this realm of football is to win, and let the rest sort itself out. The Eagles have adopted this mentality and it has carried over to the on-field product each week during the season.

Rocky Mount Academy is eight-man football royalty, and showed as much with a NCISAA 2-A state championship last season over Kinston Parrott Academy. It was the RMA’s third title in five seasons, with Parrott Academy acting as the spacer with back-to-back titles of its own in 2015 and 2016.

But here in Rocky Mount, the winning tradition reigns. And it’s

foundation is built on a football fieldsized patch of grass nestled between a thick forest of trees and a baseball diamond.

Touchdowns are scored in rightcenter field and straightaway left. Coach Terrell Hudgins barks instructions alongside the players as he participates in much of the practices himself. Hudgins chugged down water after a drill, and the players were drenched in sweat after a mid-week practice in August.

All teams aim to work hard. RMA just does it with gusto. Drills are timed.

Walking on the field means running a lap as punishment. Players run in place during instruction from coaches, and sideline-to-sideline sprints are a part of each workout.

“When we go on the field we have a lot of people expecting us to win,” quarterback Isaiah Thomas said.

“Coach gets on us when we’re not going hard, and we have that mindset of if we

don’t go hard here in practice we won’t go hard in the game.”

It’s hard to say whether the gobs of wins come from the Eagles being more prepared than their opponents on gameday. Maybe it’s the caliber of athletes that come through the program.

Trey Smelcer, a tight end and kicker on last season’s squad, became the school’s first Division I football recruit when he commited to play at UNC-Charlotte.

Rocky Mount Academy has been at the top of the football world in the eight-man realm. Now, the team is building its profile. And some might even want to poach some of the Eagles best players.

“I have some friends from Rocky Mount and Nash Central who wanted me to go to their own school,” Thomas said. “But I’ve been comfortable here.

This is home. We play hard and people notice when we’re on their schedule.”

2018 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 37

Home Faith CAble hristian Health Care,LLC locally owned & operated in-home health care services evolving into its current form. startingCare at Services: a completely AHHC employs quality “We’rePersonal different point,” senior Landon Lewis • Bathing Grooming caregivers to assist said. “Last year, we•had to learn how to get into stances.

Now we are going from • Dressing • Toileting individuals and families one formation into another.”

• Hygiene in their homes.

Indeed, there isn’t•aWalking lot of wasted time.

A recent Patriots practice started • Mobility • Eating We are dedicated to 20 minutes earlier than scheduled. the players were prepared and Care: helping our clients leadEach of Respite separated into four stations. Time wasn’t Community Alternatives dignified, independent spent teaching formations, but rather Disabled what hasforbecome a routine. lifestyles in the comfortperfecting and Program With Adults its increased depth, Faith (CAP/DA) safety of their own homes Christian will have the luxury of playing only a few athletes on both offense and defense this season. An eight-game Shaikey Hardy Medicaid may pay for up to 80 hours per schedule begins with a pair of Virginiabased, caregiver eight-man toprograms month for an in-home provide before the Patriots enter conference play that personal care services. housekeeping includes Light rival and defending champion Rocky Mount are Academy. tasks and meal preparations also covered Story by Jessie H. Nunery The Eagles knocked off the Patriots in Photo by Alan Campbell by the personal program. the statecare playoffs last season, but another What a difference a year makes. of the losing that usually accompanies year of experience has the latter feeling From watching a player put on a a first-year program and finishedWe 6-4 accept in confident. private pay. girdle backward, to simply teaching 2017. Weinstein and the Patriots won “All of us feel we are good enough linemen how to get into a proper stance, their first four games. and have the drive to do well,” senior AHHC promise to you... is based on Faith Christian didn’t look like much of They return to the field this fall with defensive back Garrett Pannell said. “If a football program last August. we and play our together as a team, we 28 varsity players, many whom were ouroffamily’s values commitment to have a It was the school’s first venture into consistent attendees to the program’s good shot.” excellence that has Expectations distinguished Home varsity football, and there were times offseason weightlifting aren’tAble specific. program. This when practicing with a football wasn’t group will take the field this fall with Weinstein said he wants to see his team Health Care since its beginning in 2000.

“A Passion for Compassion” necessary. improve daily. He said the toughness the increased strength, looking more the There were too many other things like Patriots showed last season served them part of a varsity program than it did last well. His optimism is cautioned by the football terminology — and girdles — season. possibility of injuries. to solidify.

The Patriots attended a trio of 7-on-7 “If come I had seen us for the first time “I don’t think any question Callthere’s us today for a complimentary consultation… we will to you! about it — last year, it was a foreign scrimmage sessions during the summer last year at this time, I wouldn’t have established public school thought we would have won a game,” language to (252) us,” Patriots coach Russell 535-4400 | (252)against 973-8534 | www.AbleHomeHealthCareNC.com programs including Tarboro, Wilson Weinstein said. “But when I found out Weinstein said. “Now, they understand they would work and work in the weight what it means. We’re a year ahead of Fike and Roanoke Rapids.

Quarterback Sam Mills, running room, I felt like we’d win a game or two. where we were, no doubt.” backsEast Shaikey Hardy and 854 versatile didn’t#101 know we’d win six. I guess my This August certainly 1078is Hwy 48 different.

114 Main St. TiffanyI Blvd. athlete Hobart Brantley return to a expectations are higher than last year, The Patriots walk out onto the football Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870 Conway, NC 27820 Rocky Mount, NC 27804 more experienced offense that, despite but I think their expectations are higher, field looking and feeling like a different program. Faith Christian skipped most a winning season, spent the entire year too.”

the 2018 Patriots

Compassion, Integrity, Respect, Expertise & Cost-Compassion

38 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 2018

Patriots Schedule

STATS

Aug. 17, 7 p.m. .....Charlottesville St. Anne’s-Belfield (Va.) Aug. 24, 7 p.m.....@ Lawrenceville Brunswick Academy (Va.) OPEN Sept. 7, 7 p.m..............................Raleigh St. David’s Sept. 14, 7 p.m..................@ Rocky Mount Academy OPEN Sept. 27, 7 p.m.................... Raleigh Grace Christian Oct. 5, 7 p.m.............@ Southampton Academy (Va.) Oct. 11, 7 p.m................................. @ Cary Christian Oct. 19, 7 p.m.................... Kinston Parrott Academy

Classification: 2-A, NCISAA Last year: Lost to Rocky Mount Academy in the NCISAA 2-A state semifinals

Record: 6-4

43: Number of points in two losses the Patriots were outscored by rival RMA last season

16: Number of seniors Faith Christian has on roster this season

Key losses: Nick Clark Key returners: Shaikey Hardy, Sam Mills, Connor Vick

Did you know: Last year, the Patriots started fast This is a condensed version of an article that ran in the Telegram on Sept 28, 2017, after FCS won its first four games in program history.

Nick Clark doesn’t go hunting as often.

Garrett Pannell hits a baseball less.

Russell Weinstein is part of the daily grind again.

Before 2017, those parts of the Faith Christian School football team had the choice to spend Friday nights and after school however they wanted. Now, they’re intertwined in a mix of classroom settings and crunching collisions.

“I would go hunting just about every day after school,” said Clark, a senior. “Now I’m out here running around.”

Pannell, who was part of the Patriots’ baseball state champion this past spring, spent his falls preparing for baseball.

But when FCS announced in the fall of 2016 that it would field a football team the following year, a handful of athletes had to make schedule changes. And so did the

school. The team practices on a finely cut field that used to be covered with trees. It took imaginative minds to shoehorn the football facilities into their current locations.

A nearby soccer field had to become game ready for football. It needed goal posts, a fresh, correct paint job, and the addition of that tall tower teams use to record games and practices.

The weight room — a staple of every football team — had just a few dumbbells before being stocked by generous donors.

In 1993, when Faith Christian School was founded, realistic plans of having a football team would be more than two decades away.

Fast forward to Tuesday, where the Patriots are preparing for the biggest week of their careers. It’s easy to say when most players have only known four weeks of football — all of which ended in wins.

But this is where the Patriots find themselves, sitting on a perfect 4-0 record with in-town rival Rocky Mount Academy coming to play at their house on Friday.

And while the Patriots have dispatched every opponent on their schedule, coach Weinstein cautions against thoughts of perfection.

“Nothing has been the best it can be, we’re not perfect,” Weinstein said. “We’re still searching for our identity.”

The Patriots earned a three-point win in the opening week, before going on to blow out their next two opponents by a combined score of 109-26. A Sept. 15 win over Southampton, 28-22, felt good.

Then, RMA went on to beat Southampton 66-14 the following week. It’s the lone common opponent the two teams share. The Eagles think they have a team that can make a deep run in the playoffs.

And to say FCS hasn’t thought that far ahead isn’t a knock on the first-year program.

“We’ve come a long way already,” Pannell said. “Guys are really buying in and learning fast. All the guys on the field, when they heard that football was coming this year, it brightened our smiles up.”

2018 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 39

Coaching

breakdown

Craddock enters this season looking for his fifth state title as the Vikings’ head coach. His team managed to win three state titles from 2009 through 2011, and will get started on working toward that feat again this season.

TARBORO JEFF CRADDOCK Lee took over as head coach in 2015, and the Bulldogs have improved their record in each season since. He inherited a program that endured back-to-back 0-11 seasons.

Nash Central hasn’t gone winless since, and has two playoff appearances and a pair of winning seasons over the past three years.

NASH CENTRAL CHRIS LEE Battle returns for a seventh season as head coach of the Gryphons.

Last year’s 4-7 finish was the lone losing season during his tenure.

Battle has taken two teams to state championship games — 2015 and 2016 — including winning the 3-A title in 2015.

ROCKY MOUNT JASON BATTLE Foster returns to the sideline for his 29th season with the Firebirds, and the 21st as head coach. After a run to the third round of the 3-A playoffs in 2017, he’ll be tasked with replacing 10 of 11 starters on offense this year.

SOUTHERN NASH BRIAN FOSTER

Taking over for his father Raymond Cobb after the 2012 season, Jonathan Cobb has coached the Cougars to five consecutive playoff appearances, including a thirdround exit in 2014, and a final four appearance in 2015. He has a 43-23 record over his five years as head coach.

SW EDGECOMBE JONATHAN COBB Hudgins guided Rocky Mount Academy to a state title last season, his first such victory as head coach.

Hudgins is entering his fourth season as the head man, and owns a 27-7 record.

RM ACADEMY TERRELL HUDGINS Jackson is a first-year head coach for the Jaguars, taking over a team that won two games last year. His main goal for the 2018 season is to help the program build a foundation it’s been lacking in recent years.

ROCKY MOUNT PREP

OMAR JACKSON

40 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 2018

In his second year as Patriots coach, Weinstein is coming off a 6-4 season in which he turned a first-year football program into a winning team. Weinstein last coached at Roanoke Rapids from 2007 to 2013 where he turned a lowly program into a three-time conference winner.

FAITH CHRISTIAN

RUSSELL WEINSTEIN Farriss began his career in coaching in 1999, but gets his first crack at a head coaching position this season with the Knights. He was an assistant for Northern Nash last year, and inherits a team that went 1-10 in 2017.

NORTHERN NASH ANDREW FARRISS After 14 seasons as a middle school and junior varsity coach, Miller is getting a chance this season to be the main man in charge. The East Carolina grad and Upstate New York native takes over a Warriors roster he’s familiar with going back to his time as JV coach.

NORTH EDGECOMBE

JASON MILLER

Able Home MASTER SCHEDULE Health Care,2018 LLC Aug. 17 Cary Green Hope at Southern Nash Apex Middle Creek at Rocky Mount High Northern Nash at Hillsborough Orange Nash Central at North Edgecombe Tarboro at Washington County Pasquotank County at SouthWest Edgecombe Columbia at Rocky Mount Prep St. Anne’s-Belfield (Va.) at Faith Christian Kinston Parrott Academy at Rocky Mount Academy

locally owned & operated in-home health careRocky services Mount Prep at Weldon

Aug. 31 Tarboro at Northern Nash Sept. 27 Courtland Southampton Rocky Mount Prep at Harrells Raleigh AHHC Graceemploys Christianquality at AcademyPersonal Services: (Va.) Care at Rocky Christian Academy Faith Christian Mount Academy Sept. 7 West Johnston at Southern Nash Nash Central at Northern Nash North Edgecombe at Tarboro Raleigh St. David’s at Faith Christian Rocky Mount Academy at Raleigh Grace Christian

• Bathing • Grooming caregivers to assist • Dressing individuals Sept. 28 and families Oct. 19 • Toileting Chocowinity Southside at Wilson Hunt at Southern Nash • Hygiene • Walking in their homes.

Tarboro Wilson Fike at Rocky Mount • Mobility • Eating Currituck County at SouthWest High We are dedicated to Edgecombe Nash Central at Wilson Respite Care: North helping Edgecombe at our clients lead Beddingfield Northampton County Community Alternatives at Northern Nash dignified, independent Franklinton Northwest Halifax at Rocky Farmville Central at lifestyles in the comfort and Program for Disabled Mount Prep SouthWest Edgecombe Adults (CAP/DA) safety of their own homes Northside-Pinetown at Tarboro

Oct. 5 Edgecombe at Wilson Fike at Southern Nash North Northwest Halifax Franklinton at Rocky Mount Medicaid may pay up Prep to 80at Roanoke hours per Rockyfor Mount High Rapids caregiver to provide Aug. 24 Nash Central at for Farmville month an in-home Kinston Parrott Academy at Rocky Mount High at Central personal care Light housekeeping Faith Christian Greenville Conley Northern Nash at Wilson Huntservices.

Cary Christian are at Rocky Southern Nash at Nash North Pitt SouthWest tasksat and meal preparations alsoMount covered Central Academy Edgecombe Southeast Raleigh at Northern Tarboro at Trenton Jones by the personal care program.

Nash Senior Oct. 26 Washington at Tarboro Weldon at North Edgecombe Rocky Mount High at Southern We accept private pay.

SouthWest Edgecombe at Gaston KIPP Pride at Rocky Nash North Edgecombe Mount Prep North Pitt at Nash Central AHHC promise to you... based on Rocky Mount Prep at Faith Christian at Courtland Northern Nash atisWilson Fike Williamston Bear Grass Southampton Academy (Va.) North Johnston at SouthWest our family’s values and our commitment to Charter Rocky Mount Academy at Edgecombe Rocky Mount Academy at Kinston Parrott Academythat has excellence distinguished Able Home Williamston Riverside at Virginia Episcopal School Sept. 21 Tarboro Health (Va.) Jacksonville White Oak at Oct. 11 Care since its beginning in 2000.

Rocky Mount Prep at North Faith Christian at Southern Nash Faith Christian at Cary Edgecombe Lawrenceville Brunswick Rocky Mount High at Nash Christian Academy (Va.) Central Nov. 2 Northern Nash at SouthWest Oct. 12 Southern Nash Franklinton Call us today for a complimentary we will come toat you!

Aug. 30 Edgecombe Rocky consultation…

Mount High at Wilson Nash Central at North Southern Nash at Bunn Tarboro at Robersonville Hunt (252) 535-4400 | (252) 973-8534 | www.AbleHomeHealthCareNC.com Hertford County at Rocky South Creek Southern Nash at Northern Johnston Northern Nash at Rocky Mount High North Edgecombe at Gaston Nash Smithfield-Selma at Nash KIPP Pride SouthWest Edgecombe at Mount High SouthWest Edgecombe at Central Rocky Mount Prep at Nash Central 1078 Hwy 48 114 East Main St. 854 Tiffany Blvd. Beddingfield #101 Wilson SouthWest Edgecombe at Northampton County Tarboro at Pamlico County Southeast Halifax at Rocky Winterville South Central Mount Academy at North Roanoke Rapids, Rocky NC 27870 Conway,atNCSoutheast 27820 HalifaxRocky Mount, NC 27804 Raleigh St. David’s Edgecombe Mount Prep Sept. 14 Faith Christian at Rocky Mount Academy Southern Nash at Wake Forest Havelock at Rocky Mount High Nash Central at Goldsboro Elizabeth City Northeastern at Northern Nash SouthWest Edgecombe at Tarboro Robersonville South Creek at North Edgecombe Rocky Mount Prep at Louisburg

“A Passion for Compassion”

Compassion, Integrity, Respect, Expertise & Cost-Compassion

2018 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 41

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Team Name Samuel Evers Patrick Mason Northern Nash 6-5 3-8 Rocky Mount High 7-3 7-3 Southern Nash 7-4 7-4 Nash Central 8-3 8-3 Rocky Mount Academy 7-1 7-1 Faith christian School 5-3 5-3 Tarboro 11-0 11-0 SouthWest Edgecombe 8-3 9-2 North Edgecombe 6-4 4-6 Rocky Mount Prep 4-7 2-9

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*Southern Farm Bureau ® Life Insurance Co., Jackson, MS *North Carolina Farm Bureau ® Mutual Insurance Co. *An independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association *Farm Bureau ® Insurance of North Carolina, Inc. *Southern Farm Bureau ® Life Insurance Co., Jackson, MS *An independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

VikinGs!

Let’s Go ! s t h g i n N K

Good Luck Firebirds!

Nashcombe Realty 749 Fenner Rd, Suite A, Rocky Mount

252-972-6830

1052 South First Street Nashville, NC 27856

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VikinGs!

“Good luck to all the teams this season!”

Proud Sponsors of our local High School Football Teams All Out, All GAme, All SeASOn

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2018 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 43

Top Athletes

of the

Twin Counties

Offensive Player of the Year

Zonovan Knight Southern Nash High School

Every year, the Rocky Mount Telegram names offensive and defensive football players of the year.

Here’s a look back at the winners from the 2017 season.

Photos by Alan Campbell

Defensive Player of the Year

Phillip Willoughby Tarboro High School

GoldEnEastCrossinG.CoM

Purpose: FCS challenges students to learn, lead and serve in order to explore God’s divine calling in their lives. FCS guides students on their spiritual journeys by providing excellent instruction, practice, and modeling in the areas of spiritual life, academics, fine arts, athletics, and leadership.

Educational Commitment: A Christ-Centered, College Preparatory Education with multiple academic tracks and student success plans meeting the needs of your child!

Golden East Crossing Mall offers amazing leasing opportunities for your growing business... to get more leasing info, please contact Mall Management at 252-977-6464 ext 24.

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Apply NOW for 2018-2019

Currently Accepting Names for 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 Waitlists!!!

THE USED CAR FACTORY Your Dream Car is Closer Than You Imagined!

We proudly support all of our local High School Football Teams!

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46 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 2018

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Medlin Hyundai 888-HYUNDAI • (888-498-6324) 1800 N. Wesleyan Blvd. • PO Box 8650 Rocky Mount, NC 27804 SALES HOURS: Mon. - Fri. 9am - 7pm • Sat. 9am - 5pm SERVICE HOURS: Mon. - Fri. 8am - 5:30pm • Sat. 8am - 1pm PARTS HOURS: Monday - Fri. 9am - 5pm • Sat. 8am - 1pm

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Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 47

48 | Double Coverage - Twin Counties Football | 2018