Home > Jessie Nunery
Carolina Panthers
The easy thing to do would be to point toward Carolina’s solid 4-1 record after a 34-0 thumping of Kansas City on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium, but let’s look a little bit deeper.
A big reason why the Panthers are playing well is because the organization is doing its homework in April when the NFL Draft takes place. Sunday, one of the Panthers’ 2007 first-round picks, DeAngelo Williams, rushed for three touchdowns and 123 yards. Right behind Williams was one of Carolina’s 2008 first-round selections, running back Jonathan Stewart. Stewart finished with 72 yards rushing and has proven himself to be a hard-nosed runner with elusive speed to match.
I didn’t catch all of the game Sunday, but I did manage to see Jon Beason - the 25th selection in the 2007 draft - intercept a pass off woeful Kansas City quarterback Damon Huard.
You can’t put a price tag on draft picks. Mix in a few veterans here and there, and the results are favorable. Nice job with the draft board, Panthers.
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N.C. State/Boston College observations
N.C. State showed a ton of fight Saturday, but there is only such a thing as a win-loss record. No ties and no almosts.
The Wolfpack allowed Boston College to march right down the field for the game-winning touchdown with 22 seconds remaining in an Eagles 38-31 victory Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium. Minus the final drive, N.C. State should feel good about the way it competed.
Boston College spread the ball all over the field early Saturday. It looked as if N.C. State would never stop the Eagles’ offense. The Wolfpack played from behind all day. 7-0. 14-7, 17-7 … and so on. The Wolfpack’s 31-17 halftime deficit looked almost insurmountable. But two touchdowns in the next 10 minutes of action made it a tied game before Boston College’s winning drive.
What went well for the Wolfpack on Saturday?
T.J. Graham’s kick returns. The speedster returned a kick for a 100-yard touchdown to end the first quarter and had a number of other successful returns.
Quarterback Russell Wilson. If the redshirt freshman stays healthy - and that’s a BIG if so far this season - he will definitely be the Wolfpack’s best choice for the position. He eludes pass rushers very well and has a strong arm. Most of all, he competes hard.
What didn’t go so well for the Wolfpack?
Defense. No matter what late-game heroics the offense produced, the defense allowed more than 500 yards for the second consecutive game. Yes, there are injuries across the board. The team misses linebacker Nate Irving, but the Wolfpack’s performance has to be better.
N.C. State heads into its bye week with a 2-4 record, including a 0-2 mark in ACC play. Few are surprised by the start, but a win Saturday could have put the Wolfpack at .500, which would have been a huge accomplishment considering the circumstances.
The Wolfpack play host to Florida State on Oct. 16 in the final contest of a four-game homestand. N.C. State needs to at least win at home. If the Wolfpack can dig a little deeper in future games, ALMOST, might not become a part of the team’s vocabulary.
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North Edgecombe observations
During a stop in Leggett this week, North Edgecombe coach Danny Ward told me this was the most perplexing season in his 29 seasons on a football sideline.
I didn’t see this type of season coming for the Warriors - nor did Ward - who advanced to the second round of the NCHSAA 1-A state playoffs last season. The program seemed to be going in the right direction. I know last season’s team had true leaders. Ward told me about the 2007 seniors who met in the offseason and set goals for the team. They also helped make sure those goals were met.
This season has been marred by issues such as inconsistent play and a small roster (25 varsity players). The Warriors are winless in seven games after Northampton-West beat the Warriors, 28-14 on Friday night. North Edgecombe is 0-2 in Tar-Roanoke Conference play. This conference is winnable on any night, but the Warriors have not put together a winning effort.
It’s been a long season - and there’s still a month left.
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Knights win, Knights, win, Knights win
Whaddaya know? Northern Nash is back in the victory column again. The Knights beat Southern Vance 20-15 Friday night for their first victory in the Chad Smith era. They didn’t do it easily. A pass interference set up a Marc McCadden touchdown catch with no time remaining for the Knights’ victory.
I reached Smith by cell phone Friday night. Smith said he might coach another 40 years and not win a game in the manner his team won against Southern Vance.
I’m sure Smith and his coaching staff saw this win coming. The team started playing well, oddly enough, in a 42-point loss to Hertford County. Last week the Knights nearly beat Bertie. They did not let an opportunity slide away from them Friday night.
Good for the Knights. This team needed a victory before NEW 6 Conference season begins in two weeks. Confidence means a lot to high school athletes. Maybe more wins will follow.
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Rocky Mount High … Dominant … Again
Rocky Mount players and coaches tell me often that the team works extremely hard during the week. I’ve always believed them, but I’m starting to think that their practices are more competitive than the games. That’s the case of late. Rocky Mount has won their last three games by a combined 111 points. Some teams haven’t scored 111 points this season.
Friday night’s 63-6 victory over Southern Wayne was so easy that the Gryphons’ first team offense and defense spent the entire second half watching from the sideline. I asked coach Rocky Mount coach B.W. Holt during the second half why he decided to take his headset off. I knew the 49-6 halftime score had a lot to do with that, but he said he wanted to allow his assistants to have the freedom to call the shots.
Marquavis Alston’s performance was one of the better brief outings I’ve seen at the high school level. He scored all four times he touched the ball in the first half, finishing with 141 yards. I told him that if he carried the ball in the second half that he was going to ruin his average. He mentioned that he would have taken it to the house again if given the chance. I don’t doubt him the way he carried the ball Friday night.
I had to laugh when an official ran over toward a couple of Rocky Mount High players during the second half on what was an uncrowded portion of the sideline and told the two to back up behind the line. Really? I guess this official didn’t have anything better to do. The players toes were literally a few inches over the line. Southern Wayne didn’t make it around a corner of the Rocky Mount defense all night, so I don’t think the players were in harm’s way. Maybe the official was bored and felt the need to officiate.
Rocky Mount’s halftime output (49 points) was the most for the program in the first half since it led Wilson Fike, 48-0 in 1978. The Gryphons probably would have set a new scoring mark ff not for a running second-half clock. The program scored 75 points against Norfolk (Va.) Catholic in 1961.
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Down East pregame thoughts
Before we throw our energy into high school football, here are a few lingering thoughts on the 11th Annual Down East Viking Football Classic that are floating in my head.
Will Elizabeth City State running back and former SouthWest Edgecombe standout D.D. Bush get a chance to show his skills in front of folks from his area?
Keep an eye on Vikings defensive back Derrick Downey. The Rocky Mount High alum is now a senior and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind making a mark in his final Classic. He has nine tackles this season in three games played.
Will this contest come down to wire, much like the one a year ago when place-kickers decided the outcome of the game? Sports Editor Ben Jones deemed Shaw’s win “Shaw’s Shank Redemption.” Great headline, Ben.
Who will have the better band? Matt LaWell will give his take on that Saturday after the game.
Most of all, who’s going to win? Elizabeth City State seems to be more capable of putting up points on the offensive side of the ball. Vikings running back Dennis Hamilton told me in a phone conversation Thursday that the team hasn’t put together a full 60 minutes of play the way they are capable of doing. St. Augustine’s has scored no more than 17 points in any game this season. My nod goes to Elizabeth City State. Prediction: ECSU 32, St. Augustine’ s 22
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The cycle of sports
Imagine a sports fan falling asleep for 10 years and waking up. Boy, have things changed since then. The Tampa Bay Rays have clinched a spot in the American League playoffs. So much has changed in a decade that sleepy fan knew the team as the Devil Rays. But what else has changed? I did a quick glance back at the four major professional sports (football, baseball, basketball, hockey) to see what things looked like compared to today.
BASEBALL THEN: The New York Yankees won the World Series by beating the San Diego Padres. The Yankees won 114 games during the regular-season.
BASEBALL NOW: The Yankees (86-71) will miss the postseason for the first time in 13 years after being eliminated Tuesday night. Yankee Stadium has seen its last baseball game. Some things are still the same there, though. New York still has unlimited financial resources and Derek Jeter is playing shortstop. Some things don’t need to change.
BASKETBALL THEN: The Chicago Bulls (and Michael Jordan, of course) won their third consecutive NBA title. The victory was the last of Jordan’s six titles.
BASKETBALL NOW: The Bulls won only 33 games last season. Michael Jordan is now making player personnel decisions for the Charlotte Bobcats. Yes, back then, Charlotte had a team called the Hornets. The Hornets are now in New Orleans. Yes, times have changed.
HOCKEY THEN: The Detroit Red Wings earned Lord Stanley’s Cup in 1998, back when Hockey was popular (sorry, hockey fans, but it’s true).
HOCKEY NOW: Maybe some things don’t change. The Red Wings are fresh off a sweep of the Pittsburgh Penguins and will enter the upcoming season as the defending champs. The NHL is certainly in last place of the four major sports.
FOOTBALL THEN: The Denver Broncos edged the Green Bay Packers, 31-24 in Super Bowl XXXII. That was a great Super Bowl. John Elway vs. Brett Favre (as the media put it then as if the Hall of Fame quarterbacks were the only ones playing).
FOOTBALL NOW: The New York Giants are the defending champs after a 17-14 victory in February. That victory made one member of the Telegram sports department a happy man.
Thanks, Giants. I’ll never forget that win.
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N.C. State’s silence
Wolfpack coach Tom O’Brien never divulges more information than is asked of him. During Monday’s press conference in Raleigh he told the media that redshirt freshman quarterback Russell Wilson would be out for Saturday’s game against South Florida.
O’Brien did not disclose Wilson’s injury, but my thought is that the quarterback might have suffered another concussion. Wilson looked fine while being interviewed after the Wolfpack’s 30-24 victory over East Carolina on Saturday, but concussions are an incurable injury.
More than one of my colleagues mentioned Saturday while watching the game that Wilson needs to avoid more hits. Wilson scrambles as much as he passes the football. No quarterback can take continuous beatings without suffering some sort of injury. It’s a shame Wilson can’t play this week because he made a lot of progress Saturday against the Pirates, throwing the first three touchdown passes of his career. Monday he was named the ACC’s Offensive Back of the Week.
I applaud Wilson’s no-fear attitude, but I’m sure Wolfpack fans want to see him out of harms way more than they have. The concussion he suffered against South Carolina on Aug. 28 forced him to miss only one game. Who knows if it has returned in some way. Maybe we’ll get a better answer from O’Brien later this week, but knowing O’Brien, don’t hold your breath.
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Rocky Mount High observations
I allude to the concept in my story in Saturday’s edition of the Telegram, but the Rocky Mount High football team plays so well in games that mean so much. The only thing it seeks is a state championship, but they are the team opponents hunt for.
The Gryphons no longer play the supporting actor role. They are Will Smith. Denzel Washington. Tom Cruise. Will Ferrell. Rocky Mount football is the main attraction. I get the feeling, and so do some Gryphons I talked to Friday night, that teams from outside the are are now talking about playing Rocky Mount as their “Big Game.”
I can’t say that Rocky Mount’s 42-14 victory over Hertford County was a surprise to me. The team’s 36-0 victory at Greenville Rose last week let me know one thing: Expect the Gryphons to play well - all the time.
Part of me was prepared for this kind of win. I knew Hertford County had not been in big-game atmospheres as much as the Gryphons have been. The Bears are fast, and they were scoring 50 points a game before they met the Rocky Mount defense. But I guess the Gryphons were likely the fastest and most physical team they faced this season.
There was a good crowd at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex football stadium. The Gryphons’ support was solid, as was the contingent of fans for the visiting Bears. It’s too bad they didn’t get much of a show. Rocky Mount led 21-0 at the end of the first quarter. The game was over and done at that point. Unbelievable. The No. 2 team in the 3-A ranks makes the No. 3 team look unworthy of being on the same football field.
Yes, the Gryphons are playing leading roles these days. Their movies are fast, efficient and troublesome for opponents.
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Ryder Cup thoughts
I’ll watch the Ryder Cup. I won’t be glued to the television set, but I’ll watch. This, after all, is golf’s equivalent to the Olympics. The United States vs. Europe. Pride is on the line.
No, Tiger Woods won’t be there. Yes, it would be more interesting if he was in attendance, but the show must go on. I can’t even name the entire U.S. squad, but this is a special moment for golf. The crowds are louder, the players are more emotional and the sport takes on more of a college basketball feeling than its usual polite country club mood. Justin Leonard’s celebration with his teammates and their wives on the green in 1999 was classic. It’s not all that important, but I even like the blazers the players sport during Ryder Cup ceremonies and the team shirts they wear.
Team Europe has pummeled the U.S. during the last two Ryder Cups, and it has won the last three overall. Will anything change this weekend? I’m no expert, but there is something to be said about chasing a goal. The U.S. men’s basketball team had a similar feeling last month when they sought to reclaim the gold medal. They succeeded. I have a feeling the U.S. will put forth its best effort.
Sure, there is college football and Major League Baseball to watch, but the Ryder Cup only comes around every two years. This weekend is going interesting and not your average weekend of golf. For that reason, I will watch.
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Q&A with East Carolina wide receiver Jamar Bryant
East Carolina wide receiver Jamar Bryant leads the No. 15 Pirates with two touchdown receptions this season. He has 13 catches for 159 yards and is proving himself to be one of the better receivers in Conference USA. Bryant hauled in the game-winning score with 1:41 seconds remaining Saturday in his team’s 28-24 come-from-behind victory over Tulane.
Bryant took a few moments after a rainy practice Tuesday evening to answer some questions not related to Saturday’s game at N.C. State.
Who is the teammate you most often text message/call?
“Probably (defensive back) Van Eskridge. I call Van if I need a ride or I call him and he’ll come over to the house and just chill. I don’t know what it is. I guess we just bonded.”
What are your teammates saying about (former ECU running back) Chris Johnson’s start with the Tennessee Titans?
“We think that’s awesome. Being his teammate, we knew what he could do. We just knew if he could get in the right offense he could show his talents. He works hard. When he was here he motivated me to go hard. He already had the skills, now he just takes it to another level.”
You list your mother, Willa Bonds, as your most influential person. How is that relationship?
“I talk to my mom just about every night. She means a lot to me. When I was down, she lifted me up. Whenever I need something she’s always there for me.”
You played some quarterback in high school. Can we expect to see a trick play with you on the throwing end sometime?
“No. I don’t throw the ball anymore. I’ll leave the trick plays to Dwayne (Harris).”
Tell us something about your hometown of Hamlet.
“Nobody in North Carolina knows where it’s at. I tell them I’m from Hamlet and they’re like, ‘Where’s Hamlet?’ I tell them, ‘Are you from North Carolina?’ They say, ‘Yeah, but I don’t know where Hamlet is.’ I always have to tell them 45 minutes west of Fayetteville.”
- In case you don’t know where Hamlet is (Rockingham County), here is a bit of info on Bryant’s hometown.
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Nash Central-Wilson Hunt observations
For the second consecutive week, ineligible players have stolen the headlines. Nash Central found out it used a pair of ineligible players and entered Friday’s contest against Wilson Hunt with an 0-3 record, instead of a 2-1 mark. Yes, there was disappointment by players when athletics director Michael Mosley informed the team of the infractions on Thursday. Senior Michael Speight told me that some players frowned when they heard the announcement, but those feelings did not last long.
Coach Kevin Crudup said his players were actually a little “too loose” before they defeated Wilson Hunt, 9-0 on Friday night. Crudup said he explained to them that the infractions were no fault of the team as a whole. It’s a shame the Bulldogs - just like Rocky Mount High last week - has to deal with such distractions.
Administrative matters are spilling over to the football field. It’s time for administrators to come up with a solution. These ineligible players are meeting the North Carolina state requirements, but failing what it takes locally to play. Nash Central has won three straight games but now has a long road back to making the playoffs. Unless the Bulldogs can play well above .500 the rest of the way, they will almost surely begin the playoffs on the road IF they qualify for the postseason.
One ineligible player is no worse than another, but in the case of Rocky Mount High and Nash Central, the players ruled ineligible were not impact players. Northern Nash’s football and boys’ soccer teams used ineligible players since the start of the fall as well. Like I said last week, the students have to do the academic work to earn time on the playing field, but I hope this is the last week the games take a backseat to off-the-field matters.
So how did the Bulldogs look Friday? The offense is still a work in progress. Michael Speight ran for 198 yards and Ricardo Douglas gained some tough yardage, but the Bulldogs’ offense stalled way too many times in Hunt territory.
My favorite play Friday night was seeing 5-foot-2 Bulldogs senior Niem Dancy sack Wilson Hunt quarterback Tyrell Vinson late in the fourth quarter. Dancy is listed at 140 pounds. As a shorter guy myself, I appreciate Dancy’s effort. I never even thought to play football when I was in high school. Niem, you are definitely tougher than I ever was.
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Lance is tougher than Brett
Just a thought on a late Tuesday night. Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong announced today that he will attempt a comeback, one in which his main focus is to return AND win the 2009 Tour de France.
Am I alone, or were you also thinking, ‘Go for it Lance. I believe you will win the Tour in 2009.’ Never mind that Armstrong has not raced since he captured his seventh consecutive Tour in 2006. Never mind that the most attention we’ve paid to the sport since he last rode a bicycle was in 2007 when Floyd Landis had the Tour title stripped after failing drug tests.
This is something we know Armstrong can do. He is easily the best at what he does. At 36 years of age he is not over the hill. I’m sure cycling fans are excited, especially since this summer’s Tour de France provided no intrigue at all.
I couldn’t help but think of Brett Favre when I heard of Armstrong’s announcement. Many people weren’t sure Favre should/could play again this season after backing out of his brief retirement. Armstrong is challenging himself to ride a bike hundreds of grueling miles in one of sports toughest competitions.
Sure, a 40-year-old man can throw a football like Favre does every week. Not every one of those men can do it like Favre can. But riding a bike the way Armstrong will have to after a two-year retirement? Amazing.
Sit back, folks and watch. This un-retirement is going to be much more of a show than Favre’s. Heck, Armstrong has beaten cancer and still dominated his sport. He will always be much tougher than Favre. I’m sure Favre would agree. That’s no knock on Brett, but it’s the truth.
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Strange day for Gryphons athletics
Finally, smarter heads prevailed. Rocky Mount High and Northern Vance did not play football Friday night as Tropical Storm Hanna approached the state. If it were up to the Gryphons, the game would have been postponed much sooner than shortly after 3 p.m. Friday when the word came down that the game would be rescheduled to Oct. 2.
I’m not sure what the Northern Vance coaching staff/administration was thinking on this one. There’s no question the game could have/should have been played Thursday night, well before poor weather took over the Central and Eastern parts of the state. Safety should come first for these athletes, and I’m not just talking about on-the-field safety. There was no way that the Gryphons should have even had to think about getting on a bus and traveling dangerous highways. Not only the players, but think of all the parents who would have to travel to see their children play. It’s a nonconference high school football game. It’s not worth it.
Gryphons athletics director Mike Gainey has been in contact with sports editor Ben Jones and staff writer Matt LaWell this week. Gainey told Jones earlier in the week that he wanted the game to be moved up or postponed, but the Northern Vance folks had not done so. Gainey told LaWell over the phone Friday afternoon that if the Gryphons were going to travel to Henderson, they would’ve done so without cheerleaders. That was excellent thinking by Gainey, who obviously understood that less students traveling would be a good thing.
In the end, the teams share an open date, making the decision easy to reschedule. Too bad it took too long to make the right choice. I’m just glad the folks at Northern Vance finally came to their senses.
So the Gryphons used an ineligible player in their 43-14 victory over East Forsyth on Aug. 22? I was surprised, but these things do happen. It’s a shame Rocky Mount will have a “loss” on its record, but at least the infraction was caught before the season went any further. Imagine the fallout if this wasn’t uncovered until midseason.
I’m not excusing what happened, and I’m sure coach B.W. Holt, his staff and the athletics department are not happy about the violation, but the team has to, and will, move on. Rocky Mount will not lose seeding priority over the violation since it occurred during an endowment game. The fact is that the Gryphons are still undefeated on the field, and the team will move on without the ineligible player.
It’s a shame, but players in all sports are lost due to eligibility. It happens at every school whether the athlete is a Gryphon, Bulldog, Knight, Eagle, Jaguar, Firebird, etc. Coaches and parents can only do so much. It’s up to the student to earn the grades.
Finally, on an eventful day at Rocky Mount High, word came down that the Gryphons’ annual Easter baseball tournament will not be held in the spring for the first time in more than 30 years. Scheduling conflicts with Nash-Rocky Mount Schools Spring/Easter Break left the Gryphons without opportunity to book enough teams for the eight-team field.
This would have been a great tournament, especially with Rocky Mount as the defending 3-A state champions. I was looking forward to seeing if the Gryphons could have booked a prominent team from the state or the country to come in and give them and the other teams in the area some decent competition.
Well, maybe local baseball teams can get that full week at the beach they usually crave around that time. Or perhaps, not. I’m sure the coaches have other ideas. Get ready guys. You might not be playing at Rocky Mount, but you will probably be playing somewhere.
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Tarboro-Northern Nash observations
There’s not much to say here, but I’ll give it a try. Tarboro and Northern Nash couldn’t have been more opposite teams Thursday night in the Vikings’ 35-0 victory.
Here’s my scouting report on Tarboro without the Xs and Os: If you don’t have a good defensive line and speed at the linebacker position, don’t bother showing up against the Vikings. They run the ball very well. Counters, options, off-tackle runs … the Vikings can do it all. They are supremely talented at running back with Markel Pettaway, Damarius Harper and Jamal Farmer carrying the ball. Then there’s quarterback Jeremy Bellamy, who told me he played running back as a youngster before he began his high school career. He looked every bit the ballcarrier Thursday night when he gained 147 yards on the ground, including two back-breaking touchdown runs of 84 and 33 yards.
The Tarboro defense is quickly gaining a reputation as well after its second consecutive shutout. No one player stands out, but there are some solid players in the unit such as linebacker Sean Howard and defensive end Chris Morning. Morning had a fumble recovery Thursday night in addition to his constant pressure off the end. The defense told defensive coordinator A.B. Whitley to bring his popcorn to Northern Nash because it was going to put on a show. The Vikings did just that. Afterward, Whitley told congratulated them on a great performance and said, ‘I’m going home to get my popcorn.’
Northern Nash coach Chad Smith looked as dejected as I’ve seen him after a loss. Smith always carries himself as a gentleman, and Thursday night was no different. But you could see how the Knights’ most recent loss affected Smith on this evening. His face had shades of red after a defeat in which the Knights showed no improvement.
Northern Nash’s offense has to improve. The only thing going for it is senior Marc McCadden, but his body is taking a beating. I would even make a case that McCadden fumbled midway through the second half because he was tired.
Look for some big changes to occur on the Knights roster in the coming days. Smith said he will “do whatever it takes” to make things better for Northern Nash. He talked about pushing the players harder. Those that can handle the change will stay. Those that can’t, will not. Smith said the blame does not fall squarely on players, adding that the Knights’ coaching staff has to do better, too.
There does not seem to be a quick fix to the Knights’ woes, but performances like the one Thursday night are not fun for the players, coaches and supporters of the program to be a part of. Something has gotta change - soon.
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Post-Labor Day baseball thoughts
The New York Mets will not collapse again. I will collapse again if the Mets collapse again. Last season, my Amazin’s lost a seven-game lead to the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East division with 17 games remaining. It was a historic collapse, one that had not occurred in many years. The details make my body shake as I type.
This year will be different. Currently, the Mets hold a three-game lead over those Phillies. The two teams will meet for the final three times this weekend in New York. For New York, it is a chance to separate itself (but as we’ve learned - not completely) from Philadelphia in the standings.
The one thing that will keep the Mets afloat this season is its starting pitching. Last year the team did not have a dominant starter to stop the bleeding. A guy who could take the mound and say, ‘This is the day we maintain or increase our lead.’ The Mets have Johan Santana this season to do just that. The Mets have lost only two of the last 10 games Santana has started. The left-hander was not charged with a loss in either of those games. Sure, the Mets’ bullpen is as unstable as our economy and open for criticism like presidential candidates, but history cannot repeat itself. Not for my sake. I do not want my phone ringing constantly like it did last September, ‘Jessie, what happened to the Mets?’
Lightning struck once in New York. It was a loud boom that ultimately cost a manager and parts of his coaching staff their jobs. I sure hope there are no more storms headed toward Flushing, New York this month.
While everyone has their minds on football, I’m not through with baseball. Here are a few things to keep an eye on during the next three weeks:
How far will the Tampa Bay Rays go?
Are we seeing the beginning of the Chicago Cubs’ collapse? (There goes that word again).
What team(s) are we overlooking? There always seems to be a team that heats up in September and makes a run at the World Series. Remember the Colorado Rockies last season?
When will instant replay overturn/uphold a call in an important game?
Do the Yankees have a September run left in them?
Can the Red Sox pull off an unlikely repeat?
We probably had most of these questions in before the season started (except the Rays and Yankees). That’s what makes baseball great. Six months isn’t long enough sometimes to receive an answer.
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Locals make Twin Counties look good
Over the airwaves and on television sets across the country, the cities of Rocky Mount and Tarboro received publicity due to the performance of two of its former high school athletes.
Early Saturday, Virginia Tech defensive back Stephan Virgil, a 2005 graduate of Rocky Mount High, scooped up a fumble and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown in the Hokies’ 27-22 loss to East Carolina at Bank of America Stadium in Charlottte. The score was the first of Virgil’s collegiate career.
Virgil seemed to be at the right place at the right time all day long. He later scored on a two-point conversion when a teammate blocked an ECU extra-point attempt.
I left a message on Virgil’s cell phone after speaking with his mother Sandra. If he gives me a call back, I’ll be sure to pass along his thoughts on his performance and the Hokies’ tough loss.
Later Saturday night in Chapel Hill, former Tarboro High standout Shaun Draughnscored his first career touchdown in the Tar Heels’ victory over McNeese State. Draughn ran for 30 yards on seven carries. Draughn spent much of last season playing special teams for the Tar Heels. He was often listed second on the team’s depth chart at safety, but saw time in only two games at the position.
It seems as if Draughn is back at the position where he once terrorized Eastern Plains Conference opponents. The battle for the Tar Heels’ running back job is wide open and Draughn might just be the man to grab the top spot.
Nice job, Stephan and Shaun.
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Northern Nash/Greenville Conley observations
I thought Northern Nash was on its way to a victory Friday night against Greenville Conley. Defensively, the Knights were more than solid. They played a part in four Vikings fumbles (only one was recovered), blocked a punt, and gave their opponent little room to roam freely.
The hardest thing to teach a program of players is that effort does not always win ballgames. Playing with sound fundamentals is the difference between winning and losing. The Knights turned over the ball six times Friday night. A few of quarterback Tavis Richardson’s interceptions were not his fault, but there was enough blame to go around for the Knights’ three lost fumbles and array of penalties (11 for 105 yards).
It was surely a night of penalties for both teams. Before the Knights ran their first play from scrimmage an official threw a flag for a sideline warning. The Northern Nash offense huddled, called a play, and before they could get off the snap, the same sideline official threw another flag, this time for unsportsmanlike conduct. He apparently did not like what one of the Knights assistant coaches said about him throwing the first flag. It was such a flag fest early on that Northern Nash assistant coach/athletics director Dan Richwalski took off his headset and asked me, ‘Jessie, how many penalties have they called so far. Imagine if this were a game against Rocky Mount. Jeez, just let the kids play.”
I have noticed during the last two season that football officials are almost obsessed with the sideline warnings. Coaches spend meaningful parts of games telling their players to back up behind the white line. How about officials pay attention to holding, false starts, chop blocks and other penalties that actually have an affect on the game? I better stop now before I draw a fine. I’m sure all area coaches agree with me. They have better things to do than worry about earning a 15-yard penalty because one of their players’ toes crossed a white line. This is something I’m sure coaches want to say, but can’t. You’re welcome, coaches.
It was fun being on the field for another Friday night. I almost forgot how much I missed the way the gnats fly around your eyes, cover the back of your shirt and stick to the back of your neck. A shower never felt so good like the one after a few hours of Friday night football.
Former Northern Nash coach Richard Bunch is an assistant at Greenville Conley. He made his return to the school with the Vikings on Friday night. He shook hands with the Knights’ coaching staff, including Chad Smith, after the game. I did not get a chance to talk to Bunch, but it must be tough coming back to Death Valley. I guess everyone has moved on, which is all you can ask both parties to do.
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An awful Wolfpack start
Thank goodness there was enough work to be done in our office Thursday night because N.C. State’s opener against South Carolina was unwatchable. Neither team played well. South Carolina quarterback Tommy Beecher was so bad (four interceptions) he was replaced by a Smelley one (backup Chris Smelley).
The game was a turnover party, with each team committing four. Sure, N.C. State lacked the personnel to win the game, but they also lacked the fundamental skills to pull off the upset. There were poor snaps from center, bad throws by Daniel Evans and a fumble by Andre Brown.
Before Russell Wilson’s concussion - which has to make N.C. State players and fans wonder why they can’t catch a break - Wolfpack coach Tom O’Brien decided to platoon his QBs. As soon as that system was implemented the game was over. The score read 0-0 but at that point N.C. State’s night was done. The passing numbers were almost nonexistent (49 yards between three quarterbacks used). None of the wideouts gained any separation from the Gamecocks’ defensive backs. Third and long became the norm.
It was unbelievable that N.C. State only trailed by a field goal at the half. Maybe Wilson’s injury took something out of the team. To see the redshirt freshman carted off on a stretcher in the middle of his first career start was a scare. Players from both teams gathered near their sidelines. Many prayed. It looks like Wilson will recover (although concussions do not have a set healing time).
This was a game to forget, but the signs of a troubled Wolfpack season are there. More injuries, more doubt and another N.C. State loss.
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N.C. State Game 1: at South Carolina
Game No. 1 - N.C. State at South Carolina
Aug. 28, 2008
Williams-Brice Stadium - Columbia, S.C.
Starting Lineups:
N.C. State
QB - Russell Wilson
RB - Andre Brown
FB - Harrison Ritcher
WR - Jarvis Wilson
WR - Owen Spencer
TE - Anthony Hill
LT - Julian Williams
LG - John Bedics
C - Ted Larsen
RG - Meares Green
RT - Jerail McCuller
P - Bradley Pierson
PK - Josh Czajkowski
South Carolina
QB - Tommy Beecher
RB - Mike Davis
FB - Patrick DiMarco
WR - Kenny McKinley
WR - Dion LeCorn
WR - Moe Brown
LT - Hutch Eckerson
LG - Lemuel Jeanpierre
C - Garrett Anderson
RG - Heath Batchelor
RT - Justin Sorensen
P - Spencer Lanning
PK - Ryan Succop
Pregame Notes: Both schools were charter members of the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1953. N.C. State has a 26-24-4 lead in the series, which dates back to 1900. The squads have not met since N.C. State beat South Carolina, 10-0 in 1999 - the Gamecocks’ first year under coach Lou Holtz. N.C. State redshirt freshman Russell Wilson will make his first collegiate start. Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier is 17-1 in season-openers as a college football coach.
Radio Links: Click here for the links to N.C. State’s broadcast.
Live Box Score: The direct link is here.
Around the ACC: For scores from around the ACC, go here.
Final Score: South Carolina 34, N.C. State 0
Postgame Notes: The lone bright spot for the Wolfpack’s offense was senior Andre Brown’s 101 rushing yards (21 carries). Even Brown was not without fault. He fumbled in the first quarter. The Wolfpack is off to a poor start once again with turnovers. They coughed up or threw the ball away 32 times last season. Four turnovers to start the season is not a good start.
Extra Thoughts: The Wolfpack’s quarterback situation is no clearer than it was a week ago. Starter Russell Wilson is likely to miss time after suffering a concussion. Before Wilson’s injury, coach Tom O’Brien platooned the redshirt freshman with fifth-year senior Daniel Evans, who was ineffective. Harrison Beck saw time in the fourth quarter. There will surely be more questions about the position this week. The soap opera continues.
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Off for a week
Jessie H. Nunery be away from work for a week, so until he returns, please check out sports editor Ben Jones’ blog here and sports writer Matt LaWell’s blog here.
Thanks for reading.
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Jessie, well stated.
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Southwest has the most speed that it has ever had but they dont have the size as they have had in many years
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My wife and daughter only went to the Mudcats game because of Cattails and it was really first class.
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Tonight’s the night! See you there!
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