High School Football Preview 2014 by The Wilson Times Co.

TheWilsonTimes

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Hunt’s Josh Lucas and Darrion Ballard

Beddingfield’s Javius Nixon and Kavajae Ellis

Fike’s Ian West and Anthony Evans

Hundreds of Players

Thousands of Fans

Beddingfield Bruins Fike Golden Demons Boasting one of the most talented squads that head coach Tyrone Johnson has had in recent seasons, only a lack of depth is a concern now for a Beddingfield team that is expected to contend for the 2-A Eastern Plains Conference championship again this season. The Bruins, who are pegged by EPC coaches to finish second again, have their sights set on that and a much deeper run in the NCHSAA postseason in 2014.

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After putting together one of the best regular seasons in school history in 2013, Fike returns many of the players who made it happen. That combination of experience and talent has made the Golden Demons the favorite to unseat archrival Hunt from atop the 3-A Big East Conference. But the Fike players and coaches want more than just a conference championship and a playoff trip.

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One Official Resource

Hunt Warriors While the faces have changed, the formula has not as the Warriors have established themselves as the class of The Wilson Times readership area over the past several seasons. With 17 consecutive wins and five straight titles in the 3-A Big East Conference, along with four NCHSAA semifinals appearances, Hunt has maintained its iron grip on the Big East. But this season could represent the Warriors’ biggest challenge yet.

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What’s a football high school? While it’s the most popular sport on campus nearly everywhere, some programs and communities seem to love football more than others By Paul Durham Sports Editor

ootball, if not America’s pastime, is certainly America’s passion.

The nation just can’t seem to get enough of the sport, from the NFL to the college ranks and down to the high school level. The NFL’s popularity continues to rise with Harris Interactive reporting in De-

cember 2013 that 35 percent of all adults polled said that pro football is their favorite sport while 11 percent ranked college football No. 1. Nearly half the country rates either pro or college football as their favorite sport. And to the victors go the spoils with the NFL and NCAA football programs currently reaping record profits from having their product on television, it seems, nearly seven days a week. At just about any college that has a football program — be it FBS, FCS, Division II, Division

III, juco or NAIA — the revenue it produces is paying for nearly every other sport on campus. That is also true at the high school level as football games are typically the most attended sporting event at any school. Of course, with the equipment and facilities required, football is also the costliest high school sport. While some high schools in North Carolina have better teams than others, a Friday night football game

See FOOTBALL SCHOOL, Page 2B

, page 3 2-A ECC preview page 4 Greene Central, view, page 5 3-A/4-A ECC pre e6 C.B. Aycock, pag e7 Cheerleaders, pag age 10 Southern Nash, p ew, page 11 3-A Big East previ 12 s preview, page 2-A Eastern Plain page 13 North Johnston, page 14 SW Edgecombe,

Thursday, August 21, 2014 wilsontimes.com 2

Football schools: Winning not the only factor that turned Wilson into a football town as residents, just about anywhere in the perhaps spurred by the sucstate still is apt to draw a cess of the 1958 Cyclones bigger crowd than any other as well as state championsport. Even at schools that ship teams at Coon in 1944 may be better known for and 1946, were already their basketball, soccer or mobilized well before 1967. baseball teams, the football In fact, the stadium at Fike games are typically better — that today is more subattended and have more stantial and impressive than pageantry with bands and most high school facilities cheerleaders. — opened during the 1967 Depending on where you season, when the Cyclones are, those Friday night lights were working on their first may shine a little — or a lot title. — brighter at some schools. The commitment from Why are some schools the community was there known as “football high before the championship schools?” Certainly winning run and has continued. is the main factor but hardly Richie Pridgen, now the ofthe only one, although sucfensive line coach at Hunt, cess, even if it comes and was Fike’s head coach for goes, will engender other 14 years (1995-2008), longer factors such as tradition and than any of its other 12 head commitment. coaches. Pridgen can attest that Fike football never reFIKE TRADITION ally escaped the shadow of STARTS EARLY its success in the ‘60s. Fike High branded itself “No question,” said Pridas a football school almost gen. “The people from the as soon as it opened its Trevathan era were still Fike doors 56 years ago, nearly alumni. I remember when I two months into the Cyfirst got the job and talked clones’ 1958 season. The about changing uniforms students started the year at and the general feeling was Charles L. Coon High and the alumni that come back moved into their new digs to Fike to watch the ball on Harrison Drive in Octogames wanted to see blue ber, just before the Cyclones and gold (uniforms) — and ended up in the North Caro- gold helmets.” lina High School Athletic While the Titans (as the Association’s Class AAA team was called from 1971championship game oppo77) or the Golden Demons site Winston-Salem Reyn(1978 to present) had sucolds. Fike and Reynolds cessful seasons, no Fike shared the championship team has ever won a state after their 7-7 tie but the die championship in football was cast at Fike, which, nine since 1970. Only Pridgen’s years later, embarked on the 2002 Golden Demons have most glorious athletic era in reached a state final. Wilson high school history. But that hasn’t diminished The Cyclones of head football at Fike. coach Henry Trevathan “Because of that 1960s won three straight state 4-A era football was always a championships, playing in big deal there, even in the front of capacity crowds at years when I first took over home and taking busloads and we weren’t winning, it of fans with them on the was still important,” Pridroad. gen said. “People would But it wasn’t their success still show up and watch the

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games but, obviously, everything’s better when you win.” With Fike posting one of its best records since the 1960s last season at 11-2 and the Demons picked to win the 3-A Big East Conference this season, passion for football is flaming higher on Harrison Drive. “That’s all you hear people talking about: Ready for football season? ready for football season?” said Fike senior standout Anthony Evans. “I’ll be at work and people in the community come by and say, ‘I’m ready to see you on the field.’” That fervor wasn’t quite as high in 2012 when Fike struggled to win games, Evans and senior teammate Ian West said. “We went 2-9 and I remember being almost in tears wanting this team to succeed and care and (him) doing the same and having maybe three other people on the team care,” West said. “The coaches always cared and some of the selcct few of the players cared (in 2012) but as soon as we got down, we were out. We’ve changed so much now. We finally believe in ourselves. We have the community around us now.”

HEARTS AND MINDS Community support is the lifeblood of football high schools. Southern Nash head coach Brian Foster, entering his 17th season as head coach, has worked long and hard to build the Firebirds brand. The breakthrough finally came in 2009 when Southern Nash knocked off Big East champion Hunt at home in the second round of the state 3-A playoffs and went all the way to the Eastern final, losing by a point in double overtime at South Johnston.

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Since then Southern Nash has gone to the playoffs every year and, certainly the past two or three seasons, Firebirds Stadium’s home bleachers are packed on Friday nights. “I think just getting the community involved and letting them know what we try to stand for. Getting people on the staff from the community,” listed Foster, before adding: “And then winning doesn’t hurt.” The passion of Foster and his assistant coaches, seven of which are former Firebirds players, for football isn’t lost on the players. “It’s just important to them. I think they see it as important because we see it as important,” he said. “It’s got to come from a standpoint of where they see us caring about them all year round.” Foster pointed to the successful youth league football team sponsored by Southern Nash as part of the high school program’s success. He also noted that playing in a conference in which all six teams are from two counties and no more than a 30-minute drive away is helpful in creating rivalries and excitement. But winning isn’t everything, at least at Southern Nash and many other programs, where the emphasis is always on character. “We’re never going to say our kids won’t do something wrong, but they know there’s going to be consequences,” he said. “But to me that’s what sports should be about.”

ANNUAL EXPECTATIONS Hunt has been the preeminent “football high school” in Wilson and across The Wilson Times readership area for a number of years, especially the last four in which the Warriors have reached the NCHSAA 3-A or 3-AA Eastern championship game. The passion for pigskin at Hunt goes back to its first year when a team of players that came from Fike, Lucama and Rock Ridge high schools were thrown together following the merger of Wilson city and county school systems. That first Warriors team, playing at the 2-A level, won all 10 regular-season games before losing in the first round of the playoffs. “I think the guys who were supposed to be going to Fike on what was going to be a pretty good 4-A team got sent over here,” said Warriors head coach Stevie Hinnant. “It just kicked it off and the tradition was started in ‘78. The first couple of years there in 4-A were kind of tough.” Hunt moved up to the 4-A ranks the following year and, after a few losing seasons, reached the 4-A Eastern final in 1983. Hinnant was a starting linebacker on the ‘83 team. Randy Raper, who left Hunt to take the job at Northern Nash after the 2012 season, won 203 games in 22 seasons as the Warriors head coach. Raper also led Hunt to its only state championship appearance, the 3-A title game in 2004. While Hunt has had outstanding teams in baseball,

tennis, golf, soccer and basketball, the school is linked to football the most. “I don’t think it’s any more important, or certainly you can’t put more emphasis on it than you do any of the other sports, but a good football season seems to kick the school year off and the morale of the students,” said Hinnant, who is also the athletic director. “If you’ve got a good football team, it does a lot to get the school year started off good. “And we do have tradition and I think most of the students and the community expect us to have a good football program.”

BUILDING THE BRAND Building a program to the point where it becomes the sport the school is known for is never easy and always takes time. Allen Wooten, now in his second season as Greene Central’s head coach, and Ashley Ennis, who just took over at North Johnston, are diligently trying to lay the foundation for future success. “It’s a challenge,” said Ennis, who came to North Johnston, which went 0-11 in 2013, after two successful seasons as the head coach at Erwin Triton High. “I knew it was going to be a challenge but we’ve got kids working to get better and that’s all we really can do. We’re trying to change the culture up a little bit and get them to buy into what we’re trying to do.” Wooten, in his first job as head coach after eight years as an assistant at North Pitt, said it begins with the head coach’s ability to get things done. “It starts with a lot of organization,” he said. “There’s a lot of things that a lot of people don’t know goes into being a high school coach — offseason, preseason, strength, academics, physicals on time. “Those are the things that as an assistant coach, you don’t have to deal with. Building the program starts with that organization.” The Rams ended a 16-game losing streak last year and made the state playoffs by winning their last three regular-season games. Getting kids onto the field is also a component, especially at smaller 2-A schools like North Johnston or Greene Central. “We’ve got to try to get as many kids out there as we can,” Ennis said. “The school is growing a little bit; I don’t think it’s going to grow a whole lot. If we can get 100 kids in the program, I think that’ll be a good number for North Johnston.” Wooten iterated that building the brand is a process. “Anytime that you’re in a program that has had a down streak, kids are struggling to see the positives,” Wooten said. “You’e got to make sure that they have a goal that they can see and attain it. Even in practice you have to have drills where there is a winner and a loser.” But while North Johnston and Greene Central haven’t had it lately, both programs have put together impres-

sive runs in recent years. Ken Avent Jr. led the Panthers to a 14-1 record in 2005, ending the season with a loss to Wallace-Rose Hill in the NCHSAA 1-AA Eastern championship game. Avent went 25-15 in four seasons in Kenly before moving on to Warsaw James Kenan, which has guided to two state 1-AA championships, including last season. Tom Nelson, now the head coach at Fike, went 3328 in his five years at North Johnston. Greene Central was a force in the 2-A Eastern Plains Conference in the five seasons Jim Bob Bryant was head coach (20032007), winning two EPC titles and finishing second three times. Bryant, who went 43-20 in Snow Hill, moved to Havelock where his Rams have won three consecutive NCHSAA 3-A titles. So success hasn’t eluded either school on the football field but it will take more than a few winning seasons before they will consider themselves “football high schools.”

‘SOMETHING TO BE EXCITED ABOUT’ With four state championships under legendary girls basketball coach Sandra Langley, SouthWest Edgecombe has enjoyed a sterling reputation in that sport. While the Cougars have yet to play for a state championship in football, the nine-year run as head coach by Raymond Cobb galvanized the school as one that has come to be known for its football program. Cobb’s Cougar squads won 71 percent of their games and went to the postseason just about every year. But he stepped down after the 2012 season and his son, Jonathan, now runs the SWE program. The younger Cobb has known nothing but football success, having grown up watching his father win two state 1-A titles at North Edgecombe, where the elder Cobb’s Warriors went to five state finals and claimed 10 conference championships in 16 seasons. “I was raised with that example. I developed a passion for it and that’s why I am a coach today,” said Jonathan Cobb, who added that it’s one thing to be “beside the man and being the man.” But Jonathan Cobb understands how important football has become to SouthWest Edgecombe’s community, which serves Pinetops, Macclesfield and Crisp. “We live in a rural community, a low socioeconomic community and county that has a lot of a challenges,” offered Cobb. “I think football provides escape for a lot of people and it also provides a platform for people of all different kinds of backgrounds to come together. I think that’s why it’s so special to people here. It’s a thing that provides unity on Friday nights for our community and it gives people something to be excited about.” paul@wilsontimes.com | 265-7808

2013 NCHSAA CHAMPIONSHIPS 1-A

Southwest Onslow 7

Murphy 35, Plymouth 34

At Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill

Winston-Salem

2-AA

Southern Durham 38, Shelby Crest 31

1-AA

High Point Andrews 18, Monroe 14

At Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh

Warsaw James Kenan 42, West Montgomery 14

3-A

At BB&T Field, Winston-Salem

2-A

At Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill

Shelby 29,

At Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh

Havelock 21, Concord 13

3-AA

At BB&T Field,

4-A

Greensboro Dudley 24, Scotland County 7

4-AA

At Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh

Charlotte Mallard Creek 59, Wake Forest 21

Thursday, August 21, 2014 wilsontimes.com 3

2013 final standings 3-A Big East Conference Team Hunt Fike Rocky Mount Southern Nash Northern Nash Nash Central

3-A/4-A Eastern Carolina Conference

Conf. All PS PA 5-0 11-4 405 297 4-1 11-2 463 259 3-2 8-4 253 237 2-3 9-4 366 287 1-4 4-7 167 212 0-5 0-11 68 310

Team Conf. All PS PA D.H. Conley 5-1 10-3 503 268 New Bern 5-1 9-4 486 226 J.H. Rose 4-2 12-3 494 288 Eastern Wayne 4-2 11-3 424 292 South Central 2-4 4-7 316 353 C.B. Aycock 1-5 4-8 303 463 Southern Wayne 0-6 2-9 213 441

2-A Eastern Plains Conference

2-A Eastern Carolina Conference

Team Conf. All PS PA Washington 5-0 12-3 396 239 Beddingfield 4-1 8-5 365 309 Farmville Central 3-2 8-3 378 213 SW Edgecombe 2-3 5-7 294 237 North Pitt 1-4 6-6 353 245 North Johnston 0-5 0-11 118 439

Team Ayden-Grifton Kinston Greene Central Goldsboro North Lenoir South Lenoir

Conf. All PS PA 5-0 7-7 425 384 4-1 7-6 276 386 3-2 3-9 258 380 2-3 4-7 251 244 1-4 2-9 160 370 0-5 1-10 122 310

2013 team-by-team results BEDDINGFIELD (8-5, 4-1 EPC)

HUNT (11-4, 5-0 Big East)

Opponent Result PF PA Greene Central W 46 20 @ Southern Nash L 24 30 Pinecrest L 25 37 @ Fike L 27 37 @ Nash Central W 28 7 Hunt W 15 13 @ North Johnston W 48 8 North Pitt W 27 22 @ Washington L 7 33 Farmville Central W 28 28 @ SW Edgecombe W 31 20 Graham W 30 19 @ Northeastern L 29 43 TOTAL 365 309 PER GAME 28.1 23.8 C.B. AYCOCK (4-8, 1-5 ECC) Opponent Result PF PA Rosewood W 35 21 @ Greene Central W 16 14 North Lenoir W 42 29 @ Goldsboro L 30 40 Corinth Holders L 21 26 L 7 72 @ New Bern W 42 35 Southern Wayne J.H. Rose L 14 34 @ D.H. Conley L 30 55 @ South Central L 34 49 @ Eastern Wayne L 26 47 @ Western Alamance L 6 41 TOTAL 303 463 PER GAME 25.3 38.6

Opponent Result PF PA South Central W 28 12 Hertford County L 15 21 New Hanover L 13 36 @ Northeastern W 28 16 @ Currituck County W 33 25 @ Beddingfield L 13 15 @ Northern Nash W 14 7 @ Rocky Mount W 48 31 W 23 13 Southern Nash Nash Central W 41 0 @ Fike W-OT 41 34 Terry Sanford W 35 21 West Brunswick W 43 14 W 20 14 @ Douglas Byrd 10 38 @ Southern Durham L TOTAL 405 297 PER GAME 27.0 19.8 NORTH JOHNSTON (0-10, 0-5 EPC) Result PF PA Opponent L 16 50 @ Louisburg @ Bunn L 20 51 Corinth Holders L 12 33 Princeton L 32 45 @ Lakewood L 7 21 @ North Lenoir L 16 18 Beddingfield L 8 48 Farmville Central L 7 42 @ North Pitt L 0 56 SW Edgecombe L 0 35 TOTAL 118 399 PER GAME 11.8 39.9 SOUTHERN NASH (9-4, 2-3 Big East)

FIKE (11-2, 4-1 Big East) Opponent Result PF PA @ Bunn W 36 17 @ Roanoke Rapids W 49 0 Kinston W 41 34 Beddingfield W 37 27 @ Smithfield-Selma W 38 0 @ South Johnston W 35 21 Southern Nash W 33 27 @ Nash Central W 33 15 Rocky Mount W 37 13 @ Northern Nash W 29 12 Hunt L-OT 34 41 @ Lee County W 41 26 @ Douglas Byrd L 20 26 463 259 TOTAL PER GAME 35.6 19.9

Opponent Result PF PA SW Edgecombe W 27 14 Beddingfield W 30 24 Bunn W 28 23 @ Roanoke Rapids W 50 27 Ayden-Grifton W 28 13 @ Tarboro W 24 23 @ Fike L 27 33 Northern Nash W 15 14 @ Hunt L 13 23 @ Rocky Mount L 14 30 Nash Central W 42 21 @ Swansboro W 51 21 @ Eastern Wayne L 17 21 TOTAL 366 287 PER GAME 28.2 22.1

GREENE CENTRAL (3-9, 3-2 ECC)

SW EDGECOMBE (5-7, 2-3 EPC)

Result PF PA Opponent @ Beddingfield L 20 46 C.B. Aycock L 14 16 @ SW Edgecombe L 7 28 Eastern Wayne L 20 50 Farmville Central L 21 35 North Pitt L 19 38 @ Ayden-Grifton L 27 28 North Lenoir W 48 8 @ Kinston L 28 31 W 14 12 @ South Lenoir Goldsboro W 20 19 L 20 69 @ Bunn TOTAL 258 380 PER GAME 21.5 31.7

Opponent Result PF PA @ Southern Nash L 14 27 North Edgecombe W 54 14 Greene Central W 28 7 Tarboro L 0 14 @ Rocky Mount L 22 24 @ East Carteret W 49 7 @ North Pitt W 36 22 L 14 27 Washington @ Farmville Central L 7 21 @ North Johnston W 35 0 Beddingfield L 20 31 @ T.C. Andrews L 15 43 294 237 TOTAL 24.5 19.8 PER GAME

returning area leaders

Evans

Ellis

Nixon

RUSHING

(Minimum 40 rushes)

Name, school Anthony Evans, FIKE A.J. Hines, FIKE Devontrell Hyman, SWE Marcus Williams, SWE Darius Barnes, HUNT T.J. Morrow, CBA Quamel Kenion, NJ Barry Smith, SWE Keshai Lindsey, BEDD Jaquay Mitchell, SN Kavajae Ellis, BEDD

G 13 13 12 12 15 12 11 12 13 13 13

Att. 255 155 112 80 146 190 169 102 115 40 165

Yds. TDs Avg. 1,819 18 139.9 1,051 21 80.8 811 12 67.6 791 9 65.9 908 8 60.5 718 7 59.8 638 2 58.0 590 5 49.2 547 3 42.1 489 3 37.6 481 11 37.0

PASSING

(Minimum 30 attempts)

Name, school Kavajae Ellis, BEDD D.J. Daniels, FIKE T.J. Morrow, CBA Jacob Williamson, HUNT

G A-C-I Yds. TDs Rating 13 242-131-14 2,068 23 98.28 13 191-88-6 1,332 17 96.03 12 229-113-11 1,605 15 91.98 15 135-59-11 1,202 11 81.23

RECEIVING

(Minimum 10 receptions)

Name, school Javius Nixon, BEDD Marcus Williams, SWE Tahj Deans, SN Joe Ellis, FIKE Darrion Ballard, HUNT

G 13 12 13 13 15

Rec. Yds. TDs Avg. 46 894 13 68.8 11 261 2 21.8 18 280 3 21.5 16 232 2 17.8 11 195 3 13.0

Chargers, Rams picked to decide 2-A Eastern Carolina supremacy By Jimmy Lewis Staff Writer

SNOW HILL — In the league’s second year of existence, the six head football coaches of the 2-A Eastern Carolina Conference were split down the middle as to the identity of its 2014 champion at the league’s preseason meeting on the campus of Greene Central High. Although defending ECC champ Ayden-Grifton was selected to finish first in the preseason poll with 32 points and three first-place votes, the Rams of secondyear head coach Allen Wooten picked up the other three first-place nods and 29 points. Kinston was third with 24, followed by Goldsboro (21) in fourth. South Lenoir (11) and North Lenoir (9) round out the prognostication. Even if the Oct. 10 ECC opener between the Chargers and Rams in Snow Hill doesn’t go on to decide the league’s champion, it will still be a rematch of what was arguably the most bizarre finish to a football game in Eastern North Carolina last season. Leading late in the fourth quarter, Greene Central quarterback Austin Batchelor went down to a knee on a third-down play in the final minute. However, the officials mismanaged the clock in thinking it was fourth down, and gave Ayden-Grifton the ball with time for one final play. One Hail Mary touchdown pass later, Ayden-Grifton had snatched a incredulous 28-27 victory that ended an 0-6 start to its season. Once key contributors returned from injury for the Chargers, that miracle win opened the floodgates for seven consecutive victories — including the inaugural ECC crown. Included in that stretch through the conference schedule was a 76-0 pasting of Kinston, the league runner-up last season. The Chargers dodged a significant bullet in the offseason when veteran head coach Paul Cornwell, the 2013 Carolina Panthers Coach of the Year, was offered the head coaching position at St. James High in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. However, Cornwell opted to remain in Littlefield. He’ll bring back a roster that brings back three offensive starters and four on defense. Anchoring the Ayden-Grifton defense will be defensive lineman Justin Brown, who has tendered a verbal commitment to East Carolina. “We were fortunate to have a group of seniors, even when things got tough, we were able to rely on their experience,” Cornwell said. “This year, we’re a little bit younger, so we have some good days and bad days. But we’ve got some talent, and I think if we can stay healthy, we can be competitive.” Opening up ECC play was a blessing for Greene Central last season, which endured a winless non-conference slate in Wooten’s first campaign. The Rams finished 3-8 overall and 3-2 in the league, returning to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association postseason. Greene Central lost over 20 seniors from last year’s team, but welcomes a junior varsity contingent that produced an undefeated season in 2013. Four defensive starters return, while only two offensive stalwarts are back. “We lost a lot and we gained a lot,” Wooten reviewed. “It’s kind of a pushpull situation.” Kinston, under the direc-

and Ayden-Grifton’s always going to be tough.” Then, there’s Johnson Results of the 2014 2-A Eastern Carolina and the Cougars. Conference preseason football coaches poll The former Beddingconducted at Greene Central on Tuesday, field all-state quarterback Aug. 6. Teams are given five points for first ascends to his first head place, four points for second place, etc. coaching position at the age Coaches were not allowed to vote for their teams. First-place votes are in parentheses. of 26 and inherits four returning starters on offense and defense. Although 1. Ayden-Grifton 32 (3) 2. Greene Central 29 (3) Johnson came from a quar3. Kinston 24 terback-friendly program 4. Goldsboro 21 as a prep athlete, he prom5. South Lenoir 11 ises that he won’t shy away 6. North Lenoir 9 from the run game — even with a potent combo in tion of head coach Ryan junior quarterback Nashir Gieselman, brings back six Bowden and senior wide starters on both sides of the receiver Joe Baker. football after going 7-6 and “I like to be able to throw reaching the second round the ball, but it’s like I tell of the playoffs. our kids everyday, I like to “It’s a tough conference,” throw, but we’ve got to be Gieselman assured. “The able to run. We’ve got to whole conference is athbe able to run the football. letic. You’ve got Bennett Throwing the ball helps Johnson at Goldsboro, he when you have one, a guy was there two years as the who can throw it and two, offensive coordinator and a guy that can catch it. was successful, Greene Luckily at Goldsboro, we’re Central’s got the program blessed to have both of going in the right direction those.”

COACHES POLL

North Lenoir graduate Calvin Sutton returns for his sixth season roaming the sidelines in LaGrange, where he owns an 8-46 record. The Hawks feature running back will be senior captain Donyae Hopkins, who ran for over 1,000 yards last season. “Everybody’s pretty tough, man,” Sutton said of the ECC ranks. “The thing about the conference is that everybody is athletic, which is different than us because we’re not real athletic. Contrary to popular belief, we can’t put the skill guys out there that a Greene Central or a Kinston has.” South Lenoir, 1-10 a season ago and winless in the ECC, is now on its third head coach in as many seasons after longtime Blue Devils assistant Fred Kennedy stepped into the primary role, replacing Kenneth Grantham. jlewis@wilsontimes.com | 265-7807 Twitter: @JimmyLewisWT

2-A ECC weekly schedule FRIDAY, AUG. 22 Beddingfield @ Greene Central; Riverside Martin @ Ayden-Grifton; Franklinton @ Goldsboro; Kinston @ Jones Senior; North Lenoir @ Eastern Wayne; Harrells Christian @ South Lenoir FRIDAY, AUG. 29 Greene Central @ C.B. Aycock; Ayden-Grifton @ D.H. Conley; Eastern Wayne @ Goldsboro; Kinston @ Nash Central; Farmville Central @ North Lenoir; Southwest Onslow @ South Lenoir FRIDAY, SEPT. 5 SW Edgecombe @ Greene Central; Ayden-Grifton @ North Pitt; Goldsboro @ Southern Wayne; Kinston @ Fike; C.B. Aycock @ North Lenoir; North Duplin @ South Lenoir FRIDAY, SEPT. 12

Greene Central @ Eastern Wayne; Farmville Central @ Ayden-Grifton; Goldsboro @ C.B. Aycock; Kinston @ Havelock; Southern Wayne @ North Lenoir; South Lenoir @ Richlands FRIDAY, SEPT. 19 Greene Central @ Farmville Central; Pamlico County @ Ayden-Grifton; Kinston @ J.H. Rose; North Lenoir @ East Duplin; Goldsboro Rosewood @ South Lenoir; OPEN — Goldsboro FRIDAY, SEPT. 26 Greene Central @ North Pitt; Southern Nash @ Ayden-Grifton; Goldsboro @ Jacksonville Northside; North Lenoir @ North Johnston; East Duplin @ South Lenoir; OPEN — Kinston FRIDAY, OCT. 3 Scotland County @ Goldsboro; Kinston @ Washington; OPEN —

Ayden-Grifton; Greene Central; North Lenoir; South Lenoir FRIDAY, OCT. 10 Ayden-Grifton @ Greene Central; Goldsboro @ South Lenoir; North Lenoir @ Kinston FRIDAY, OCT. 17 Greene Central @ North Lenoir; South Lenoir @ Ayden-Grifton; Kinston @ Goldsboro FRIDAY, OCT. 24 Kinston @ Greene Central; Goldsboro @ Ayden-Grifton; North Lenoir @ South Lenoir FRIDAY, OCT. 31 South Lenoir @ Greene Central; Ayden-Grifton @ Kinston; North Lenoir @ Goldsboro FRIDAY, NOV. 7 Greene Central @ Goldsboro; Ayden-Grifton @ North Lenoir; South Lenoir @ Kinston

They play.

You vote.

Cast your vote on wilsontimes.com beginning Sunday, August 24 Winners will be announced each Friday in the sports section of The Wilson Times

Thursday, August 21, 2014 wilsontimes.com 4

Young Rams expect to be in 2-A playoff chase Greene Central, in year 2 under Wooten, picked 2nd in ECC By Jimmy Lewis Staff Writer

SNOW HILL — High school football is a cyclical beast, with some seasons yielding a veteran roster and others a slew of young faces yet to taste varsity combat for the first time. The year 2014 will fall into the latter category for the Greene Central Rams and second-year head coach Allen Wooten, but that doesn’t mean expectations are trending downward for a program that lost 25 seniors from a team that posted a 3-9 record and fell to Bunn in the opening round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2-A playoffs.

key performer

Trequan Wade Junior • QB/DB 6-foot-1, 185 pounds Ascends to the starting quarterback role after throwing just one varsity pass as a freshman. Was the signal caller for an undefeated junior varsity squad last season. Owns excellent arm strength and will allow the Greene Central offense to incorporate read-option looks into its attack. Coaching staff would like to see him take a more vocal role as the leader of the offense.

roster No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 20 21 22 23 24 25 32 34 44 50 53 56 58 59 60 61 63 65 70 72 73 74 75 77 80

Name Bailey Ormond Tremon Armstrong Kendrick Wooten Willie Edwards Montavias Battle Aaron Thigpen Dana Lanier Josh Brown Justin Lee Trequan Wade A.J. Davis Ryan Warren Jerome Murriell Khalil Williams Stephen Buckley Reggie Davis Brandon Hunt Ronnie Battle Taylen Speight Miles Williams Ariel Pridgen Sullivan Cain Syquan Williams D.J. Moye Jurman Leveston Marquice Spencer Heath Hill Harris Jarmin Hunter Moore J.J. Rouse Justin Woolard Laettner Fulford Bryant Dashawn Bailee Dunn Dominick Bryant Dequante Taylor Brad Monroe

Pos. WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/LB RB/LB WR/DB WR/LB FB/LB QB/LB/P QB/S WR/DB TE/DE WR/DE WR/S WR/DB RB/LB WR/DB RB/DB WR/DB RB/DL OL/LB OL/DE OL/LB OL/LB OL/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL WR/DE

Ht. 5-10 6-4 5-11 5-9 5-9 5-11 5-11 6-0 5-9 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-3 5-9 5-9 5-10 5-8 5-8 5-7 5-5 5-9 6-1 5-7 5-8 6-1 5-8 5-11 6-0 5-9 5-8 5-11 6-2 5-11 6-3 6-2 6-1 6-2

Wt. 175 160 170 195 185 170 170 225 180 185 160 190 200 180 170 200 160 165 155 175 170 195 190 170 200 220 210 185 220 220 200 245 220 315 250 195 195

Cl. Sr. Sr. Sr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. So. So. So. Jr.

Greene Central’s Bailey Ormond, shown bringing down a South Central ball carrier during a preseason practice, is expected to be a senior leader in the Rams secondary this season. Jimmy Lewis | Times

sophomore Hunter Moore at center, senior Laettner Fulford at right guard and junior Sullivan Cain at right tackle, although Wooten indicated the right tackle spot was the most subject to change.

LESS DELEGATION

One of the most significant changes on the Greene Central defense this season will be the play caller. After delegating the responsibility in his first Mascot: Rams season as a head coach, Colors: Royal blue and red Wooten will take over in the defensive coordinator Conference: 2-A Eastern “Tre has to become a leader. The role. Carolina guys follow him, and he’s got to He’ll employ a four-man Head coach: Allen Wooten (2nd understand that when you’ve got front spearheaded by season) all those people following you, defensive ends Murriell you’ve got to lead them. 2013 record: 3-9 overall (1st and sophomore Dominick “Tre is one of those guys that’s round of 2-A playoffs), 3-2 2-A Bryant, a lineman that always level-headed. He doesn’t Eastern Plains (3rd) showed flashes of promise have the (Johnny) Manziel in him. Top returning passer: Trequan He’s not going to get too high, as a freshman. The tackle and he’s not going to get too low Wade (1-0-0, 0 yds.) positions fall to senior JurBattle, a 5-foot-9 junior, is another new face, will be and beat himself up, either. But at currently penciled in as asked to duplicate some of man Leveston and junior Top returning rusher: Ronnie some point, he’s got to get excited Miles Williams. Williams, the starter and will use his the after-the-catch magic Battle (4 yds., 0 TDs) with his guys.” — Allen Wooten 185-pound frame to make employed by the departed at 175 pounds, is expected Top returning receiver: None defenders miss and catch Curtez Braswell, who gave to cause issues for opposing centers with his speed. the ball out of the backthe Rams a scoring threat Read-option plays become field. Although his brother, on every touch. Junior Monroe will provide depth In fact, quite the conat end. trary as the Rams prepare a possibility in Wade’s Ronnie, checks in at 165 Dana Lanier, at 5-11, led midst. A balanced offense “We want a couple of to host Beddingfield in pounds, Wooten described the junior varsity in TD is the ideal, and quick wide him as the “most physical bad snaps a game because Friday’s season opener, receptions last season. receiver screens designed Miles is in his ear every the nucleus of a junior runner in the program.” Tremon Armstrong, a 6-4 play,” Wooten said. varsity team that posted an to get the ball in the hands Freshman Willie Edsenior and A.J. Davis, a An all-senior linebackundefeated season will be- of playmakers on the outwards is a third option 6-1 junior, give Wade a gin to assume key roles in side will be considered at running back and is a pair of rangy targets. Also ing corps in 2013 has extensions of the running given way to a new group. the varsity ranks. Despite candidate for the eightfactoring into the wealth game. Juniors Josh Brown and a winless non-conference quarter rule. of pass catchers are 6-2 While Wade’s arm isn’t Dashawn Bryant are slate last season, the The trio must produce junior Brad Monroe and penciled in at inside lineRams entered the new 2-A in question from Wooten in Bullock’s stead, who 6-4 senior Jerome Murand the Greene Central backer, while junior RegEastern Carolina Conferbulled his way to 895 yards riell, back from an injury staff, there’s still work to ence and posted a 3-2 and seven TDs on the sustained two years ago. A gie Davis will factor in at be done in getting the foot- ground. He added eight outside linebacker. Senior third-place record. Four traditional tight end isn’t points in two games stood ball to needed spots. grabs for 71 yards and a expected to see the field on Kendrick Wooten is listed “He’s got the arm as a defensive back, but between Greene Central score, largely out of the a regular basis. can join in on run-stopping and an outright conference strength and the mental screen game. “We’ve got some pieces acuity to be a very good responsibilities if need be. crown. At wide receiver, Greene on offense,” Wooten asAt free safety, Ronnie That translated in part to high school quarterback,” Central stands to benefit sured. “Where Michael Battle will be an integral a world of respect from the Wooten said of Wade. from the experiences of was our go-to target last “He’s just got to fine tune part of the Greene Central other five ECC coaches, Wooten while he served as year, you might get 80 some of those things. His secondary. Wooten hailed who assigned the Rams a the defensive coordinator yards receiving one game next step is going to be if him as the leader of the second-place finish and at North Pitt. In that span, and you might not get he can become the vocal defense and as such, the three first-place votes in Wooten’s teams spent an a ball thrown your way Rams’ level of play will the league’s preseason poll leader that the quarterinordinate amount of time the next. But what we’ve back needs to be of the behind defending chamgearing up to stop the run, taught our receivers is, you rise and fall with his peroffense.” pion Ayden-Grifton. which left opportunities better run every route like formance. Senior Justin Lee, who “When he played physi“The expectations are with the pass. Thus, the you’re getting the ball. Bebecame a quarterback in cal, we played physical,” very, very high,” Wooten Rams will strive to hit a cause we’ve got so many the offseason, will serve the coach said. “At the assured. “Whereas those true balance and take the of you, you won’t go back as the backup and owns a (South Central) scrimyoung men last year who short-yardage passing out there if you don’t.” solid understanding of the windows that run-focused ended up kind of turning Wade’s blindside will be mage the other day, he got that good big hit, it kind of it on at the end of the year, offense. defensive bosses will cede. protected by senior left In the backfield, a broth- Also, the wideouts are can- tackle Syquan WIlliams. woke us up.” they didn’t have a lot of exerly combo will carry the At corner, senior Bailey pectations from people in didates to be involved in The other starting linemen Ormond is back for his the community and people bulk of the Rams’ load in the running game. are expected to be junior the backfield. Montavias third season as a starter. around the high school Junior Brandon Hunt, Heath Hill at left guard, football world. These kids kind of have a target on their back. ... I don’t know if we’re there yet, but it sure is a good feeling to be at the top of a preseason list than the bottom.”

quick facts

PLAY THE PERCENTAGES For starters, Greene Central lost its leading passer in quarterback Austin Batchelor, its top rusher in Ronshon Bullock and its primary receiving target in Michael Mitchell to graduation. Nearly all of the players responsible for the Rams’ offensive yardage from last season are no longer in the program. The new offensive identity will begin with one of those junior varsity faces in junior quarterback Trequan Wade. Wade, a soft-spoken presence who has thrown just one varsity pass in his career, stands to bring a more mobile dimension to the Rams offense in place of Batchelor, who was almost exclusively a pocket passer.

schedule DATE Aug. 22 Aug. 29 Sept. 5 Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 7

OPPONENT Beddingfield @ C.B. Aycock SW Edgecombe @ Eastern Wayne @ Farmville Central @ North Pitt OPEN Ayden-Grifton* @ North Lenoir* Kinston* South Lenoir* Goldsboro*

* 2-A Eastern Carolina Conference game Armstrong and junior Stephen Buckley are battling for the second corner spot. Wooten hailed the trio as “true cover corners” who can backpedal and minimize the threat of the deep ball. On special teams, Lee will be the punter and has averaged anywhere between 38 and 45 yards per kick with hang time that can force fair catches. When he isn’t taking practice snaps as Wade’s backup, Lee is punting the football. Buckley was the junior varsity kicker and will reprise his role on Friday nights. Junior Ryan Warren will handle the kickoff duties, while Buckley is capable of connecting from 35 to 40 yards on field goals. Either Lee or Warren could kick extra points. Lanier and Hunt will be deployed on kick returns, and Wooten expects his former junior varsity contingent, immersed in winning, to not back down from any opponent on the schedule. “You want to win them all,” Wooten said. “Is there a game where this year where we’re going to walk into it and we don’t have a chance? No. I think with the boys we have and the competitive spirit they have, there’s not going to be a game where we’ll get shell-shocked.” jlewis@wilsontimes.com | 265-7807 | Twitter: @JimmyLewisWT

Greene Central running back Montavias Battle, scampering for yardage during a preseason practice with South Central, opens the 2014 season as the Rams starter in the backfield.

Jimmy Lewis | Times

Thursday, August 21, 2014 wilsontimes.com 5

New Bern picked to win 3-A/4-A ECC Eastern Wayne is easily the 3-A favorite with CBA picked 2nd By Jimmy Lewis Staff Writer

GREENVILLE — Call it a caste system if you will, but once again in 2014, two separate races will play out within the confines of the 3-A/4-A Eastern Carolina Conference. One is expected to be a neck-and-neck affair, according to the league’s seven head coaches. The other? Not so much. While defending cochampion New Bern was barely picked ahead of Greenville Rose for 4-A and overall supremacy at the preseason coaches meeting Aug. 5 at Parker’s Barbecue in Greenville, 3-A Eastern Wayne was projected to be in the mix with the conference’s 4-A behemoths, thereby towering over its 3-A bretheren in Charles B. Aycock and Southern Wayne. The Bears of head coach Bobby Curlings picked up four first-place votes to lead the balloting with 33 points. Rose was just behind with 31 and the other three first-place nods. D.H. Conley (23), Eastern Wayne (22), Winterville South Central (20). C.B. Aycock (9) and Southern Wayne (9) followed. Eastern Wayne, under the direction of head coach Bubba Williams, finished 11-3 a season ago and advanced all the way to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3-A East finals in completing the best season in school history. The Warriors were only tripped up by eventual state champion and undefeated Havelock. Along the way, Eastern Wayne disdained the ECC caste system, handing losses to South Central and Conley. The Warriors return eight offensive starters and five on defense from that team. “It helped us develop toughness,” Williams said

COACHES POLL Results of the 2014 3-A/4-A Eastern Carolina Conference preseason football coaches poll conducted Monday, Aug. 5, in Greenville. Teams are given five points for first place, four points for second place, etc. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their teams. First-place votes are in parentheses. 1. New Bern 2. J.H. Rose 3. D.H. Conley 4. Eastern Wayne 5. South Central T6. C.B. Aycock T6. Southern Wayne

33 (4) 31 (3) 23 22 20 9 9

of the conference schedule. “I think our kids got some confidence in them. They learned how to play against some of the great teams and continued to be successful because of that.” Second-year CBA head coach Steve Brooks quickly agreed that Eastern Wayne has set the standard for the 3-A portion of the league. “No doubt,” Brooks reviewed. “It just shows how tough our conference is that a team like that can survive and continue to play four more weeks. “They gave Havelock everything that they wanted, and I think that was probably Havelock’s toughest game up to that point. They set the bar high. We’ve got a big mountain to climb to catch them guys.” CBA, 4-8 overall and 1-5 in the league with a win over Southern Wayne, brings back three starters on each side of the football. Included in that group is senior dual-threat quarterback T.J. Morrow, who threw for 1,605 yards and ran for 718 more. But the defense yielded 40 or more points on five occasions, which helped lead to a shift in coaching responsibilities on the CBA staff. Now, Allen Thomas and Jon Horton will serve as co-

Head coaches in the 3-A/4-A Eastern Carolina Conference ranks this season are, from left to right, Bubba Williams of Eastern Wayne, David Lee of Southern Wayne, Steve Brooks of Charles B. Aycock, Brian Paschal of Greenville D.H. Conley, Bobby Curlings of New Bern, Tim Carter of Winterville South Central and Dave Wojtecki of Greenville J.H. Rose. Jimmy Lewis | Times

3-A/4-A ECC weekly schedule FRIDAY, AUG. 22 C.B. Aycock @ Rosewood; D.H. Conley @ North Pitt; North Lenoir @ Eastern Wayne; New Bern @ Durham Hillside; J.H. Rose @ Raleigh Athens Drive; Hunt @ South Central; James Kenan @ Southern Wayne FRIDAY, AUG. 29 Greene Central @ C.B. Aycock; AydenGrifton @ D.H. Conley; Eastern Wayne @ Goldsboro; New Bern @ Havelock; Wilmington Laney @ J.H. Rose; West Craven @ South Central; Southern Wayne @ Smithfield-Selma FRIDAY, SEPT. 5 C.B. Aycock @ North Lenoir; Washington @ D.H. Conley; Eastern Wayne @ Red Springs; West Craven @ New Bern; J.H. Rose @ Nash Central; Goldsboro @ Southern Wayne; OPEN — South Central FRIDAY, SEPT. 12

defensive coordinators. “I think at times last year, we just got to doing so many different things and trying to do too many different things instead of being simple and just go tackle,” Brooks said. “When you tackle, you have a chance. Let the defense drive 80 yards, instead of giving up a big play.” Southern Wayne, which went 2-9 and endured a winless six-game stretch through league play, was picked to finish tied for sixth alongside the Golden Falcons. Head coach David Lee, after assuming both offensive and defensive play calling duties last year after a series of in-season coaching moves, has ceded control back on the offensive side of the football. The Saints have only two defensive starters and

Friday night airwaves to be full of action Britt back with Game of the Week on WZAX 99.3-FM By Jimmy Lewis Staff Writer

Over the years, high school football fans in Wilson County and surrounding areas have had no shortage of options in following the team of their choice. For the 2014 season, that’s not about to change, as weekly broadcasts of games via radio and television are just a click or twist away. Veteran play-by-play radio broadcaster Alton Britt, “The Voice of Wilson Sports,” will be returning for his 39th consecutive season behind the microphone and his second as the exclusive play-by-play voice of Wilson County high school football on WZAX 99.3-FM of Rocky Mount. “If I get to the point where I’m not excited about that first one, I’m going to give it up!” Britt assured. The Jammin’ 99 schedule will open on Aug. 29, when the defending 3-A Big East Conference champion Hunt Warriors venture to Hertford County to face

the Bears. Hertford County handed the Warriors a 21-15 loss last season inside Warrior Stadium that ended the program’s 23-game winning streak in the regular season, dating back to 2010. Britt will tentatively be joined by a special guest analyst each week. For Beddingfield games, that rotation will include Britt’s former color analyst of 16 years, F.T. Franks, now the principal at Beddingfield High. Currently, a Thursday night broadcast is on the schedule with SouthWest Edgecombe traveling to Beddingfield on Nov. 6 in a matchup that could have major 2-A Eastern Plains Conference championship implications. The next night, Fike travels to Hunt in a rematch of last year’s thrilling 41-34 double-overtime contest that decided the Big East championship. Postseason coverage is assured as long as a Wilson team remains alive in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association playoffs. In addition, games can be heard online at jammin993.com.

For the fourth straight year, games will also be aired on a tape-delay basis on WHIG-TV of Rocky Mount. The broadcast team of Wes Bradshaw and Edward Greene returns for its third season of action, with games to be aired Saturday at 2 p.m. in Wilson on Greenlight Channel 19. A combination of contests involving Wilson and Nash County teams will be on the WHIG-TV schedule, with the Aug. 22 season opener between Tarboro and Nash Central kicking off the network’s coverage. In the event Bradshaw or Greene is unavailable for a game, veteran Rocky Mount play-by-play voice Tony Doughtie will step in. On the final night of the regular season (Nov. 7), WHIG-TV will tape two games, with Fike traveling to Hunt and Northern Nash venturing to Rocky Mount. One game will air the following day, and the other will appear the next Saturday at 2 p.m. in lieu of a first-round NCHSAA playoff game. jlewis@wilsontimes.com | 265-7807 Twitter: @JimmyLewisWT

Goldsboro @ C.B. Aycock; West Carteret @ D.H. Conley; Greene Central @ Eastern Wayne; Jacksonville @ New Bern; Rocky Mount @ J.H. Rose; North Pitt @ South Central; Southern Wayne @ North Lenoir FRIDAY, SEPT. 19 C.B. Aycock @ Corinth Holders; D.H. Conley @ West Craven; New Bern @ Wilmington Laney; J.H. Rose @ Kinston; South Central @ Hertford County; Southern Wayne @ Cleveland; OPEN — Eastern Wayne FRIDAY, SEPT. 26 New Bern @ C.B. Aycock; D.H. Conley @ J.H. Rose; South Central @ Eastern Wayne; OPEN — Southern Wayne FRIDAY, OCT. 3 C.B. Aycock @ Southern Wayne; Eastern Wayne @ New Bern; J.H. Rose @ South Central; OPEN — D.H. Conley

four offensive starters returning, but do bring back senior quarterback Jacob Hollingsworth. “Down here in the 3-A ranks, I believe if you don’t show up, you can get blown out every game,” Lee said. “And if you show up, you’ve got to play your best game every day to be competitive, I don’t care who you’re playing. I think that’s the way it should be. You should expect the most out of your kids everytime you step on the field.” Certainly, the 4-A coaches have taken note of the 3-A schools. “We had some really good games, and of course, Eastern Wayne was fantastic,” Conley head coach Brian Paschal said. “That was a very tough loss for us. So it was competitive,

FRIDAY, OCT. 10 C.B. Aycock @ J.H. Rose; Southern Wayne @ D.H. Conley; New Bern @ South Central; OPEN — Eastern Wayne OCT. 17 D.H. Conley @ C.B. Aycock; J.H. Rose @ Eastern Wayne; South Central @ Southern Wayne; OPEN — New Bern OCT. 24 C.B. Aycock @ South Central; Eastern Wayne @ D.H. Conley; Southern Wayne @ New Bern; OPEN — J.H. Rose OCT. 31 Eastern Wayne @ C.B. Aycock; D.H. Conley @ New Bern; J.H. Rose @ Southern Wayne;South Central @ Pasquotank County NOV. 7 South Central @ D.H. Conley; Southern Wayne @ Eastern Wayne; J.H. Rose @ New Bern; OPEN — C.B. Aycock

and Southern Wayne, it was a lopsided score but my goodness, the first half was very competitive. They were very physical. And Aycock, they had some good players too. They really got after it as good as anybody we played.” Conley, 10-3 in 2013, shared the ECC championship with New Bern. The Vikings defense is led by senior middle linebacker Brenden McLean, who logged 178 tackles last season. Paschal was effusive in his praise of McLean, calling him “the best defensive player in the state.” Rose, picked to finish second after reaching the 4-A Eastern finals in 2013, returns all but one skill position player on offense and will tentatively start senior Copeland Spell at quarterback. Junior Cor-

nell Powell, also a wide receiver, is another option. “I think it’s a little stronger than what some people think,” Curlings assessed. “When they look at a split conference, people tend to think that half the conference is a little bit weaker. We’ve got quality teams on the 3-A level and you saw what some of them did last year.” South Central, picked fifth behind Eastern Wayne, posted a 4-7 mark in 2013 and a 2-4 ECC ledger. However, returning to the Falcons’ spread offense is speedy senior running back Shawn Furlow, who is receiving recruiting interest from a number of NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision schools. jlewis@wilsontimes.com | 265-7807 | Twitter: @JimmyLewisWT

BROADCAST SCHEDULE WZAX 99.3-FM RADIO Aug. 29 Sept. 5 Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 10 Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 6 Nov. 7

Hunt at Hertford County Beddingfield at Southern Pines Pinecrest Fike at Beddingfield Smithfield-Selma at Fike Beddingfield at Hunt Fike at Southern Nash Rocky Mount at Hunt Fike at Rocky Mount Hunt at Nash Central SW Edgecombe at Beddingfield Fike at Hunt

WHIG-TV (Ch. 19 - Greenlight, Wilson) Aug. 22 Nash Central at Tarboro Aug. 28 SW Edgecombe at North Edgecombe Sept. 5 Hobgood Academy at Rocky Mount Academy Sept. 12 SW Edgecombe at Tarboro Sept. 19 Nash Central at Beddingfield Sept. 26 Beddingfield at Hunt Oct. 3 Tarboro at Southern Nash Oct. 10 Rocky Mount at Nash Central Oct. 17 Southern Nash at Northern Nash Oct. 24 Fike at Rocky Mount Oct. 31 Northern Nash at Fike Nov. 7 Fike at Hunt; Northern Nash at Rocky Mount

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Thursday, August 21, 2014 wilsontimes.com 6

Defense, special teams are CBA focus Falcons have deeper roster in 2nd year of split league By Jimmy Lewis Staff Writer

PIKEVILLE — Secondyear Charles B. Aycock High head coach Steve Brooks knows offense. As an offensive coordinator by trade at Ayden-Grifton before taking his first head coaching post with the Golden Falcons, Brooks is an admirer of Steve Spurrier and counts East Carolina University offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley as one of his frequent contacts. Indeed, Brooks isn’t about to surrender control of his play-calling sheet on Friday nights. However, his first effort at running a program inside Hardy Talton Stadium coincided with the Golden Falcons being slotted in a split 3-A/4-A Eastern Carolina Conference through North Carolina High School Athletic Association realignment. The defense and special teams were thoroughly pressured, and often broke under scrutiny. CBA sprinted out to a 3-0 start in 2013 before the tentacles of the schedule began to take effect. The Falcons finished 4-8 and 1-5 in the ECC, but defeated Southern Wayne to qualify for the NCHSAA 3-A postseason, where they fell to Western Alamance in the first round. On six occasions, CBA gave up more 40 or more points, and the special teams often allowed opponents to start in advantageous field position. Brooks also concluded that too many messages were being communicated defensively. Thus, he’s opted to utilize co-defensive coordinators for 2014, where Allen Thomas and Jon Horton will share duties. Yet Brooks is confident that a football foundation is being laid at CBA. He cited the numbers in the program, which have blossomed to over 100 in the wake of a 4-8 season. “So, the excitement is there, the enthusiasm is there,” he said. “It’s not going to be changed overnight. It takes everybody buying in and believing. I told them, the culture is starting to change.” CBA kicks off its 2014 campaign Friday as it travels to 1-A Wayne County rival Rosewood.

quick facts Mascot: Golden Falcons Colors: Columbia blue and gold Conference: 3-A/4-A Eastern Carolina Head coach: Steve Brooks (2nd season) 2013 record: 4-8 overall (1st round 3-A playoffs), 1-5 ECC (6th) Top returning passer: T.J. Morrow (229-113-11; 1,605 yds.; 15 TDs) Top returning rusher: T.J. Morrow (718 yds., 7 TDs) Top returning receiver: Chandler Matthews (9 rec., 146 yds., 1 TD)

key performer

C.B. Aycock quarterback T.J. Morrow (10) follows Bryant Simms (33) and Sam Mott (75) for yardage against North Johnston during scrimmage action in Pikeville. The trio is expected to play a key role in the Golden Falcons’ offensive fortunes this season. Scott Jones | Special to the Times

tack, while accounting for 718 yards and seven TDs on the ground. Morrow will be asked to provide the Falcons with a threat that must be accounted for by each team on the schedule. “Having a kid like T.J. opens a lot of options for us,” Brooks reviewed. “We don’t have to be just a runT.J. Morrow ning back-, fullback-type Senior • QB/DB team. We can get out on 6-foot, 170 pounds the edge with a running back or with a wide receivEnters second season as CBA starter or with a quarterback. ing quarterback after transferring Now they’ve got to play 11 before the start of his junior year. Ac- on 11. They’re not playing counted for a combined 2,323 yards 11 on 10. and 22 TDs throwing and running the Sophomore Jake Flowers football. will serve as the backup. Gives the Falcons a dual-threat behind center that must be respected Primarily a pocket passer, by every team on a difficult schedule. Flowers exhibited a quick Coaching staff raves about his unself- release during the Fike Jamboree. Brooks has ishness. pledged to give Flowers “What I’ve said about T.J. about one series per half. him being humble and being a Two pieces that CBA great teammate is he wants to get must replace are in the the ball in other guys’ hands. He backfield and at wide rewants them to have all the credit. ceiver, with the departure And sometimes, he keeps the ball of Neil Clark and Michael in his hands too long (waiting for Eutsey to NCAA Division receivers to get open).” — Steve Brooks III Methodist University. At running back, Clark provided 1,376 yards and 16 TDs. He was a popular swing and screen target out of the backfield, addDATE OPPONENT ing 345 yards and five TDs Aug. 22 @ Rosewood through the air. Eutsey was Aug. 29 Greene Central a punishing run blocker Sept. 5 @ North Lenoir and downfield threat, Sept. 12 Goldsboro catching 44 balls for 755 Sept. 19 @ Corinth Holders yards and 9 TDs. Sept. 26 New Bern* The new wave of CBA Oct. 3 @ Southern Wayne* running backs will fall to Oct. 10 @ J.H. Rose* a fleet of ball carriers that Oct. 17 D.H. Conley* lack varsity experience. Oct. 24 @ South Central* Sophomore Tim Farmer, at Oct. 31 Eastern Wayne* 5-foot-5 and 155 pounds, Nov. 7 OPEN will primarily serve as an inside power runner and * 3-A/4-A Eastern Carolina Conference OFFENSIVE PIECES should get the bulk of the game Upon his arrival to CBA, Falcons’ carries. Classmate Brooks received a signifiCaleb Gough can be used cant gift with the transfer The Wilson Times readerin a wingback capacity and of quarterback T.J. Morrow ship area, able to move will spell Farmer. A wildfrom Sacramento, Califorthe football with his arm card in the CBA backfield nia. Now a senior, Morrow or legs. He threw for 1,605 stands to be senior Rkeesh quickly became one of the yards and 15 touchdowns Greene, who returns to most dynamic passers in out of the CBA spread atPikeville after spending the last two years in Florida. “Running back, that’s probably the youngest position we have,” Brooks said. “They’re strong kids, so all they can do is get stronger and get better.” The heir apparent to Eutsey on the outside could be 6-2 senior Jimmy Ellis, who hauled in 10 receptions for 111 yards last season. Ellis will combine with sophomore and adept route runner Chandler Matthews to form the Falcons’ top receiving duo. Brooks acknowledged the big shoes that Ellis is in line to fill after CBA coaches considered moving him exclusively to defensive end. “The one compliment that I can give to Jimmy is that everywhere we’ve gone to throw it, every C.B. Aycock senior defensive lineman Tyree McNair (77), coach has said, ‘Where did shown during preseason scrimmage action in Pikeville, will help lead a Golden Falcons defense intent on sharply reducing you get that guy? Where the unit’s scoring average this season. Scott Jones | Special to did he transfer from?’” Brooks recalled. “He didn’t the Times

schedule

roster

C.B. Aycock wide receiver Jimmy Ellis hauls in a pass during a preseason scrimmage in Pikeville. Ellis is expected to be one of the top two receiving targets for quarterback T.J. Morrow in 2014. Scott Jones | Special to

the Times

transfer. He was on my team last year!” Three sophomores will tentatively start on the offensive line. Ellijah Bryant, at 6-4, is slated to start at left tackle, followed by Sam Mott at left guard. Sam’s twin brother, Zach, will start at center. On the right side of the line will be the seniors, with Alston Best at right guard and Landon Moore at right tackle. While Brooks likes the size of his front line, changes to pass protection schemes are imminent in order to help usher some of that youth along. Farmer, Gough and Greene may be kept in more often to chip and not released into pass patterns. “At times, the sophomores are probably going to get taken advantage of with twists and stunts like that, but we’ve just got to continue to coach them every single week on how to get better for that,” Brooks said. Senior Jarrett Scott and his 6-3 frame has been moved from left tackle to tight end and will be supplemented by sophomore Damien Darden. Both are expected to aid in run blocking.

No. 3 5 10 14 15 16 17 18 21 22 23 25 28 30 32 33 35 36 40 42 43 47 50 52 53 55 56 58 59 60 62 65 70 73 74 75 76 77 79 83 84 85 86 88 89

Name Timothy Farmer Joseph Sutton T.J. Morrow Chandler Matthews Luke Frederick Richard Swinson Tahj Thacker Jake Flowers Mikel Moore Tyreke Ford Caleb Gough Micah Castillo Holden Cox Jimmy Ellis R’Keesh Greene Bryant Sims Dekeyyel Darden Jemel Perry Jaret Paynter Jonathan Dudley Destin Hapes Blake Merrill Braxton Leeper Mason Watt Alston Best Mike Marshall C.J. Lancaster Jeremy Person Andrew Taylor Zach Mott Zach Currie Jerry Pittman Joshua Jones Matthew Teachey Austin Lane Sam Mott Landon Moore Tyree McNair Ellijah Bryant Logan Edenfield Damien Darden Jarrett Scott Lloyd Lowe Jermaine Mercer Keyshawn Cobb

Pos. RB/LB RB/WR/DB QB/DB WR/CB WR WR/DB RB/DB QB/DB WR/DB RB/DB RB/DB WR/DB WR/CB WR/DE/LB RB/DB WR/DB RB/LB TE/DE RB/LB TE/DE/LB WR/DB MLB/DB OL/LB TE/LB OL/DE OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL QB/DB TE/DL OL/DL WR WR/DB WR/DB

double team in the middle. Darden and Moore will come over from the offensive side and provide additional bodies. “I think our main goal is, we don’t want to give up the big play,” Brooks assessed. “New Bern, they beat us (72-7), but it’s not as bad if we don’t give up five or six huge plays right there to start the game. I think the line on Twitter was, they scored 42 points in 1 minute, 24 seconds. A lot of that is on me, I’ve got to slow down offensively. I just think our kids are buying in to what we’re trying to do, but overall, our kids are stronger and faster than they were a year ago.” Jones and McNair are being asked to eat up blocks and allow the linebacking corps, led by senior Blake Merrill in the middle, to flow to the football unimpeded. Junior Jaret Paynter will take an FIXING THE DEFENSE outside spot, and a third As Horton and Thomas linebacking position is up go about trying to bring for grabs. down opponent scoring In the secondary, Moraverages with multiple de- row can see time at corner fensive looks, three seniors or safety depending on are slated to start on the down and distance. Ellis is defensive line, much to the slated for one corner posidelight of Brooks. tion, while sophomore MiThat group includes cah Castillo will be slated 300-pounder Tyree McNair at safety. and Joshua Jones. Both On special teams, Matwill be one-way players, thews will kick extra with Jones providing speed points and short field off the edge. McNair, at goals. Morrow will be the times, can command a holder, and Darden is in

Ht. 5-5 5-6 6-0 5-11 5-9 5-10 5-9 5-10 5-9 5-7 5-9 5-8 5-7 6-2 5-8 5-6 5-11 5-8 5-10 5-10 5-9 5-8 5-11 5-8 6-0 6-4 5-8 5-6 5-9 6-0 6-2 5-9 5-11 6-3 6-0 5-10 6-2 6-0 6-1 6-0 6-0 6-3 5-10 5-7 5-11

Wt. 150 140 170 148 141 164 155 160 150 148 164 141 135 171 170 140 180 165 178 165 143 178 180 156 168 273 193 203 186 230 240 262 263 280 252 222 244 315 219 150 190 218 161 133 160

Yr. So. Sr. Sr. So. Fr. Sr. So. So. Sr. Jr. So. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr, Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr, So. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. So. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr.

line to be the CBA punter. Brooks stressed the need for better coverage units on punts and kickoffs to flip field position. Freshman Luke Frederick is an eight-quarter candidate and could be CBA’s leg on kickoffs. A number of kicks were returned for scores, prompting Brooks to take more of a direct role in special teams. He called the unit the difference between 4-8 and 8-4. “I’m trying to take some ownership in the special teams unit, because it was embarrassing,” he said. “We probably led the state in kickoff returns back on us, and probably punts too.” According to Brooks, the equivalent of three TDs allowed is enough to give the Falcons a chance in every game. “If we hold teams to 21, we feel like we’re going to have a chance,” Brooks said. “Then, the ball is in my court. I’ve got to go get us 22 points and win 22-21 or things like that. We are putting emphasis on defense that we’ve got to bring that scoring average down. It’s got to come down if we want to be competitive with anybody on our schedule, not just the conference teams.” jlewis@wilsontimes.com | 265-7807 Twitter:@ JimmyLewisWT

Thursday, August 21, 2014 wilsontimes.com 7

2014-15 Wilson County high school varsity cheerleaders

Beddingfield High Lady Bruins The 2014-15 Beddingfield High varsity cheerleading squad members are, seated on grass left to right, Kimberlin Pollock, Brianna Negrete, Haylan Lucas, Kayla Gorman, Katlyn Smith and Hannah Rodgers. Seated on bricks: Maribel Herrera, Shimega Jackson, Jada Jenkins and Briah Pack. Standing: Rebecca Bier, Alexis Ward, Alexa Ruffin, Ziamari Hyden-Zainal, Jaikira Rasberry, Martina Clay and Anaszia Lucas. Scott Jones | Special to the Times

Hunt High Lady Warriors The 2014-15 Hunt High varsity cheerleading squad members, are, front from left, Destiny Hinnant, Gabby Bunn, Azia Barnes and Jessica Aycocke. Back row: A’tiana Archer, Kayla Vines, Kiannah Lewis-Cobb, Ashleigh Best and coach Janet Pollock. Back row: Abria Blount, Madison Bass, Destiny Artis and Emily Batts. Paul Durham | Times

Fike High Lady Golden Demons The 2014-15 Fike High varsity cheerleaders are, front from left, Caroline Herring, Stephanie Pate, Zaria Taylor, Chanelle Walker, Taylor McNeil, Zoe Hines and Tanisha Barnes. Middle row: Selena Cisneros, Jayla Robinson, Jasmine Tyson, Aliyah Taylor, Janee Smith, Sydney Williams, Aurie Sauls, Tresha Vick and Sarah Short. Seated on wall, from left, Hollan Sorenson and Janee Blackston. Paul Durham | Times

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Thursday, August 21, 2014 wilsontimes.com 8

No surprises from Fike in 2014 Deep cast of talented returners helps put bull’s-eye on Demons By Paul Durham Sports Editor

After putting together one of their best seasons since its state championship glory days of the late 1960s, the Fike High football team now finds itself facing greater expectations from just about every angle, including itself. The Golden Demons, who won their first 10 games in 2013 for the first time since 1984, finished 11-2 to produce their first winning season since 2008. Fike lost only to Hunt in 3-A Big East Conference play, a memorable 41-34 double-overtime thriller the Warriors took in Fike’s Buddy Bedgood Stadium in the regular-season finale to win their fifth straight Big East title. But Fike returned to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association playoffs for the first time since 2011, head coach Tom Nelson’s first year there, and advanced to the second round of the 3-AA bracket before losing at Fayetteville Douglas Byrd. With its entire starting, and very talented, offensive backfield intact and a solid group of returning starters on both sides of the ball, Fike is everybody’s darling this year. The Demons were picked by Big East coaches to finish first. “We ended up having a pretty good year last year and we have a lot of those guys back,” Nelson said. “Our JVs ended up 9-1 and we only lost three games in our program last year so, yeah, our expectations are definitely raised. We have worked for three years trying to be the hunter and now we’re finally at a different spot on the mountain and we hope to go a little bit further.” Fike opens its season at home Friday against Bunn of the 2-A Northern Carolina Conference. The other non-conference games are against Roanoke Rapids, Kinston, Beddingfield, Smithfield-Selma and South Johnston — all of whom the Demons defeated last season.

schedule DATE Aug. 22 Aug. 28 Sept. 5 Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 7

OPPONENT Bunn Roanoke Rapids @ Kinston @ Beddingfield Smithfield-Selma South Johnston OPEN @ Southern Nash* Nash Central* @ Rocky Mount* Northern Nash* @ Hunt*

* 3-A Big East Conference game

key performer

Anthony Evans Senior • RB/CB 5-foot-8, 165 pounds Labeled by head coach Tom Nelson as “multi-talented,” Evans’ performance in 2013 leaves that accolade as a bit understated. The Demons’ most prolific running back and, Nelson said, their best defensive back, the speedy Evans is also a lethal kick-return threat and should see more passes thrown his way. On top of that, he’s one of the team leaders and never takes a play off in games or practice.

roster No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 21 22 23 24 25 31 32 33 34 40 42 44 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 58 61 62 64 67 68 71 72 73 74 79 81 84 87 88 89

Name Anthony Evans Shakuan Daniels Joe Ellis Tanner McCarthy Bradrick Isom Kenny Johnson Delante Hall A.J. Everette Quamel Pearce Amir Etheridge D.J. Daniels Gage West Dequalyn Dawson Austin Bean Dimahnies Fleming Lavaris Speight Ian West Isaiah Oakes Coby Barnes Ranzel Bassa Malcolm Ellis A.J. Hines Jalen Hinnant Larry Tabron Tyquan Smith Reid Harris Scott Feltman Tikeem Batts Beau Sharpe Will Anderson Yivonay Rodriquez Jalen Eason Quintoni Eatmon Jylik Farmer Chris Batchelor Trey Parker Alex Williams Jackson Williford Kiontay MacFarland Brody Boykin Jalal Jalal Spencer Cook Hunter Massey Nick Schans Deandre Rouse Hamza Benlerneb Jalen Cooper Royshaun Dickens Ethan Whalen Jiquan Clemmons

Pos. RB/DB WR/DB WR/DB K WR/DB RB/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/LB WR/DB QB QB WR/DB K WR/DB RB/DB DB DB WR/DB WR/LB RB/DB RB/LB RB/LB TE/LB TE/LB LB LB DE LB OL/DL OL/DL DL OL/DL LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL WR/DB OL/DL WR/LB TE/LB LB

QB to a baby deer last season, “just learning to use his legs.” “D.J. had a great spring,” Nelson said. “He’s blossomed physically. He is a “Anthony Evans is our Ray Lewis. lot stronger and it is noticeHe’s like E.F. Hutton, man. When he able. He’s done a great job talks, they listen!” — Tom Nelson and has really worked at his craft. ... Now he’s much Beside him is powerful more comfortable with who junior fullback A.J. Hines, he is athletically.” now 6-2, 220 pounds, who Juniors Lavaris Speight ran for 1,051 yards and 21 and Shakuan Daniels, both TDs. of whom sparkled at times The pair constitutes a as sophomores, add backformidable “Thunder and field depth and will be passLightning” attack for opposing targets of D.J. Daniels, ing defenses to try to stop. along with senior Joe Ellis, “They’re both great runFike’s top returning receiver ning backs. They have and backup QB, senior different styles, obviously, Bradrick Isom and junior but they do complement Delante Hall. each other very well,” said Nelson is also high on Nelson, who noted that both sophomore Kenny Johnson, EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE backs have “band speed.” the top junior varsity offenThe core of those high “Because if they get by sive player last fall. hopes for 2014 reside in the you, the band’s fixin’ to While Fike ran the ball 75 offensive backfield, where play!” percent of its plays last sea2013 Big East Offensive The other component son, Nelson said this year’s Player of the Year Anthony of that backfield trifecta offense may have to diverEvans did the most damage is junior quarterback D.J. sify to be effective against last season. Daniels, who rarely made defenses keying on Hines The elusive, darting senior, a mistake in a spectacular and Evans. who has added 15 pounds sophomore season operat“Every team takes on its to his 5-foot-8 frame, ran for ing Fike’s, at times complex, own personality,” he said. 1,819 yards and 18 touchspread offense. The 6-2 Dan- “We’re still going to have downs as a junior, the best iels, now 17 pounds heavier the same concepts but we’re output of any running back at 200 pounds, threw for going to have to get the guys among the eight teams in 1,332 yards and 17 TDs the ball in different ways. The Wilson Times readerwhile rushing for 278 yards. We’re going to have to try ship area. Nelson likened the young to accentuate what they do well.” The biggest area of concern for Fike, offensively, is on the line where graduation took its toll. But tackle Will Anderson and guard Jackson Williford, both seniors, are the anchors for

Ht. 5-8 5-8 5-8 5-7 5-8 5-9 5-9 5-7 5-9 5-6 6-2 6-1 5-5 5-10 5-6 5-6 6-0 5-8 5-5 6-0 5-7 6-2 5-7 6-0 5-10 5-9 5-9 5-10 6-0 6-2 5-5 5-9 6-2 5-10 6-2 5-11 6-1 6-0 5-10 6-0 5-10 6-5 6-0 5-10 6-1 5-6 6-0 5-11 6-2 5-10

Wt. 165 160 165 150 160 165 155 150 170 150 200 160 140 170 140 165 175 165 140 200 140 220 185 215 190 175 190 175 210 215 150 180 225 185 250 190 225 260 205 215 215 240 220 230 250 140 190 160 220 200

Cl. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr.

what offensive line coach Trevor Pilkington hopes will develop into a unit just as effective as the one that paved the way for 369.3 yards per game in 2013. “There’s some kids we think we can put in there and get the job done,” he said. “We also think we have a little more quality depth than we did last year.” Seniors Jalal Jalal and 6-5, 240 pound Spencer Cook, who started as a sophomore but didn’t play last season, are joined by juniors Hunter Massey, Deondre Rouse and Alex Williams as the top candidates for the other three spots. Williams, who broke his leg during preseason practice last season, is very athletic at 6-0, 212 pounds, Nelson said. Senior Tanner McCarthy will return as the kicking specialist and handle kickoffs. “We hope that’s going to be a positive phase in our game and I hope we kick off a lot and kick a lot of extra points,” Nelson said with a grin. Anderson and senior Austin Bean will share the punting chores as they did in 2013.

SPEEDY DEFENSE Fike’s defense, like its offense, took most of its graduation hits on the line. Only senior Larry Taybron was a regular starter at defensive but Anderson and senior Ranzel Bassa saw meaningful time at the other end spot in 2013.

Fike senior Joe Ellis, fighting for yards against Goldsboro during the Fike Jamboree at C.B. Aycock on Aug. 15, is the Golden Demons’ top returning receiver. Gray Whitley| Times

Fike senior Ranzel Bassa, making a tackle against Goldsboro in the Fike Jamboree on Aug. 15 at C.B. Aycock, is one of the few returning defensive linemen for the Golden Demons.

Gray Whitley | Times

Nelson said 5-9, 180-pound senior Jalen Eason has moved from linebacker to tackle. “We think he’s going to be one of those quick little guys who can be a disrupter,” the Fike coach said. Senior Quintoni Eatmon, at 6-2, 225 pounds, and Cook, along with Massey, Rouse and Williford will contend for playing time. Hines, who Nelson said may have a future playing linebacker at the collegiate level, returns with senior Reid Harris at the position. Seniors Beau Sharpe and Quamel Pearce, along with junior Scott Feltman, are leaders for the other two slots in Fike’s 4-4 set. The secondary, which returns nearly intact, should be the strength of Fike’s defense. Along with Evans, who led the team in interceptions, is hard-hitting senior safety Ian West. “He did a phenomenal job last year moving from linebacker to safety,” Nelson said. “He doesn’t look like a safety, he looks like a linebacker. He’s one of the fastest kids on the team. He’s smart.” Speight will likely start opposite Evans at the other

corner spot. Nelson termed this year’s defensive unit as faster than last year and possibly stronger. “If we can be solid up the middle, I think we can have a chance because we’re going to be strong on the perimeter,” he said. “We’re going to have a lot of speed on the field.” The coaching staff also remains the same as last year with David Pridgen (defensive coordinator), Jeff Price (wide receivers), Josh Jenkins (offensive line), Sonny West (defensive backs), Mark Pittman (linebackers) and Brian Boykin (quarterbacks/running backs) assisting Nelson. Keeping fresh players on the field, Nelson said, will be the staff’s intent so Fike can exceed last year’s playoff run. Because it’s not just about getting there again for the Demons and their coaches. “We played in a bunch of big games last year,” Nelson iterated. “They have those experiences and hopefully that’s something we can take with us and learn from and use it to our advantage.” paul@wilsontimes.com | 265-7808

FIKE HISTORY Mascot: Golden Demons Colors: Old gold and blue Conference: 3-A Big East Head coach: Tom Nelson (4th season) 2013 record: 11-2 overall (2nd round of 3-AA playoffs), 4-1 Big East (2nd)

Junior A.J. Hines, running with the ball during the Fike Jamboree on Aug. 15 at C.B. Aycock, will start again at fullback after rushing for more than 1,000 yards in sophomore. Hines will also start at linebacker. Gray Whitley | Times

OPPONENTS School Record* Beddingfield 23-12 Bertie 6-9 Bunn 1-2 Chapel Hill 3-0 C.B. Aycock 7-4 Clayton 0-2 D.H. Conley 4-4 Durham 10-12-1 Durham Hillside 4-0 Eastern Wayne 3-3

Eliz. City Northeastern 7-1 Fayetteville Byrd 1-4 Fayetteville Pine Forest 1-4 Fayetteville Smith 1-0 Fayetteville Sanford 5-6 Garner 2-0 Gastonia Ashley 1-0 Goldsboro 23-17-2 Greensboro Dudley 1-1 Greensboro Smith 1-0 Greenville Rose 3-9 Harnett Central 2-2 Henderson Vance 1-1 Hertford County 1-9 High Point Central 1-1 Hoke County 0-2 Hunt 14-28 Jacksonville 4-2 Jacksonville Northside 0-2 Jacksonville White Oak 1-1 Kinston 20-11 Lee County 1-0 Manteo 1-0 Nash Central 5-7

New Bern 7-1 Northeast Guilford 0-1 Northern Nash 21-10 Raleigh Millbrook 1-1 Raleigh Wakefield 0-2 Richmond County 0-1 Roanoke Rapids 1-0 Rocky Mount 21-32-2 Scotland County 0-1 Smithfield-Selma 9-0 South Central 4-0 South Johnston 5-2 South Durham 0-1 Southern Nash 13-10 South Mecklenburg 1-0 Hope Mills South View 0-1 SouthWest Edgecombe 6-8 Tarboro 1-6 Triton 2-2 Washington 6-4 West Carteret 0-1 West Craven 0-2 Wilmington Hoggard 7-0 Wilmington New Hanover 0-6-2

Winston-Salem Atkins Winston-Salem Carver Winston-Salem Parkland Winston-Salem Reynolds

0-1 0-1 0-1 0-4-1

* All-time records are not complete.

HEAD COACHES Name Years Record Paul Marklin 1958-63 26-34-2 Henry Trevathan 1964-69 45-22-1 Gary Whitman 1970 7-3 Bob Paroli 1971-75 35-11-7 Dick Knox 1976-77 14-8-1 Maxie Williams 1978-80 13-18 Gus Andrews 1981-84 30-13 Tim Karrs 1985-86 11-9 William Huffstetler 1987-90 18-22 Eddie Summerlin 1991-94 14-22 Richie Pridgen 1995-2008 80-83 Kim Brown 2009-2010 4-18 Tom Nelson 2011-present 17-18

Thursday, August 21, 2014 wilsontimes.com 9

Successful formula won’t change for Hunt Warriors have no shortage of athletes in quest of a sixth straight Big East title

hunt History Mascot: Warriors Colors: Royal blue and silver Conference: 3-A Big East Head coach: Stevie Hinnant (2nd season) 2013 record: 11-4 overall (3-AA semifinals), 5-0 Big East (1st)

By Jimmy Lewis Staff Writer

With each passing season, the impatient waiting game grows longer for the 3-A Big East Conference. And to a larger extent, most any team situated in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s 3-AA East playoff bracket. When will the Hunt Warriors blink? When will they take that small step back that allows a hungry challenger to seize the throne? In the past five seasons, Hunt has shared or won outright the Big East title. They’ve appeared in the 3-AA East finals in each of the last four years. A total of 17 consecutive conference games have fallen the way of the Warriors. The faces on the field have changed in that span. Longtime offensive coordinator Stevie Hinnant ascended to the head coaching position in 2013 and established a new benchmark for wins by a first-year Hunt head coach with an 11-4 record. Indeed, the culture has proceeded to remain the same in a place where standards are high. There will be no apologies for sticking to the routine emanating from under the roof of Bill Williamson Field House. The routine was tested early with a new head coach and first-year varsity quarterback in Jacob Williamson as the non-conference scheduled yielded a 3-3 record. But from there, Hunt stormed to eight straight wins before bowing to eventual state champion Southern Durham in the regional final. “The first thing I didn’t want to do was do a whole lot of changing,” Hinnant said of taking the Hunt reins. “Early on, things didn’t look quite as good for us. But in the end, we continued to do the things that we’ve done and it paid off with another trip to the Eastern finals and another conference championship. “We’re going to do the same thing this year. We’re going to do what we do. It might not be pretty, but it’s been effective over the last several years and we’re going to continue to do the same game plan.”

GROWING UP Patience wasn’t a virtue, at least outside of the Hunt program early on with Williamson. A week 2 loss to Hertford County at home ended a 23-game regularseason winning streak for the Warriors. Then, a 15-13 loss at county rival Beddingfield left Hunt 3-3 before Big East play. Dissatisfaction swirled, but it gradually got better. Williamson and Hunt slugged out a 14-7 road win over former head coach Randy Raper at Northern Nash before traveling to Rocky Mount and coming away with a 48-31 victory. That game saw Williamson score on an 83-yard run, and ultimately served as a springboard through the rest of the schedule. By the end, he had thrown for 1,041 yards and 10 TDs, subduing his critics by helping to return Hunt to the precipice of a state championship game. “I don’t think he had a slow start,” Hinnant surmised. “He just had a big learning curve he had to go through. He’s been trying to do things on Friday nights that he got away with on Thursday night, and it just don’t work that way.

key performer

Josh Lucas Senior • RB/LB 5-foot-11, 190 pounds Earned 2014 preseason 3-A all-state accolades from NCPreps.com and, as a junior, All-Big East Conference acclaim. Returns to lead an aggressive crop of Hunt linebackers, but can be used as a hybrid-type player with defensive back responsibilities in the Warriors’ 4-2-5 scheme. Tallied seven interceptions last season, with two being returned for scores. Coaches consider Lucas an integral part of the Hunt defense heading into 2014. “Josh Lucas is Mr. Everything on defense. He’s one of our best defensive players and we’ve got to have him on the field.” — Stevie Hinnant

“After about game 5 or 6, he realized what we were telling him was going to make things better for him. He really grew up.” Now, Williamson enters 2014 as the unquestioned starter, but that doesn’t mean Hinnant will eschew other options at his disposal. Sophomore Tae Davis, used as a “wildcat” option in the second half of the season, will return and give the Warriors a dangerous threat with his legs. Classmate Bryson Worrell, a heralded all-around athlete, will also see snaps at quarterback. Hinnant hailed the athletic abilities of both Davis and Worrell and pledged to find frequent spots for them on the field when not behind center. “You’re going to look and see Tae Davis and Bryson Worrell all over the field,” he said. “Whether it be quarterback, running back or somebody in motion, whatever.” At running back, arguably the heart and soul of Hunt’s roster from 2013 is gone with the departure of Dexter Wright to N.C. State University. Wright, the 2014 Wilson Times Athlete of the Year, added time in the backfield to his responsibilities at safety and accounted for 1,446 yards and 22 TDs to lead the Warriors. Junior Darius Barnes, who ran for 908 yards and eight TDs in a backup role, will step in to receive the bulk of the carries in Hunt’s trademark power-I formation. Sophomore Ivan Ampley, who exhibited determined running in a scrimmage at Cleveland will be a backup, while seniors Josh Lucas and Kyaun Peppers can provide added depth. “We’re blessed to have some good athletes in the backfield,” Hinnant said. At fullback, Peppers, junior Jeremy Harris and junior T.J. Speight are candidates to provide lead blocking. Including Davis and Worrell, senior Darrion Ballard returns to lead the Hunt receiving corps, who must move forward without the departed Malik WIlliams and Kentrell Brown. Ballard brings back 10 receptions for 192 yards and three TDs, while sophomore Cam Hill. senior Caleb Sharp and senior Jaylen Gilliam also stand to benefit from the Warriors’ play-action passing game.

Junior Darius Barnes (30), avoiding a Harnett Central defender during a scrimmage at Cleveland on Aug. 14, is the top returning rusher for Hunt after totaling 908 yards and eight TDs on the ground in 2013. Sheldon Vick | Special to the Times

OPPONENTS School Record* Beddingfield 30-8 Bertie 10-7 Bunn 1-0 Burlington Williams 2-1 C.B. Aycock 14-2 Clayton 4-3 Cleveland 1-0 Currituck County 1-0 D.H. Conley 2-0 Eastern Wayne 15-1 Eastern Randolph 0-2 Eliz. City Northeastern 7-8 Fayetteville Byrd 1-1 1-0 Fayetteville Ross Fayetteville Sanford 2-0 Fike 28-14 Fuquay-Varina 0-1 Garner 1-1 1-0 Gaston Greensboro Smith 1-0 Greenville Rose 6-8 Harnett Central 2-0 Havelock 1-0 Hertford County 13-4 High Point Central 1-0 Holly Springs 2-0 Kinston 12-4 Lejeune 0-1 Manteo 0-1 Nash Central 11-3 Northeast Guilford 0-2 Northern Guilford 0-3 Northern Nash 22-10 Northern Vance 6-0 North Johnston 1-0 Oxford Webb 1-0 Pender County 1-0 Raleigh Athens Drive 2-0 Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons 2-0 Raleigh Millbrook 1-0 Roanoke Rapids 1-0 Rocky Mount 15-16 Roxboro Person 0-1 Smithfield-Selma 5-3 South Central 1-0 Southeast Guilford 1-0 Southern Durham 1-2 Southern Nash 23-6 Southern Wayne 3-1 SouthWest Edgecombe 20-7 Tarboro 3-2 Triton 3-1 Washington 5-1 West Brunswick 2-0 West Carteret 1-0 West Craven 0-1 Wilmington Laney 0-1 Wilmington New Hanover 0-4 Winston-Salem Parkland 0-1

brid linebacker or defensive back in the 4-2-5 alignment of coordinator Andrew Farriss. Jay Wiley, a 6-1 junior, No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Class Darrion Ballard WR/DB 6-0 180 Sr. drew praise from Hinnant 1 Tae Davis RB/DB 5-10 175 So. and comparisons to Wil2 3 Brian Orellana K 5-9 185 Jr. liams. He’ll man one corner 4 Cam Hill WR/DB 6-1 180 So. spot and be joined by either 5 Delvin Edwards RB/LB 5-7 175 Jr. Davis or Ballard. Worrell Bryson Worrell QB/DB 6-1 180 So. and Hill are candidates at 6 7 Kyaun Peppers RB/DE 5-10 220 Sr. safety. Barnes will also facJacob Williamson QB 5-10 195 Jr. 8 P.J. Hammonds WR/DB 5-9 180 Jr. tor into the defensive back9 Jeremy Harris RB/LB 6-0 215 Jr. field. 10 “Are you going to replace Aquilla Auston WR/DB 5-11 170 Sr. 11 Ikeem Holden RB/LB 6-0 185 Jr. Dexter Wright at safety? 12 Justin Coley WR/DB 6-0 175 Sr. No,” Hinnant affirmed. 15 Caleb Sharp WR/LB 5-11 180 Sr. “That’s where we’re going 17 Ben White RB/LB 5-10 185 Sr. 18 to miss him. But we do have C.J. Anderson WR/DB 5-11 180 Sr. 19 WR/DB 6-2 190 Sr. two guys that are capable 20 Jaylen Gilliam Josh Lucas RB/LB 5-11 190 Sr. of playing that spot if they 21 Ra’Shod Shipman WR/DB 6-5 175 Jr. learn it with Cam Hill and 22 Samad Jones WR/DB 6-4 175 Sr. Bryson Worrell.” 23 Jay Wiley WR/DB 6-1 185 Jr. 24 At linebacker, Lucas, SpeiByron Brown RB/DB 6-0 175 So. ght and Harris will be in the 25 28 Ivan Ampley RB/LB 5-10 175 So. mix, as well as senior Shawn 30 Darius Barnes RB/DB 5-11 185 Jr. Bynum and junior Ikeem Jayqwaun Cotton RB/LB 5-6 180 Jr. 32 33 Shawn Bynum RB/LB 5-10 185 Sr. Holden on the outside. SeTE/DL 6-3 220 Jr. nior Christian Parker and 40 Mallory Cain 44 T.J. Speight RB/LB 6-0 210 Jr. his 300-pound frame will TE/DE 6-0 210 Sr. help anchor the defensive 48 James Davis 50 Caleb Harris OL/DL 6-1 285 Jr. line alongside Peppers. 51 Chris Sell OL/DL 6-3 315 Jr. Hinnant indicated that the OL/DL 6-0 300 So. 54 Jah’Quan Miller remainder of his front four 58 Aaron Smith OL/DL 6-0 275 Sr. OL/DE 6-1 185 Sr. would be sorted out once 64 Matt Bunn 65 Josh Whitley OL/DL 5-11 200 Sr. hitting commenced. The punting duties will 66 Collin Lee OL/DL 6-0 210 Jr. Valente Arizpe OL/DL 5-10 205 Jr. fall to junior returnee An67 70 Marcus Jones OL/DL 6-2 260 Jr. thony Gaetano. But outside Brandon Lewis OL/DL 5-11 210 Jr. of that, a competition has 72 73 Logan Davidson OL/DL 6-2 250 Sr. ensued for the kickoff and 75 Christian Parker OL/DL 6-0 300 Sr. * All-time records are not complete. 79 Emory Lyndon OL/DL 6-2 275 Jr. field-goal kicking duties 80 Anthony Gaetano K/P 6-2 180 Jr. between Gaetano and junior TE/DE 6-2 185 Jr. Brian Orellana, who will 84 Preante’ Whitfield HEAD COACHES TE/DE 6-5 225 Sr. once again moonlight from 88 Josh Willingham Name Years Record RB/DL 6-0 235 Jr. the soccer team. Worrell will Lawrence Edwards 1978 99 Anth’Ane Faison 10-1 Bill Williamson 1979-1989 67-51 serve as the holder. Davis, Bruce Snyder 1990 4-6 Ballard. Hill and Worrell 1991-2012 203-72 Randy Raper could all factor into the nant cited the unit’s growth Stevie Hinnant 2013-present 11-4 alongside Williamson as one return game on punts and kickoffs. of the keys to the Warriors’ One area that still haunts second-half surge. expect,” Hinnant said. “And The unit directed by coach Hinnant is in the area of punt protection. Three they know the routine. We’re Richie Pridgen will tentamiscues in that department going to do the same thing tively start senior Logan against Southern Durham every Monday. We’re going Davidson at left tackle, juto do the same thing every nior Collin Lee at left guard, helped open the floodgates Tuesday, every Wednesday, junior Emory Lyndon at cen- for a 38-10 loss that kept every Thursday right here. ter, senior Matt Bunn at right Hunt out of a state championship appearance for the ... I think this group is as guard and senior Aaron fourth year in a row, and coachable as any group that Smith at right tackle. brought forth a declaration we’ve had. We’re expecting “We’re better right now them to work hard Monday that his Warriors would be than we were last year at through Thursday, and then better in that department in this time,” Hinnant said. on Friday night, if we as 2014. “They’re a year older, However, the formula that coaches have done what they’ve grown. Does that we’ve supposed to do, we’re has yielded the Big East’s mean we’re not going to going to be in most of them.” have bumps down the road? most dominant program in the last five seasons isn’t No. We’ve got to stay away jlewis@wilsontimes.com | 265-7807 about to be altered. from the injury bug, but Twitter: @JimmyLewisWT “They know what we right now all the way across Senior Christian Parker rethat front, it’s pretty steady.” turns as a starting defensive Senior James Davis and lineman for Hunt. junior Preanté Whitfield will Sheldon Vick | Special to the serve as tight ends, largely Times devoted to paving the way in the run game. Two wild cards for Hunt in NEW SECONDARY the passing game arrive on Wright was the intimidatthe roster from the school’s ing centerpiece of a Hunt first appearance in a NCHsecondary that permitted SAA state championship just 104 yards through the basketball game. air per game and helped Junior Ra’Shod Shipman turn opponents over 31 brings his 6-foot-5 frame into the equation, along with times last season. That 6-6 Josh Willingham at tight turnover figure was second end. Willingham is also see- in The Wilson Times readership area behind Fike’s 34. ing reps at defensive end. But also gone are Williams Hinnant likes the potential and Justin Jefferson at both matchup issues each could corner spots. South Central, cause in single coverage, as Locally Owned the opponent for Hunt in both continue their football Freshly Delivered Friday night’s opener, operdevelopment. ates out of the spread, which “And we welcome them!” Award Winning will test the new pieces of Hinnant exclaimed. “BeDesigners the secondary early. cause they’re all up there Lucas, a preseason 3-A 6-5, 6-6 and they catch the www.thegalleryofflowers.com All-State pick by ncpreps. ball real well.” 3601 Airport Blvd. • Wilson On the offensive line, Hin- com, can function as a hy-

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Thursday, August 21, 2014 wilsontimes.com 10

Firebirds fighting back from adversity Southern Nash must overcome graduation losses, numerous 2013 injuries

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By Paul Durham Sports Editor

With more than half its 2013 starters graduated, the Southern Nash High varsity football team has a mission cut out for it this season. But the first step won’t be taken on the field. “Every team takes on its own identity,” said Brian Foster, entering his 17th season as the Firebirds’ head coach. “We’re not going to change. Our philosophy’s not going to change. Our coaching staff’s not going to change. But they’ve got to decide what their football team’s going to be.” But Foster feels there is enough talent in place for Southern Nash to contend for the 3-A Big East Conference title and make the North Carolina High School Athletic Association playoffs for the sixth year in a row. It’s just a matter of the 2014 Firebirds finding leadership and confidence to put them where they are accustomed to being. “It’s like I tell them all the time, ‘This is not Brian Foster’s football team. This is your football team,’” the coach said. One thing that has remained the same for the Firebirds is depth at every position. With 61 players on the varsity roster, five more than last season, Foster hopes that he won’t be forced to press as many of them into duty as he has the last two seasons when injuries derailed what could have been truly special seasons. But the silver lining is that a lot of younger players were able to see meaningful action.

TALENTED BACKS The Firebirds lost every offensive line starter along

quick facts Mascot: Firebirds Colors: Scarlet and navy Conference: 3-A Big East Head coach: Brian Foster (17th season) 2013 record: 9-4 overall (2nd round 3-AA playoffs), 2-3 Big East (4th) Top returning passer: Kendall Parker (1-1-0, 31 yds. 0 TDs) Top returning rusher: Jaquay Mitchell (489 yds., 3 TDs) Top returning receiver: Tahj Deans (18 rec., 280 yds., 3 TDs)

key performer Running back Zimonia Knight (28) fights for yardage as tight end Francisco Trejo looks to make a block for Southern Nash during the Nash County Jamboree against Bertie. Both seniors are part of a group of Firebirds coming off injuries in 2013. Scott Jones | Special to the Times

with Deon Lavender, a fouryear starter at quarterback, but will have nearly all of their running backs from 2013. Junior Jaquay Mitchell, who began last season on the junior varsity, ran for 489 yards on just 40 carries for a whopping 12.2 yards per carry in four games before breaking his ankle. Mitchell, however, won’t be available for Friday’s season opener at SouthWest Edgecombe or perhaps several more games due to a lacerated kidney he suffered during a 7-on-7 scrimmage over the summer. The good news is that is just about the only significant injury, along with a knee injury to promising sophomore Daniel Lewis, Southern Nash has incurred in the preseason.

Mitchell’s wingback counterparts in the Firebirds’ double-wing offensive set — seniors Grant Jones and Zimonia Knight — are also coming off major injuries. Jones ran for 88 yards on 11 carries in the first half of Southern Nash’s seasonopening win last year against SouthWest Edgecombe before he tore his ACL. Knight tore a calf muscle in the preseason jamboree and didn’t play until late in the season and was never 100 percent. Another senior wing, Clinton Whitaker, battled a high ankle sprain throughout 2014, just as he did his sophomore season. “The thing is you just don’t know what to expect coming back off injuries — and they’re all pretty significant injuries,” Foster said.

Kendall Parker Senior • LB/QB 5-foot-11, 175 pounds Entering his third season as a starting inside linebacker, Parker returns with, by far, the most experience of any Firebirds defender this season. His leadership will be necessary for a unit without much. Additionally, with the most experience at quarterback, Parker could see action at the position behind junior starter Zack Foster. “He’s just a well-rounded kid — well spoken, intelligent. ... He’s got to understand that he’s the experienced guy on the defense and that people are going to look to him, whether he likes it or not.” — Brian Foster

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 20 22 23 24 26 28 30 31 33 34 40 44 46 48 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 58 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 68 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 81 82 85 86 87 88 89 90

Name Tyheed Harris Chris Lucas Mike Portillo Eddwan Norman Daron Harris Raheem Cooper Nadir Thompson Tahj Deans Francisco Trejo Demetris Perry Alex Puente Kendall Parker Zack Foster Keyon Fields Adrian Richardson Tremaine Andrews Jaquay Mitchell Khalil Brown Tyrone Hopkins Zimonia Knight Grant Jones Chandon Thompson Clinton Whitaker Daniel Lewis Karon Webb Tyler Mills Luke Bailey Seth Peyatt Tyler Tucker Taylor Keith Hunter Parris Landon High Kenneth Johnson Dylan Langley Steven Smith Kyron Hinton Jacob Brantley John Michael Clanton Angel Palacios Tyler Tant Knox Cowles Chase Gupton Malik Braswell Josh Pierce-Perry Cody Griffin Tommy Kirby Christopher Forsythe Noah McKay Blake Boyd Aramahs Martin Tim Batchelor Jaquan Bailey Ryan Ashley Antawn Stokes Romelo Perry Matt Alford Josh Brown Ismael Rodriguez Kareem Taylor Lamont Strickland Eason VanderMeulen

Pos. QB/DB WR/LB RB/LB RB/DB RB/DB RB/LB RB/DB WR/DB TE/DL RB/DL RB/LB QB/DB QB/DB TE/LB RB/LB RB/DB RB/LB-DB RB/LB RB/LB RB/LB RB/DB RB/LB RB/LB RB/LB RB/LB RB/LB TE/LB RB/LB OL/LB OL/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DE OL/DL OL/DL TE/LB RB/DL OL/DL TE/DE OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL RB/DB TE/DE TE/DE TE/DE K RB/DB TE/DE TE/DE

Boyd, junior Cody Griffin, senior Tyler Tucker, senior Knox Cowles, senior Tyler Mills, senior Malik Braswell, And, Foster pointed out, senior Ryan Ashley and none of those speedy wing backs are very big, including senior Dylan Langley. Boyd and Griffin were the top J.V. 5-foot-7, 160-pound junior linemen last season. Mike Portillo, the top J.V. “The key for us is going to back and a varsity contribube getting the right guys in tor in 2013. the right place,” said offenAdrian Richardson, a sive coordinator Brian Batchsenior 5-foot-8, 235-pound elor, also the O-line coach. “I senior, started two games at think we’ve got the smartest fullback last year. Zack Foster, the son of the group of kids we’ve ever had up front. We’ve got the most coach, will step into Lavenkids that can play the most der’s shoes at quarterback. A 6-1, 160-pound junior who positions. So it’s just going saw some action last season, to be a matter of, as coaches, getting them in the right Foster brings knowledge of place. ... And then let them the system. get time together.” But as his father pointed And, as Batchelor pointed out, Foster will have to face out, the offensive line with the pressure of being the double tight ends is extremecoach’s son along with rely important in the Firebirds placing Lavender. double-wing set. “He’s searching for his “We’re going to win or lose identity right now,” Brian up front,” he said. “There’s Foster said. “I think his no gray area there.” strength should be that he Defensively, the Firebirds understands what we’re dolost as many players as the ing and that he’s done it all his life but right now, it’s not offense did, especially on the line. Only 6-2, 318-pound translating.” Seniors Tyheed Harris and senior tackle Aramahs Martin saw much action there in Kendall Parker, both defen2013. Sophomore Demetris sive starters, are the backup Perry, one of the best JV quarterbacks. But Zack linemen a year ago, will be Foster possesses the better joined by Dylan Langley and throwing arm and he will have one of the Big East’s top junior Tommy Kirby in comathletes in 6-2, 181-pound ju- peting for time at the end. Parker, entering his third nior Tahj Deans, a two-way starter and all-Big East selec- year as starting inside linebacker, has the most experition as a sophomore, as one ence on the defense. Others of his main targets. in the mix at linebacker are Senior Ismael Rodriguez returns as the Firebirds’ solid sophomores Alex Puente and Khalil Brown, junior placekicker. Raheem Cooper and seniors REBUILDING LINES Braswell and Richardson. The offensive line will be The Firebirds secondary completely different from might be the most solid area the one that walked off the of their defense with Tyheed field after the Firebirds’ 21Harris, Deans, Knight and 17 loss at Eastern Wayne in Mitchell joining senior Dathe second round of the 3-A ron Harris, who started at playoffs last year. However, safety as a sophomore before the unit isn’t completely demissing all of last season. void of experience. Promising freshman Nadir Seniors Hunter Parris (left Thompson will also figure guard) and Francisco Trejo into the mix. (tight end) were defensive “If they gell right, they’ll be starters as sophomores and good, but there’s not a lot of juniors and saw some action depth,” Foster said. on the offensive line before TOUGH SCHEDULE ... AGAIN their junior seasons ended Southern Nash will see five due to injuries. teams, including Fike in the Expected to contend for Big East, picked to win their starting jobs are senior conference. The others are Keyon Fields, junior Blake

Ht. 5-8 6-1 5-7 5-6 5-11 5-11 5-9 6-2 5-11 5-11 5-9 5-11 6-1 6-1 5-8 5-8 5-10 5-11 5-7 5-5 5-8 5-9 5-4 5-6 5-9 5-10 6-4 5-7 5-7 5-11 6-0 5-8 6-0 6-0 6-0 6-0 5-11 5-8 5-4 6-4 5-9 5-7 5-10 5-6 6-0 6-1 6-2 5-10 5-9 6-2 6-0 5-11 6-0 5-8 6-0 6-2 5-10 5-10 5-7 6-4 6-1

Wt. 155 155 160 130 165 168 150 181 205 188 165 175 160 185 235 154 155 182 190 165 165 175 145 187 210 205 190 165 175 205 195 180 215 195 196 225 175 180 195 207 245 185 185 250 188 195 200 207 195 318 355 245 220 135 205 185 185 170 140 186 160

Cl. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Sr. So. So. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. So. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr.

schedule DATE Aug. 22 Aug. 28 Sept. 5 Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 7

OPPONENT @ SW Edgecombe @ Beddingfield @ Bunn Roanoke Rapids OPEN @ Ayden-Grifton Tarboro Fike* @ Northern Nash* Hunt* Rocky Mount* @ Nash Central*

* 3-A Big East Conference game Beddingfield (2-A Eastern Plains), Bunn (2-A Northern Carolina), Ayden-Grifton (2-A Eastern Carolina) and Tarboro (1-A Two Rivers). Foster’s staff has been the same for the most part for several seasons with only defensive backs coach Jeff Lynn and tight end/defensive end coach Kwamaine Battle as the only new faces this year. Lynn, a 2005 Hunt graduate, played and then coached at Elizabeth City State while Battle, a former Firebirds star who was a Shrine Bowl selection in 2006, was a two-year defensive line starter at Virginia Tech. The returning assistant coaches are Batchelor, Robbie Kennedy (defensive coordinator), Brian Rice (running backs), Jesse Mercer (linebackers), Jordan Bass (fullbacks), Buddy Williams (tight ends) and Adam Monts De Oca (nose guards). All but Lynn and Kennedy played at Southern Nash during Foster’s tenure as assistant or head coach. It’s that sense of family that has helped the Firebirds overcome injuries and adversity and personal tragedy over the past few years. And it’s something that will be there no matter what happens on the field. But Foster certainly wants to see his team realize its potential. “I tell them their win-loss record is not going to determine what I think of them but we’re here to win football games,” he said. “We sure don’t want to go backwards.” paul@wilsontimes.com | 265-7808

Thursday, August 21, 2014 wilsontimes.com 11

Demons outrank Warriors in Big East poll Fike gets coaches’ vote to unseat Hunt By Paul Durham Sports Editor

Will 2014 finally be the year that Hunt High loosens its stranglehold on the 3-A Big East Conference varsity football scene? At least the Big East head coaches seemed to think so when they met at Fike High on Monday, Aug. 11, for their annual preseason meeting and picked the Golden Demons to be the team to beat this fall. After all, Fike returns a solid cast from its 2013 squad that reeled off 10 straight wins before falling in double overtime 41-34 on the final regular-season Friday night to Hunt. “We’re excited about it,” Demons head coach Tom Nelson said upon learning of the poll results. “I think it’s a testament to all the work our kids and coaches have put in, but that being said, it means absolutely nothing. The next 11 games are what’s going to matter.” Nelson is right that Fike earned the distinction by going 11-2 and reaching the second round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3-AA playoffs in its first postseason win since 2008. The Demons also bring back an exciting, talented offensive backfield spearheaded by 2013 Big East Offensive Player of the Year Anthony Evans, a senior halfback, and quarterback D.J. Daniels and fullback A.J. Hines, both juniors who have already attracted attention from NCAA Division I FBS college recruiters. “I believe these kids have bought into it,” Rocky Mount third-year head coach Jason Battle said of the Demons. “A lot of times, it’s not about coaching but the system that fits the school. He’s cultivated a system that fits those guys.” Northern Nash head coach Randy Raper, who coached Nelson when he was a player at Hunt and later had the Demons boss on his staff as an assistant coach, offered his praise as well. “Tom’s done a great job here at Fike and he’s starting to reap the benefits of hard work and that’s just a testament to him and his coaching staff,” Raper opined. Fike captured five firstplace votes with Hunt getting the nod from Nelson as coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams. The Warriors, who have won or shared five consecutive league championships and completed their third straight unbeaten Big East run last year, were picked to finish second. “Well, I’ll take finishing second (in the poll) and we’ll work like you know what to make it happen so we can win the sixth in a row,” Hunt head coach Stevie Hinnant said. “It don’t matter how they pick you, it’s what you do from that first conference game until the end of the season and a lot of things

COACHES POLL Results of the 3-A Big East Conference football coaches’ preseason poll, conducted at Fike High on Monday, Aug. 11. Teams are given five points for first place, four points for second place, etc. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their teams. First-place votes are in parentheses. 1. Fike (5) 2. Hunt (1) T3. Rocky Mount Southern Nash 5. Northern Nash 6. Nash Central

25 20 15 15 9 6

can change and there’s a lot of football to be played. We’re just going to get after it and try to make it happen.” The Warriors, who finished 11-4 overall last season as they reached the NCHSAA 3-AA Eastern championship game for the fourth straight year, also return a solid cast of starters, including senior linebacker Josh Lucas. Hunt shared the conference title in 2010 with Northern Nash as both teams went 4-1. The Warriors lost to Southern Nash that year, their only Big East loss outside a second-round playoff defeat at the hands of the Firebirds in 2010. While Hunt has dominated the league since joining it in 2010, the Warriors moved back toward the rest of the conference last season. All the Big East coaches agree that the chance of parity looms greater this year. “Probably if you talk to Coach Hinnant, he’ll let you know they went 5-0 but it wasn’t an easy 5-0,” said Battle. “Every Friday night was competitive across the board. I don’t think anybody was in a situation where their kids laid down and it was a cake walk. I still believe there’s a lot of parity across the board and it could be anybody’s league.” Rocky Mount, third last year, and Southern Nash, which was fourth in 2013, tied for third in the poll while Northern Nash was picked fifth and Nash Central, winless in 2013, was slotted to finish last again. But every coach thinks his team has a chance to be better and they all expect the other conference teams to show improvement. “A lot of schools have a lot of key players back and, anytime that happens, I think that leads to close games and who’s going to win the turnover margin and who can stay healthy,” Southern Nash head coach Brian Foster observed. “I think, from top to bottom, it’ll be just like it always is — a tough league.” As the longest tenured coach in the league, Foster, entering his 17th year as the Firebirds head coach, knows what it takes each Friday night during conference play — even if every head coach knows what his opponent is hoping to do offensively and defensively. “You know what to expect pretty much every week.

You know you’ve got a good plan for it and it’s just a matter of your kids following through,” he said. “There’s going to be mistakes. Usually games are lost, not won, with turnovers, breakdowns on defense, special teams mistakes. You try your best to work so you don’t have those but you can only do what you can do. When it comes to game time, what happens, happens.” The Firebirds, 9-4 last year, will have many holes to fill left by graduation. But Southern Nash, which started 5-0 last year before losing three of its five conference games during an injury-riddled stretch, has perhaps the greatest depth of any team in the Big East. While the offensive and defensive fronts are in need of the most rebuilding, Southern Nash will have one of the conference’s deepest and most talented corps of ball carriers with seniors Grant Jones and juniors Jaquay Mitchell and Zimonia Knight all possessing game-breaking ability.

READY FOR BATTLE Rocky Mount, which went 8-4 and lost in the first round of the 3-AA playoffs to Hillsborough Orange, looks to make more noise in Battle’s third season. The former Gryphons standout has guided them to back-toback eight-win seasons after taking over a team that had gone 6-13-1 the previous two years. “In our case, it was just getting kids back to believing who they are and understanding the tradition and pride it takes to be a Gryphon,” he said. “That was the first thing we had to do and now we’re doing a better job of getting our kids together and working out and just really moving the program forward.” Battle said the Gryphons will benefit from the return of valuable skill performers such as senior Broderick Caudle, Rashawn Harris, Bikembe Kearney and Sherrod Greene. But Rocky Mount, like most of the Big East teams, are facing inexperience on both the offensive and defensive lines.

Fike @ Beddingfield; Elizabeth City Northeastern @ Hunt; Roanoke Rapids @ Southern Nash; Hertford County @ Nash Central; Warren County @ Northern Nash; Rocky Mount @ Greenville Rose FRIDAY, SEPT. 19 Smithfield-Selma @ Fike; Currituck County @ Hunt; Nash Central @ Beddingfield; Northern Nash @ Southern Vance; Rocky Mount @ SW Edgecombe; OPEN — Southern Nash FRIDAY, SEPT. 26 South Johnston @ Fike; Beddingfield @ Hunt; Southern Nash @ Ayden-Grifton; Nash Central @ Durham Hillside; Northern Nash @ Smithfield-Selma; Rocky Mount @ Triton FRIDAY, OCT. 3 Tarboro @ Southern Nash;

Toughest place to play in the Big East? Depends on who you ask By Paul Durham Sports Editor Along with being one of the most geographically tight-knit conferences in eastern North Carolina, the 3-A Big East Conference has also developed a reputation for outstanding football. The conference has posted a 22-17 mark in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association playoffs since its inception in 2009. The Big East has also had a team play in the 3-A or 3-AA Eastern championship game each of those five seasons. Hunt has gone that far the past four seasons, knocking off Northern Nash in 2010 and Nash Central in 2010 along the way. Southern Nash eliminated Hunt en route to its appearance in the 2009 3-AA semifinals. Furthermore, it stands as a sure bet that each Friday night in October and early November there will be hard-fought, tightly contested battles between Big East members. “Every game is almost like a rivalry game anyway,” Rocky Mount head coach Jason Battle said during the Big East coaches meeting at Fike on Monday, Aug. 11. So which stadium do the league coaches think is the toughest place to play? Fike head coach Tom Nelson, whose team had the bullseye painted squarely on its back by the other coaches when they picked the Demons to win the Big East this year, chose the diplomatic route. “Hunt’s tough. They’re all tough,” Nelson said. “Rocky

Mount’s new stadium is nice and that’s a tough place to play.” Nelson, along with all of his peers, agreed that the quality of the host team often determines which field is the toughest place to be on the visiting sideline. “I think that depends on which year it is,” Southern Nash head coach Brian Foster pointed out. “People ask you all the time how good you’re going to be and that don’t matter. It’s about how good the people you’re going to play are going to be. You can have a really good football team in this conference and sometimes not have a good record.” Hunt head coach Stevie Hinnant mulled the question for several seconds. “Southern Nash,” he finally replied. “It’s a good rivalry and they’ve got good school spirit and they get behind their team over there and it’s usually loud.” Not a surprise that Hinnant would say that since Firebirds Stadium is the site of Hunt’s only loss in five years in Big East action. Of course, the former longtime Warriors assistant coach and second-year head coach was also being diplomatic. “And we’ve got to go over there this year,” Hinnant said, referring to Hunt’s Oct. 24 visit to Southern Nash. The other three Nash County coaches besides Foster looked to Wilson. “That’s a tough call. For us, after what we got last year, I would have to say Fike,” Battle said. “I think the crowd and the atmosphere at Southern Nash is

unbelievable and Hunt… “ Nash Central veteran head coach Kevin Crudup quickly responded when posed the question. “The toughest place to play is definitely Hunt,” he said. “That’s the toughest place to play because they’ve got tradition and the atmosphere there, the ‘Mojo’ atmosphere, and then it seems like every bounce goes their way in that stadium. Every bounce, every call, everything! The weather, the gnats, everything goes in their favor!” The only Big East head coach to not have the experience of standing on the visiting team’s sideline in Warrior Stadium also agreed that Hunt is the toughest place to go. Not surprising since secondyear Northern Nash head coach Randy Raper is a big reason the Warriors are regarded as such inhospitable hosts. Raper won 203 games in 22 seasons at Hunt before taking the Knights job in 2013. Raper, who starred at Fike in the mid-1970s, will get his chance to feel what so many of his contemporaries have experienced when he takes the Knights to Hunt on Oct. 10 to start Big East play. “Well, it’s going to feel different, no doubt,” Raper said with a smile. “I remember way back the first time I came over here when I was at Hunt to play at Fike and being on the opposite sideline. That was a weird feeling but we’re looking forward to it.” paul@wilsontimes.com | 265-7808

YEAR 2 UNDER RAPER Northern Nash enters the season as the dark horse after going 4-7 last year in Randy Raper’s first year as head coach. Raper, who directed Hunt to 203 wins in 22 seasons and its first four Big East titles, took over a Knights program that had few highlights outside 2010 when they shared the league crown with Hunt. “Right now everything is a work in progress,” Raper said. “Still getting used to the kids and the kids getting used to us. I can’t complain a bit about the work ethic of these boys. Once the season ended last year, it was weight room, weight room, weight room. We’ve done what we needed to do off the field, in the classroom. “The big change over

big east weekly schedule FRIDAY, AUG. 22 Bunn @ Fike; Hunt @ South Central; Southern Nash @ SW Edgecombe; Nash Central @ Tarboro; Corinth Holders @ Northern Nash; South Granville @ Rocky Mount THURSDAY, AUG. 28 Southern Nash @ Beddingfield FRIDAY, AUG. 29 Roanoke Rapids @ Fike; Hunt @ Hertford County; Kinston @ Nash Central; Elizabeth City Northeastern @ Northern Nash; Rocky Mount @ Oxford Webb FRIDAY, SEPT. 5 Fike @ Kinston; Hunt @ New Hanover; Southern Nash @ Bunn; Greenville Rose @ Nash Central; Tarboro @ Northern Nash; Hertford County @ Rocky Mount FRIDAY, SEPT. 12

Varsity football head coaches in the 3-A Big East Conference, from left, Southern Nash’s Brian Foster, Rocky Mount’s Jason Battle, Northern Nash’s Randy Raper, Hunt’s Stevie Hinnant, Fike’s Tom Nelson and Nash Central’s Kevin Crudup, lined up at Fike on Aug. 11 for their annual meeting in which Fike was picked to win the league this year. Paul Durham | Times

OPEN — Fike, Hunt, Nash Central, Northern Nash, Rocky Mount FRIDAY, OCT. 10 Fike @ Southern Nash; Northern Nash @ Hunt; Rocky Mount @ Nash Central FRIDAY, OCT. 17 Nash Central @ Fike; Rocky Mount @ Hunt; Southern Nash @ Northern Nash FRIDAY, OCT. 24 Fike @ Rocky Mount; Hunt @ Southern Nash; Nash Central @ Northern Nash FRIDAY, OCT. 31 Northern Nash @ Fike; Hunt @ Nash Central; Rocky Mount @ Southern Nash FRIDAY, NOV. 7 Fike @ Hunt; Southern Nash @ Nash Central; Northern Nash @ Rocky Mount

there was the mentality, believing they can win and not when the first bad thing happens, their heads dropping. That’s still a work in progress. You can see it sometimes in practice. It’s been a job but it’s been a fun job. I enjoy the kids. They’re good kids and the people in the community are good people so I’ve had a lot of support from them.” Raper described his 2014 edition as a “little leaner and more athletic this year in a lot of spots,” noting that offensive tackle Ellis Holloway has slimmed down to 295 pounds from his 345 pounds a year ago. Quarterback Jacob Green headlines the offensive returners for the Knights while Travon Clarke, Jamayis Rosser and junior Quan Whitaker are returning in the backfield. Both Clarke and Rosser started at linebacker in 2013. However, Raper warned that 6-foot-4, 200-pound senior tight end/defensive end Zach Langley, “a guy we were counting on heavily,” tore his ACL during the summer at a camp at Duke University. Replacing him will be Jamie Williams, who will slide over from offensive guard to tight end. Raper also has one of the most experienced coaching staffs around with former Princeton head coach Russell Williamson, longtime SouthWest Edgecombe assistant Tommy Tolson and former Tarboro and SWE defensive coordinator A.B.

Crudup noted that Nash Central’s strength should be on its line, where most of the Nash Central has the other Big East teams are facroom for the biggest iming question marks. provement after going 0-11 “It’s the most experienced last season. The drop-off and, believe it or not, that’s has been precipitous for the where our depth is and Bulldogs, who pushed Hunt we’re still young there,” he in regular-season and playsaid. off meetings in 2011. Crudup welcomes back “Those guys took their former South Creek head lumps,” said seventh-year coach Jeremy Jones, who head coach Kevin Crudup. was a Bulldogs assistant “We were in every game that coach with Crudup on forwe played but we just played mer head coach Kenneth teams that were a little bit Grantham’s staff in the stronger and a little bit more early 2000s, as defensive experienced than us last sea- coordinator. Also, Juan son. This year, we’re looking Jackson, who starred at to capitalize on the experiHunt in the early 1980s ence the young guys got last when he was a teammate season by playing varsity of Hinnant, is the Bulldogs as sophomores and juniors assistant head coach. Jackhaving significant roles.” son was head coach for six The Bulldogs do have one years total at two schools in of the best players in the Virginia. league in senior defensive “He helps me out a lot end/tight end Houshun because he is a former head Gaines, who along with coach and he knows what Fike’s Evans and Hunt’s I’m going through and what Lucas was named to the I’m thinking,” Crudup said. NCPreps.com 3-A Pre“It’s just been wonderful season All-State Team. to have a guy with his ex“Houshun is just a kid that perience and his talents on has been working hard in staff.” the weight room and on the And Jackson certainly field,” Crudup said. “He has knows how to beat Fike, good size, good measurehaving led the Warriors to ables, great speed and his their first win over the Depotential is unlimited. He’s mons in 1983, and he might what a Division I football have some insight in beating player should look like and Hunt. what a lot of schools are And trying to beat the looking for in long, lanky Wilson County duo seems to guys that can run and can be, once more, the name of probably add about 25 or the game in the Big East this 30 pounds when they get to season. college and still keep that paul@wilsontimes.com | 265-7808 speed.” Whitley surrounding him.

BULLDOGS LOOKING UP

Thursday, August 21, 2014 wilsontimes.com 12

Pam Pack gets coaches’ nod to rule EPC again Bruins picked to finish 2nd By Tom Ham Senior Staff Writer

KENLY — If the collective forecast of the six head coaches is accurate, football history will repeat in the 2-A Eastern Plains Conference in 2014. The results of a preseason poll at the recent conference kickoff gathering at North Johnston High School indicate the six teams will finish in exactly the same order as they wound up at the conclusion of the 2013 regular season. The poll reflects that Washington will go 2-for-2 in championships during its time in the heralded league. Beddingfield will again emerge the runnerup, followed, respectively, by Farmville Central, SouthWest Edgecombe, North Pitt and North Johnston, also a member for just the second year. The Pam Pack, undefeated in the league last season, garnered three of the six first-place votes and amassed 23 points. Beddingfield notched a pair of first-place votes and wound up with 21 points. The other first-place vote was accorded Farmville Central, which accumulated 18 points. Then came SouthWest (14), North Pitt (9) and North Johnston (5). Five points were awarded for a first-place vote, four for second, etc. Coaches did not rank their respective teams. “It’s just preseason stuff,’ commented Washington head coach Sport Sawyer, “but it’s still an honor. You always want to be the best. “It means a lot of respect from the other coaches and that your team is doing well. Maybe your peers are thinking positively about you and maybe you’re doing the right things.”

COACHES POLL Results of the 2-A Eastern Plains Conference football coaches’ preseason poll, conducted at North Johnston High on Wednesday, Aug. 6. Teams are given five points for first place, four points for second place, etc. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their teams. First-place votes are in parentheses. 1. Washington (3) 2. Beddingfield (2) 3. Farmville Central (1) 4. SouthWest Edgecombe 5. North Pitt 6. North Johnston

23 21 18 14 9 5

ference and the team that makes the fewest turnovers usually wins.” Washington, with the league’s largest roster of some 45 players, returns

Head football coaches of the 2-A Eastern Plains Conference schools convened at North Johnston on Aug. 6 for their annual preseason meeting. From left are Farmville Central’s Scott Gardner, Beddingfield’s Tyrone Johnson, Washington’s Sport Sawyer, SouthWest Edgecombe’s Jonathan Cobb, North Johnston’s Ashley Ennis and North Pitt’s Dave Boal.

Tom Ham | Times

North Pitt head coach Dave Boal, left, watches SW Edgecombe Jonathan Cobb fill out his ballot for the preseason poll during the annual 2-A Eastern Plains Conference coaches meeting Aug. 6 at North Johnston. Tom Ham | Times

eight offensive and six defensive starters. Headlining the veterans is senior running back Markel Spencer, who has rushed for over a combined 3,000 yards the last two seasons. The Pam Pack lost 17 seniors, but Sawyer noted: “We had a good off-season.” Beddingfield’s 16 returnees include six offensive and six defensive starters. Senior quarterback Kavajae Ellis, senior wideout Javius Nixon, a four-year starter; and senior linebacker Coyee Farmer, said Johnson, are drawing NCAA Division I interest. Defensive mainstays Amorris Liles and Jalen Honey landed all-conference acclaim last POSTSEASON LEADERS season. The Pam Pack and Bed“Beddingfield could win dingfield best represented it,” Sawyer cautioned. in the EPC in the 2013 “They do a good job, and postseason. Washington they have a good quarterfinished 12-3 and lost in the back and receiver.” North Carolina High School SouthWest head coach Athletic Association 2-A Jonathan Cobb contended East final, falling to evenBeddingfield has become tual state champion High the “Kinston of the conPoint Andrews. Beddingference.” Kinston seized field posted an 8-5 record a league title and was a and bowed to Elizabeth City perennial contender until Northeastern in the second NCHSAA realignment round. shifted it to the 2-A Eastern Only North Johnston, Carolina Conference. seeking its first conference PRESEASON STUFF win, failed to advance into “This is nothing but the playoffs. preseason stuff,” Johnson “It’s nice that your coldownplayed the plaudits. leagues think that highly “We want to be first at the of you, but it doesn’t mean end. It’s an even conference a thing,” reasoned Bruins and, if we do that, we’ll be head coach Tyrone Johndoing fine. I feel like we’ve son. “This is a tough con-

got a good football team.” Farmville Central went 8-3 last season, while SouthWest was 5-7, North Pitt 6-6 and North Johnston 0-11. North Pitt was projected to capture the EPC championship. “If Washington doesn’t beat us to death and Beddingfield doesn’t wear us out chasing them all over the field, we might have a chance,” said head coach Scott Gardner, whose Jaguars return nine offensive and nine defensive starters. The poll results didn’t surprise SouthWest’s Cobb. “That’s exactly the way I voted,” he revealed. “To me, all a preseason poll is how you finished the previous year.” The Cougars return nine offensive and five defensive starters, and Cobb assured: “I feel a whole lot better going into year two. We just don’t have big young’uns like other folks.” Numbers on the North Pitt varsity have dipped to 25 and coming back are just three offensive and six defensive starters. “The conference is a tossup,” declared head coach David Boal, “but the first four teams are really, really good.”

ENNIS HAILS EPC North Johnston’s Ashley Ennis was welcomed into the head coaching fold, and he observed: “The impression I had when I looked

Beddingfield head coach Tyrone Johnson, left, and first-year North Johnston head coach Ashley Ennis share a laugh during the 2-A Eastern Plains Conference coaches meeting Aug. 6 at North Johnston. Tom Ham | Times

EPC weekly schedule AUG. 22 Beddingfield @ Greene Central; Louisburg @ North Johnston; Southern Nash @ SW Edgecombe; Farmville Central @ Plymouth; D.H. Conley @ North Pitt; Washington @ Havelock AUG. 28 Southern Nash @ Beddingfield; SW Edgecombe @ North Edgecombe AUG. 29 Farmville Central @ North Lenoir; North Pitt @ South Creek; Washington @ Tarboro; Bunn @ North Johnston SEPT. 5 Beddingfield @ Southern Pines Pinecrest; North Johnston @ Corinth Holders; SW Edgecombe @ Greene Central; Pamlico County @ Farmville Central; AydenGrifton @ North Pitt; Washington @ D.H. Conley

SEPT. 12 Fike @ Beddingfield; North Johnston @ Princeton; SW Edgecombe @ Tarboro; Farmville Central @ Ayden-Grifton; North Pitt @ South Central; West Craven @ Washington SEPT. 19 Nash Central @ Beddingfield; Lakewood @ North Johnston; Rocky Mount @ SW Edgecombe; Greene Central @ Farmville Central; OPEN — North Pitt, Washington SEPT. 26 Beddingfield @ Hunt; North Lenoir @ North Johnston; South Creek @ Farmville Central; Greene Central @ North Pitt; Washington @ Riverside Martin; OPEN — SW Edgecombe OCT. 3 North Pitt @ Pinetown Northside; Kinston @ Washington; OPEN — Beddingfield; North Johnston;

East Carteret @ SW Edgecombe; Farmville Central; OCT. 10 North Johnston @ Beddingfield; North Pitt @ SW Edgecombe; Washington @ Farmville Central OCT. 17 Beddingfield @ North Pitt; Farmville Central @ North Johnston; SW Edgecombe @ Washington OCT. 24 Washington @ Beddingfield; North Pitt @ North Johnston; Farmville Central @ SW Edgecombe OCT. 31 Beddingfield @ Farmville Central; North Johnston @ SW Edgecombe; North Pitt @ Washington NOV. 6 SW Edgecombe @ Beddingfield; NOV. 7 Washington @ North Johnston; Farmville Central @ North Pitt

at game film from last year was that it is the top conference from top to bottom in the East — probably in the state.” The Panthers’ varsity turnout was less than 30 and only four offensive starters are back. Ennis added four other play-

ers played a considerable amount of time defensively. “It’s a grind for our guys,” Ennis declared. “We’ve got to raise our level of play and play more physical.” Washington’s Sawyer acknowledged he was unaware that, for at least the last four years, the team

projected to rule the conference has failed to do so. “That stuff gives us a little motivation,” he responded. “If you don’t finish first, you were not a success. It’s how you finish at the end of the year that counts.” hammer@wilsontimes.com | 265-7819

MODERN STEREO

SALES & INSTALLATION

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In the game that ultimately decided the 2-A Eastern Plains Conference championship at Washington on Oct. 25, 2013, Beddingfield quarterback Kavajae Ellis (3) tries to elude a posse of Pam Pack defenders down the sideline. Washington, which won 33-7 on the way to an unbeaten run in its first season in the EPC, was picked by league coaches to repeat as conference champion. Scott Jones | Special to the Times

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Thursday, August 21, 2014 wilsontimes.com 13

Panthers look to rebound from winless 2013 New coach Ennis inherits young squad at North Johnston

roster No. 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 14 15 20 25 28 44 51 52 55 65 67 72 73 77 82 88

By Tom Ham Senior Staff Writer

New head coach Ashley Ennis assumes direction of the North Johnston High football program with the mission of returning it to the successful status it enjoyed just a few seasons ago in the 1-A Carolina Conference and 2-A Northern Carolina Conference.

quick facts Mascot: Panthers Colors: Red and silver Conference: 2-A Eastern Plains Head coach: Ashley Ennis (1st season) 2013 record: 0-11 overall, 0-5 NCC (6th) Top returning passer: None Top returning rusher: Quamel Kenion (621 yds., 2 TDs) Top returning receiver: Jayvon Booker (4 rec., 34 yds., 0 TDs)

Ennis, however, inherits a situation where numbers and returning starters are thin. Winning is not a habit; in fact, the Panthers’ varsity squad has dropped its last 14 starts. The entire coaching staff is new, as is the wing-T offense. North Johnston finds itself in quest of its first triumph in its second season in the rugged 2-A Eastern Plains Conference. Nonetheless, the challenge appealed to Ennis, who departed 3-A Triton, where his teams went 19-4 in two seasons as Hawks head coach, to accept the North Johnston position. “It’s going to be a challenge,” Ennis admitted. “It’s

Player Benjamin Howell Jayvon Booker Kasual Earp Jahvonte Dublin Tracy Barnes Quamel Kenion Dallas Krob Ricardo Padillia D.J. Joyner Jacob Snipes Armani Booker Tyler Bass Grayson Headley Jonathan Gonzalez AJ Edwards Benjamin Jaramillo Jacob Cuddington Ethan Holland Danny Mitchell Robert Jackson Cy Daughtry Ethan Williams Bradley Barbour Gregory Castle Jordan Aycock Holden Hales

Pos. WR/DB WR/DL DB/RB RB/DB CB/RB RB/LB QB/DB K/P DB/SE LB/FB DB/RB LB/QB DB/SE DB/RB FB/DL TE/OLB OL/DL OL/LB OL/DL DL/OL OL/DL G/DT OL/DL OL/DL DB/SE TE/DL

key performer

Sophomore Jahvonte Dublin (4) looks for room to run as senior teammate Jayvon Booker (2) gets ready to throw a block for North Johnston during the Corinth Holders Jamboree on Aug. 15. Scott Jones | Special to the Times

ditioning the 27 players to the extent they can handle six or seven of them playing offense and defense most of the contest. A pair of scrimmage sessions last week helped. “We did some good things,” Ennis assessed. “A lot of stuff we did wrong is correctable.” NEED TO COMPETE However, the 39-year-old “Right now, we need to Panthers leader admits he is get where we can compete,” somewhat disappointed the Ennis emphasized. “Depth execution isn’t sharper and is a big problem. We are a progress is slow. little behind, but it’s a new “The scrimmages gave system and we’re learning. us a chance to see game We have a tough row to speed,” Ennis noted. “We hoe; we have to stay posihave to practice smart and tive and stay focused.” be physical at points and Ennis speaks of being times. We have to become competitive by shortening tougher physically and games with ball-control ofmentally.” fense, minimizing the oppoThe roster lists 11 seniors nents’ big plays, drastically and a mere seven juniors. improved tackling and con“We have a big sopho-

going to take a while. This is going to be a tough year.” The Panthers kick off the Ennis head coaching era with home contests against non-conference rivals Louisburg and Bunn. North Johnston is again projected to occupy the Eastern Plains cellar.

more crowd and we know some of them are going to be playing,” Ennis added.

FOUNDATION TRIO The trio of 6-foot-1, 270-pound senior lineman Greg Castle, 6-5, 280-pound senior lineman Jacob Cuddington and 5-11, 200-pound senior offensive guard/linebacker Ethan Holland form the hub. All started last season. Junior Dallas Krob, described by Ennis as a good athlete, moves up from the junior varsity to quarterback the wing-T. The offense’s forte could be the blocking up front provided by Castle, Cuddington and Holland and the inside, downhill running of fullbacks Quamel Kenion and A.J. Edwards. Jayvon Booker, a wide

Greg Castle Senior • OT/DL 6-foot-1, 265 pounds Earned All-Eastern Plains Conference acclaim as a junior. Getting looks from NCAA FCS and Division II programs. Excellent student academically. “He’s a good player. He’s very smart, strong and moves well. “Greg is very committed, and we need for him to be a leader by example as a two-way player. We need to get the most from him while he’s on the field. “He can kind of set the tone for other players.” — Ashley Ennis

receiver last season, has been moved to wingback. Sophomore Javonte Dublin provides speed in the backfield. Junior Tracy Barnes impressed last spring as a halfback and defensive back, but has been hampered by a hamstring injury. Sophomores Ben Jaramillo and 6-1 Holden Hales are vying for the tight end job. Ennis describes Jaramillo as a “good fit” at the position. Robert Jackson, at 6-0, 225 pounds, is being challenged by junior Cy Daughtry for the starting job at center. Soccer players Noah Brewer, Ricardo Padilla and Ian Walston will be called upon to bolster the placement kicking. Holland is a candidate to punt. Kick returns, expressed Ennis, will be “a combination of who we trust the most.”

REAL STRENGTH North Johnston defenders Quamel Kenion (7) and Tyler Bass (15) run down a C.B. Aycock ball carrier as Panthers teammates Greg Castle (77), Ethan Holland (52) and A.J. Edwards converge during the teams’ scrimmage Aug. 12 at Aycock.

Scott Jones | Special to the Times North Johnston firstyear head coach Ashley Ennis, who guided Erwin Triton to 19 wins the past two years, talks to his players during the Corinth Holders Jamboree on Aug. 15.

“We hope the offensive line will mesh and become a real strength,” Ennis commented. Not surprisingly, Castle and Cuddington anchor the front line of the 3-4 defensive scheme. Ennis said a search continues for a solid performer to complement Castle and Cuddington.

Scott Jones | Special to the Times

252-230-1704

Ht. 5-10 6-4 5-10 5-5 5-9 6-1 5-10 5-9 5-10 5-8 5-11 6-1 6-1 5-8 5-8 6-3 6-4 5-11 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-2 5-10 6-3 6-1 6-1

Wt. 155 185 155 150 142 225 185 135 145 155 155 205 175 155 230 225 275 195 200 225 245 240 275 265 155 225

Cl. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. Sr. Jr. So. Jr. So. Jr. Sr. So. So. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. So.

schedule DATE Aug. 22 Aug. 28 Sept. 5 Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 7

OPPONENT Louisburg Bunn @ Corinth Holders @ Princeton Lakewood North Lenoir OPEN @ Beddingfield* Farmville Central* North Pitt* @ SW Edgecombe* Washington*

* 2-A Eastern Plains Conference game

Castle leads the linebacking corps in the middle and Edwards has experience at the position. Javon Booker will likely man one of the outside slots At safety, Kasual Earp is quick and a willing hitter. Armani Booker and Krob will also see action at safety. Possibilities at cornerback are Ben Howell and a healthy Barnes. Sophomores demonstrating promise include Jonathan Gonzalez at running back/defensive back, Jordan Aycock at safety/ wide receiver and physical Grayson Headley.

DEFENSIVE ISSUES “Defensively, we have to find the right mixture of speed in the secondary and, come up with a good rotation so that we can give people a break and, overall, move along a little faster,” Ennis remarked. Improvement in physicality will be a glaring indicator once conference play rolls around. Absolutes are staying positive, working hard and keeping heads up. “Then, one of these nights, we will look up, be in the fourth quarter and we’ll have a chance to do something special,” Ennis reasoned. “That will help a lot. How long we hold up the entire game will determine how successful we are. “If we stick together, buy in completely and get better, we will be able to compete and, hopefully, have a chance to make that pay off with a few wins.” For the few veterans, victory is long overdue. hammer@wilsontimes.com | 265-7819

Thursday, August 21, 2014 wilsontimes.com 14

Cougars can be contenders in EPC Many familiar faces in key spots for SW Edgecombe By Tom Ham Senior Staff Writer

PINETOPS — Talk is cheap, readily admits second-year head coach Jonathan Cobb. But he’s convinced his SouthWest Edgecombe varsity football team is superior to the 2013 edition that finished fourth in the 2-A Eastern Plains Conference and better than the preseason projection of another fourth-place showing. “We are absolutely better than a fourth-place team,” the 30-year-old Cobb insisted. “We have the personnel.” The emphasis, reports Cobb, is “trying to be good at what we do” and that process has been simplified. And simple became simpler as the result of a recent meeting between Cobb, veteran assistant coaches Jeff Gould and Glenn Warren and Cobb’s father, former Cougars head coach Raymond Cobb, his son’s predecessor. “I have a tendency to try to do too much,” Jonathan Cobb admitted. “Now, we have 10 offensive plays.” The Cougars also boast nine offensive and five defensive starters from a 2013 team that posted a 5-7 record and exited in the opening round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2-A playoffs.

NON-LEAGUE TOUGH Coach Cobb’s second edition faces another demanding non-conference schedule, beginning at home Friday night against Southern Nash of the 3-A Big East Conference. The Cougars also oppose Rocky Mount of the Big East and archrival Tarboro, an 1-A powerhouse. “I cannot question attitude, commitment or effort,” Cobb reviewed. “That’s certainly a very pleasing thing. There are no head cases, and that’s unexpected. Last year, it was not necessarily like that.” The offense features a wealth of depth in the backfield and, defensively, Cobb describes the four linebacker and three secondary starters as “pretty darned good.” None of the returning starters went both ways. “The offense can only be better,” Cobb reasoned. “The guys are a year older, smarter and stronger. We

quick facts Mascot: Cougars Colors: Columbia blue and navy Conference: 2-A Eastern Plains Head coach: Jonathan Cobbs (2nd season) 2013 record: 5-7 overall (1st round 2-AA playoffs), 2-3 EPC (4th) Top returning passer: Quontellas Norwood (10-3-2, 126 yds., 1 TD) Top returning rusher: Devontrell Hyman (811 yds., 12 TDs) Top returning receiver: Marcus Williams (11 rec., 261 yds., 2 TDs)

key performer Senior Barry Smith, running for a touchdown past North Edgecombe players on the sideline in the Tarboro Jamboree on Aug. 15, is part of a deep offensive backfield at SouthWest Edgecombe this season. Sheldon Vick | Special to the Times

schedule

Tucker Pridgen Junior • QB 6-foot-4, 200 pounds

DATE Aug. 22 Aug. 29 Sept. 5 Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 6

OPPONENT Southern Nash @ North Edgecombe @ Greene Central @ Tarboro Rocky Mount OPEN East Carteret North Pitt* @ Washington* Farmville Central* North Johnston* @ Beddingfield*

For the first time in four seasons, SouthWest Edgecombe turns to a different starting quarterback. * 2-A Eastern Plains Conference game That individual is 6-foot-4 junior Tucker Pridgen, who quarterback the junior varsity to the Eastern Plains Conference championship last season. form a four-headed backfield monster. Head coach Jonathan Cobb has Despite missing two been extremely pleased with his debut in managing the game, executing games, Hyman powered the offense, taking care of the football for 814 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior. and standing tall in the pocket. A pro-style quarterback who will Marcus Williams amassed utilize the quick drop, play action and 781 yards and nine TDs, the short passing game. while Smith managed 581 “He is as hard a worker and as coachable as it gets. He wants it and is a great a leader. We expect him to put the ball where it’s supposed to go — and he has the arm to do it.” — Jonathan Cobb

have linemen who have worked mighty hard all spring and summer to get better. They have put their hearts and souls into it and need confidence after last year. They need to see the fruits of their labor. “The defense has to be intense and swarm. It’s very aggressive and solid. (Lack of) depth is our biggest worry — but not offensively.”

BACKFIELD MONSTER Superbly conditioned senior Devontrell Hyman, junior Marcus Williams, junior Keanan Williams and senior Barry Smith

ties. Doing the blocking and protecting will be either senior Cole Pierce or junior Kevin Parker at center. Pierce, senior Brandon Jones, junior Markeith Davis and junior Brady Overstreet will see duty at guard. Tackle candidates are proven senior Asa Eller, junior Britt Griffin, senior Gerardo Gaytan and junior Zachary Wainwright. Junior Quontellus Norwood and senior Jazquez Moody, a starting tackle last season, are front-runners at tight end. The pair is backed by junior James Parker and senior Jadavian Richardson.

KICKING GAME

Returning junior Jarratt Mobley is a capable placekicker and Cobb notes the Cougars will kick off by committee. An abundance yards and five TDs. Marcus Williams also emerged of kick returners exists with Marcus Williams, Kethe 2013 leading receiver anan Williams, Smith and in the basic wishbone Hyman. scheme with 11 catches “We are working hard for 260 yards and two TDs. on special teams,” Cobb Keanan Williams starred said. “That’s definitely an at the jayvee level and is area that needs certain imcreating plenty of varsity provement.” excitement. Ends Hyman and Eller The quartet is unique in key what Cobb describes that each possesses different styles and qualities. as a strong line. Defensive Hyman is deemed the most tackles by committee inphysical, while Smith, said clude 6-foot, 265-pound sophomore Chandler Cobb, displays the best vision and is the most reli- Wright and “small, quick and tough” junior Jordan able. Marcus Williams is considered the most explo- Holden. At linebacker are Jones, sive and Keanan Williams a three-year starter and the most elusive. all-conference performer Also available is junior in 2013; junior Trevon PittKynazi Page, who runs man, Richardson, a threehard and has turned year starter; Norwood, heads. an end last season, and Tucker Pridgen, a Overstreet. Norwood also 6-foot-4 junior, has been plays strong safety against a tremendous surprise in assuming quarterback du- spread offenses. The secondary will be manned by returning senior Kalumbus Dickens, Marcus Williams, who started a year ago; Keanan Williams, Page, sophomore Hassan Hammiel and sophomore K’Vonte Dupree. Junior Devonte Hyman has been difficult to block. Hyman, Jones, Smith and Richardson are all three-year starters and Cobb quips: “To all but them, I’m Coach Cobb now.” Only Hyman, Marcus Williams and Keanan Williams are expected to see considerable action on both sides of the football. Cobb cautions he must be careful to not overuse Hyman on offense and spread the ball around.

roster No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 18 20 21 22 23 24 32 33 34 38 44 50 52 53 55 56 58 61 62 65 66 67 68 70 71 73 75 78

Player Marcus Williams Kalumbus Dickens Keanan Williams Hassan Hammiel Devontrell Hyman Josh Davis Kynazi Page Quontellas Norwood Jarratt Mobley Tucker Pridgen Jaquez Moody Rashuan Smallwood Bryson Alston James Parker Elijah Andrews K’Vonte Dupree Jadarius Wright Jadavian Richardson Devonte Hyman Barry Smith Brandon Powell Jo’el Clark Trevon Pittman Malcolm Beasley Wardell Clark Caleb Washington Cole Pierce Jeffery Wilkins Brady Overstreet Brandon Jones Britt Griffin Markeith Davis Zachary Wainwright Chandler Myrick Brandon Moore Jordan Holden Lester Barber-White Daniel Threatt Kevin Parker Asa Eller Christopher West Gerardo Gaytan-Ledezma

Pos. RB/DB WR/DB RB/DB RB/DB RB/DE TE/DB RB/DB TE/LB K QB TE/DL TE/DB TE/LB TE/LB TE/DE RB/LB WR/DB TE/LB RB/DL RB/DB TE/DB TE/DE RB/LB TE/DB TE/DE OL/LB OL/LB OL/LB OL/LB OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/LB OL/DE OL/DE OL/DL OL/DL

be scrappy and get after it. We have been down by our standards and have lost a lot of respect. We have to earn it one play at a time and by believing in and sticking to the mission, 24-7.” How about the fourthplace EPC forecast?

Ht. 5-11 5-10 5-6 5-10 5-9 5-10 5-6 6-3 6-0 6-4 6-4 5-9 5-10 6-0 6-0 5-9 5-7 5-8 5-5 5-8 5-7 6-2 5-6 5-7 5-8 6-3 6-1 6-2 5-11 5-11 6-0 5-10 6-0 5-10 5-8 5-6 6-0 5-11 6-2 5-9 5-11 6-0

Wt. 185 160 155 160 250 170 140 190 160 200 299 160 225 185 170 155 125 180 145 190 170 180 210 170 160 205 155 195 205 235 250 255 235 275 210 215 205 245 275 175 230 250

Cl. Jr. Sr. Jr. So. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr.

“That gives us motivation,” Cobb responded. “We know we have got our work cut out for us in three conference games. I see us as somewhere between undefeated and .500 — I’m not sure where.” hammer@wilsontimes.com | 265-7819

DEVELOPING ATTITUDE

SouthWest Edgecombe senior Devontrell Hyman bulldozes his way for yardage against J.H. Rose in the Tarboro Jamboree on Aug. 15. Hyman, despite injuries that caused him to miss two games, ran for 811 yards and 12 TDs in 2013. Sheldon Vick | Special to the Times

Furthermore, Cobb likes the “chip-on-the-shoulder” attitude his team is developing. “We are the little guys,” he declared. “We are undersized. We have got to

SouthWest Edgecombe senior linebacker Quontellas Norwood, left, makes a tackle against J.H. Rose during the Tarboro Jamboree on Aug. 15. Sheldon Vick | Special to the Times

Thursday, August 21, 2014 wilsontimes.com 15

Bruins ready to take the next step Beddingfield, with talented vets, eyes deeper playoff run By Tom Ham Senior Staff Writer

The respect the Beddingfield High varsity football team earned last season in posting an 8-5 record, finishing second in the rugged Eastern Plains Conference and advancing into the second round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2-A playoffs promises to sternly test the team’s mettle in 2014. “No one is going to feel sorry for us,” veteran head coach Tyrone Johnson cautioned. “We are not going to sneak up on anyone any more. We will get everybody’s best shot and, hopefully, we will give everybody our best shot.” The ambitious Bruins kick off the season and a demanding non-conference schedule on the road Friday against neighboring Greene Central of the 2-A Eastern Carolina Conference. “If we come out (of nonconference) 3-3, we can be a good football team,” Johnson contended. “I feel good about this team.” On paper, Beddingfield, projected to finish second behind defending champion Washington in the EPC, possesses the weapons to match or possibly exceed last year’s accomplishments. Seventeen returnees include five offensive and six defensive starters. Also, Johnson notes several players expected to move into starting positions played considerable minutes in 2013.

ELLIS, NIXON, LINDSEY The arsenal is powered by senior quarterback Kavajae Ellis, senior wideout Javius Nixon and senior running back Keshai Lindsey. As a junior, Ellis connected on 131-of-242 passes for 54-percent accuracy, 2,068 yards and 23 touchdowns. He threw 14 interceptions. Ellis also rushed for 481

key performer

Coyee Farmer Senior • OL/LB 6-foot, 210 pounds From a capable defensive starter as a junior, has blossomed into a Shrine Bowl prospect and is attracting NCAA Division I attention. All-Eastern Plains Conference last season. Ran, lifted and worked hard all summer. Can help in the offensive line, catch the football and athletic enough to play in the offensive backfield. “This year, his confidence is so big. Could be really special and a key factor for our football team. He can run, is really strong and is really smart (4.6 grade-point average). He’s the real deal. Coyee is going to get a scholarship whether football or academic. “Has the best hands on the team; he can really catch the football. I won’t be surprised if he’s in the backfield. It took Coyee a little while to catch up; he’s a different person.” — Tyrone Johnson

Beddingfield senior quarterback Kavajae Ellis (3) is led by fullback Demonte Cherry (2) as senior defender Stedman Harris pursues during a practice drill. All three players are expected to play pivotal roles this season. Paul Durham | Times

yards and three TDs on 165 carries. Johnson hints Ellis’ running skills will be more prominent. “He’s going to run the ball more and also throw it,” Johnson said. “He can kick it — he may be the punter. Because of his running ability, it’s going to free up more passes.” Ellis’ favorite target, DATE OPPONENT Nixon, a four-year starter, Aug. 22 @ Greene Central returns. Last season, Nixon Aug. 28 Southern Nash established himself as the Sept. 5 @ Southern Pines Pinecrest premier pass-catcher in The Sept. 12 Fike Wilson Times readership Sept. 19 Nash Central area with 894 yards and 13 Sept. 26 @ Hunt TDs on 46 receptions. Oct. 3 OPEN Nixon also looms a key Oct. 10 North Johnston* defensive performer in the Oct. 17 @ North Pitt* secondary. Johnson proudly Oct. 24 Washington* notes he can spell teamOct. 31 @ Farmville Central* mates at slotback, quarterNov. 6 SW Edgecombe* back, running back and free safety. * 2-A Eastern Plains Conference game “He’s come so far,” Johnson commented. “He is a

schedule

Senior Javius Nixon led The Wilson Times readership area in receptions and receiving yardage as a junior in 2013. Paul Durham | Times

quiet leader on and off the field. He leads by example and is the backbone of our football team. He will play basically every snap and is conditioning himself to do all of this.”

IMPROVED RUNNING Lindsey represents the staple of the running attack after amassing 547 yards and three TDs on 115 rushes a season ago. Lindsey is the biggest reason the coaching staffs expects the running game to be improved. Sophomore Tyreek Liles, up from the junior varsity, is the likely starter at center. He will be flanked by juniors Amorris Liles and Antonio Barnes at guards. Sophomore Tony McNeil will likely start at one tackle and either junior Carlos Burks or 265-pound senior Jesse Whitaker at the other. “The line is untested, but I feel good about them,” Johnson remarked. “Of course, they’ve got more work to do. I think they will be improved later on.” Another positive, said Johnson, is the fact Ellis is exhibiting more confidence in throwing to a bevy of receivers. Wideout Miguel Brown has really come on. John Harris and Stedman Harris are available at the slot position, while Stedman Harris and senior Coyee Farmer can be utilized when the scheme calls for a tight end. Junior Demonte Cherry is a shifty runner at fullback. Ellis is the probable punter and Cherry has demonstrated the capability to kick extra points and short field goals. Either Brown or senior Damani Sharpe will kick off. Nixon, Cherry, Lindsey and senior returnee Jalan Davis loom as kickoff return threats. Improved tackling has received huge preseason emphasis. Three familiar names — Farmer, Ellis and Nixon — are expected to be defensive anchors. Amorris Liles, said Johnson, can control the line of scrimmage and step up as the primary run-stopper.

plenty of depth at linebacker. Ellis, Nixon and Davis form a solid secondary. “As we thought, depth is not what we want,” Johnson assessed. “We will have to play a few guys both ways, but you have to do that at our level. If we can withstand that, it will pay dividends later.” The mention of possible injury to a key performer frightens Johnson, but he HONEY SIDELINED expresses: “We can’t play All-conference senior scared.” defensive end Jalen Honey Johnson continued: “If we remains sidelined because stay healthy, we can be betof a four-wheeler accident ter than we really thought and Johnson is hopeful he because we will be so balreturns as early as Septemanced on offense. The kids ber. feel good about themselves. Burks, McNeil, Barnes They know the difference and Farmer are being count- in this team and last year. ed upon along the defensive And Ellis is going to create front. Farmer, Cherry, Lind- headaches. sey, Stedman Harris, sopho“We’ve got a chance to be more Barry Bullock, junior pretty good.” Ivory Huggins and senior hammer@wilsontimes.com | 265-7819 Savonte Hilliard provide Nixon and Ellis are not the only Bruins attracting NCAA Division I interest. Put the 6-foot, 210-pound Farmer on that list. “He has a chip on his shoulder,” said Johnson. “He wants to show everybody what he can do. He expects big things out of himself and he expects us to expect big things out of him.”

roster No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 20 22 24 25 30 33 34 35 40 42 44 47 50 51 52 54 55 56 57 60 62 70 71 72 80 84

Player Miguel Brown Demonte Cherry Kavajae Ellis Savonte Hilliard Lamont Morgan John Harris Kenny Simms Jovonte Farmer Jalan Davis Javius Nixon Ronquavius Demetrius Stedman Harris JalenTaylor Raqwan Blackston Keshai Lindsey Ivory Huggins Deonta Cannady Daquan Briggs Jalen Honey Damani Sharpe Delexus Taylor Stephen Winstead Barry Bullock Quay Ballard Taylor Webster Angelo Jones Coyee Farmer Carlos Burks Tyreek Liles Terrence Parker David Bryant Jesse Whitaker Antonio Barnes Tony McNeil Bobby Farmer Amorris Liles Darrick Lawrence LaRon McClain

Pos. WR/DB RB/LB QB/DB WR/DB QB WR/DB WR/DB LB/RB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/LB RB/DB WR/DB RB/DE WR/LB WR/LB WR/LB WR/DE WR/DB OL/LB WR/DB WR/LB RB/LB RB/LB OL/LB OL/LB RB/DL OL/LB OL/LB OL/LB OL/DL OL/DT OL/DL OL/LB OL/DT WR/DB WR/DB

Ht. 6-5 6-0 6-1 5-8 6-2 5-6 5-5 5-7 5-8 5-11 5-10 5-10 5-6 5-8 5-10 6-1 5-8 5-9 6-1 6-1 5-7 5-5 6-0 5-7 5-8 5-8 6-0 6-2 5-10 6-8 5-9 6-0 6-0 6-2 6-0 6-0 5-10 6-2

Wt. 180 192 187 160 180 140 147 152 150 185 170 187 150 145 195 178 145 185 210 174 165 142 158 165 160 190 210 195 237 225 185 264 304 230 190 342 152 165

Cl. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. So. Sr. Sr.. Sr. Jr. So. Sr. So. Sr. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr.

BEDDINGFIELD HISTORY Mascot: Bruins Colors: Columbia blue, gold and black Conference: 2-A Eastern Plains Head coach: Tyrone Johnson (19th overall season, 9th straight) 2012 record: 8-5 overall, 4-1 EPC (2nd) School

OPPONENTS Record*

Bertie 5-8 8-1 C.B. Aycock Clayton 0-2 D.H. Conley 1-1 Eastern Alamance 0-1 Eastern Wayne 4-4 Eliz. City Northeastern 3-9 Farmville Central 8-7 Fike 12-23 Gaston 0-1 Goldsboro 2-0 Graham 1-0 Greene Central 14-5-1

Greenville Rose 2-8 Harnett Central 5-3 Hertford County 3-5 High Point Andrews 0-2 Hope Mills Gray’s Creek 1-0 Hunt 8-30 Kinston 12-12 Manteo 1-0 Nash Central 5-2 North Edgecombe 1-0 Northern Nash 10-8 North Johnston 2-0 North Pitt 4-1

Oxford Webb Pinecrest Raleigh Athens Drive Raleigh Millbrook Reidsville Roanoke Rapids Rocky Mount Smithfield-Selma South Central South Johnston Southern Durham Southern Nash Southern Wayne

1-1 0-1 1-0 1-0 0-1 0-1 2-14 3-4 1-0 5-0 0-4 14-12 5-2

SouthWest Edgecombe 12-13 Tarboro 1-5 Triton 3-1 Wake Forest-Rolesville 4-0 Warrenton 3-1-1 Washington 1-2 Washington, Va. 0-1 West Craven 1-4 West Johnston 2-0 Western Harnett 4-0 * All-time records are not complete.

HEAD COACHES Name Years Record Ray Barger 1978-83 27-31-2 Lonnie Lamm 1984-85 8-12 Jim Tabb 1986-87 4-16 Clark Harrell 1988-89 10-11 Tyrone Johnson 1990-99 52-57 Bennett Jones 2000-01 10-11 Tom Nelson 2002-05 33-21 Tyrone Johnson 2006-present 47-49

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