Associated Press HS Football Poll - Week 5

Class 4-A

1. Charlotte Independence (9) 4-0 126 1
2. Matthews Butler (4) 3-0 119 3
3. Fayetteville Britt 4-0 100 4
4. Jamestown Ragsdale 4-0 88 5
5. Richmond County 3-1 70 2
6. West Forsyth 4-0 57 7
7. Wake Forest-Rolesville 4-0 56 6
8. Mallard Creek 3-1 31 9
9. Greensboro Dudley 3-1 22 10
10. Winston-Salem Reynolds 4-0 11 _
Others receiving votes: Greensboro Page 10, Southeast Raleigh 6, Lake Norman 5, Raleigh Leesville Road 5, East Mecklenburg 3, Greensboro Grimsley 2, Asheville Reynolds 2, Harnett Central 1, Southern Pines Pinecrest 1.

Class 3-A

1. West Rowan (13) 4-0 130 1
2. Eastern Alamance 3-0 102 2
3. Shelby Crest 3-0 89 4
4. Lenoir Hibriten 4-0 77 8
5. Havelock 3-0 70 6
6. Belmont South Point 3-1 49 9
7. Rocky Mount 2-1 44 3
8. Hertford County 4-0 35 _
9. R-S Central 4-0 18 _
10. Asheville 1-1 16 _
Others receiving votes: Fayetteville Byrd 14, Charlotte Catholic 13, Kannapolis Brown 11, Waynesville Tuscola 11, Northern Guilford 7, Southern Nash 6, West Craven 5, Pikeville Aycock 5, Western Alamance 4, Kings Mountain 3, Wilson Hunt 3, Marvin Ridge 2, Fayetteville Westover 1.

Class 2-A

1. Reidsville (10) 4-0 126 1
2. Newton-Conover (2) 4-0 113 2
3. Tarboro (1) 4-0 107 3
4. SouthWest Edgecombe 4-0 89 5
5. Kinston 4-0 69 7
6. East Duplin 3-0 57 8
7. Canton Pisgah 3-1 35 4
8. Shelby 2-1 28 6
9. Pittsboro Northwood 4-0 15 _
10. Burnsville Mountain Heritage 3-0 14 _
(tie) Catawba Bandys 3-0 14 _
Others receiving votes: Lincolnton 12, East Bladen 9, Jacksonville Northside 6, South Granville 6, Winston-Salem Carver 6, Louisburg 5, East Lincoln 3, East Burke 1.

Class 1-A

1. Mt. Airy (7) 4-0 124 2
2. Albemarle (6) 4-0 121 1
3. Williamston 3-0 85 3
4. Elkin 3-0 80 4
5. Hendersonville 3-0 79 5
6. Southwest Onslow 4-0 76 6
7. East Surry 3-0 42 9
8. Warsaw Kenan 2-1 29 8
9. Monroe 4-0 23 _
10. Manteo 3-0 21 _
Others receiving votes: Cherokee 8, Wallace-Rose Hill 8, Murphy 6, Robbinsville 6, Bessemer City 4, South Stanly 2, Pender County 1.

Durham Co. Stadium has come a long way

DURHAM - As a member of the Rocky Mount Senior High marching band, I got my first look at Durham County Memorial Stadium in Sept. of 1973 when the Gryphons made a trip there to play Durham Hillside in football.

I remember that the slopes on the side of the stadium were so steep that we almost had to slide by the seat of our black wool pants to get down to the field to perform at halftime.

Has that place come a long way since then!

Now primarily the home of Northern Durham's football teams, Durham County has plunked down $8 million for some major renovations to the 50-year-old stadium - coming in three phases. Rocky Mount's football fans, who last saw the Gryphons play there in 1999, observed much of Phase I's upgrades Saturday evening when they arrived to watch the Gryphons take on the Knights.

Phase I, which began this past April, consists of an artificial turf football and soccer playing field, new scoreboard, storage facility and a high school level track and field facility. The scoreboard and field are in and it was played on for the very first time Saturday night.

It is the only artificial turf (field turf) high school field in eastern North Carolina. They are several in the western part of the state - including every high school in Buncombe County (T.C. Roberson, Asheville, A.C. Reynolds, Enka, Owen, Erwin, North Buncombe).

Phase II will consist of new outbuildings for the south grandstand containing public restrooms, concessions buildings and ticket booths. Also, this phase will implement landscaping improvements and new paved ADA parking spaces for both north and south grandstands.

Phase III, which begins after the conclusion of the 2009 football season, will see the renovation of the existing locker rooms, public restrooms and concession stands within the north and south grandstands as well as the construction of a new, expanded press box facility.

The press box will be ADA compliant and include elevator access, open and enclosed viewing areas, two coaches’ boxes, media/broadcast booth, announcer/scoring booth, and video deck. All enclosed spaces will be heated and air conditioned.

Amen to that! It was quite a steep climb to get to that current press box.

With all the changes due to be completed by the beginning of next season, the 8,000-seat facility would make a fine site for a state championship football contest(s) should the NCHSAA want to bring it back to Durham.

Duke University dropped out of the current rotation to host state championship games a few years back, but this cozy and future state-of-the-art stadium would be just perfect for the 1-As or 2-As state finals.

Former Gryphon on Campbell's roster

Emmanuel Davis, one of Rocky Mount's most prolific defensive players the last few seasons, is on the roster at Campbell University and he is expected to contribute to the Camels' program at linebacker.

Davis, who now prefers to be called Manny, will see plenty of action. The 5-foot-11, 230-pound redshirt freshman transferred from Elon, where he was hoping to play with former Gryphon Terrell Hudgins.

But that didn't work out.

To refresh your memory, he was a two-year varsity letter winner and a two-time All-Conference and All-Area selection. He won the 2007 Rocky Mount Telegram and NEW 6 Conference Defensive Player of the Year. His senior season he tallied 106 tackles with five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He concluded his career with 258 tackles, 11 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and two interceptions.

Davis was also an All-Conference wrestler and he was named Rocky Mount's Male Athlete of the Year as a senior.

Campbell opens its season at home Sept. 5 against Methodist.

Winningest N.C. high school football programs

I found this big high school football tidbit on a message board recently.

Someone compiled, percentage-wise, the 30 winningest high school football programs in the state. There should be no surprise that the No. 1 spot belongs to Richmond County. Charlotte Independence is not listed, which surprised me.

But I am not surprised that new Big East Conference member Wilson Hunt is on the list at No. 24. B.W. Holt's old stomping ground Starmount made the list at No. 20. Well over half of the Rams' wins are on Holt's ledger.

The record in parenthesis is the school's 2008 football season mark.

Where does Rocky Mount fall in relation to all this?

Well, after the Gryphons' win Saturday at Northern Durham, which is No. 3 on the all-time list, to start the school's 56th season of football, Rocky Mount's all-time record is 366-217-13 with a winning percentage of .6241.

I imagine we'd make the top 50, if the list went that far - not bad considering that over 350 schools play football in this state!

N.C.'s Winningest High School Football Schools

1. Richmond Sr., NC---(12-2)------.8224: 387-82-5
2. Clinton, NC---------(8-6)-------.7366: 490-173-7
3. Durham Northern, NC----(5-7)---.7325: 449-164-0
4. SW Onslow, NC------(9-3)------.7313: 283-104-0
5. A.L. Brown, NC------(13-3)-----.7303: 463-165-19
6. Wallace-Rose Hill, NC---(2-10)---.7239: 435-165-3
7. Brevard, NC---------(6-6)------.7151: 476-186-12
8. Shelby, NC---------(9-4)-------.7053: 677-268-51
9. Chrltte Cntry Day, NC---(8-3)---.7047: 398-165-6
10. Greensboro Page, NC---(9-5)---.7028: 379-158-8
11. T.W. Andrews, NC----(8-4)-----.7012: 343-145-4
12. Tuscola, NC-------(11-2)-------.6947: 566-244-17
13. Fuquay-Varina, NC----(11-2)----.6811: 359-167-4
14. Sylva-Webster, NC---(closed)---.6803: 205-95-5
15. Forest Hills, NC------(11-4)-----.6796: 339-159-3
16. Brlngtn Cummings, NC----(4-8)--.6755: 341-163-3
17. West Craven, NC----(15-1)-----.6754: 258-124-0
18. Swain Cty, NC--------(5-7)-----.6753: 448-211-17
19. Mt. Airy, NC-------(16-0)-------.6749: 562-266-18
20. Starmount, NC-----(11-4)------.6728: 329-159-4
21. Reidsville, NC--------(16-0)----.6726: 628-296-38
22. Maiden, NC----------(6-6)-----.6689: 478-231-22
23. Thomasville, NC------(16-0)----.6681: 586-283-32
23. Farmville Ctrl, NC-----(1-10)----.6670: 295-147-1
24. Wilson Hunt, NC------(4-8)-----.6628: 230-117-0
25. Hickory, NC---------(6-6)------.6606: 603-304-24
26. Belmont South Point, NC-----(13-2)-----.6554: 295-153-9
27. Havelock, NC---------(8-4)----.6553: 372-194-7
28. Charlotte Cth, NC----(11-3)----.6523: 391-207-6
29. Swanannoa Owen, NC-------------(4-7)----.6504: 364-195-3
30. Concord, NC---------(3-7)-----.6459: 556-298-30

Big East Football Roundup - Week 1

New Northern Nash head coach Mickey Crouch listens to quarterback Tavis Richardson. (Photo/David Hahula)

(NOTE: I will run this each weekend while the Big East 3-A Conference teams are playing non-conference opponents.)

WILSON BEDDINGFIELD 29, NORTHERN NASH 14

Wilson Beddingfield scored 23 unanswered points in this season-opening contest at Death Valley for both squads.

Beddingfield senior quarterback Lance Price was 12-for-25 for 198 yards and three touchdowns, while Bruin back Monteith Lucas ran for 126 yards on 18 carries.

Kris Horton led the Northern rushing attack with 68 yards on 15 carries including a 16-yard TD run in the first period. Knights QB Tavis Richardson was 2-of-4 for 25 yards.

TARBORO 39, NASH CENTRAL 0

The passing game and some crucial Nash Central turnovers early got Tarboro a 27-0 lead at halftime in the Dawg Pound Friday.

Tarboro QB Markel Pettaway hit Lekevious Battle with scoring passes of 57 and 43 yards in the second period to push the Vikings to their big lead at intermission.

Pettaway added a 60-yard keeper for a score before halftime.

Nash Central managed just 137 yards of offense on the night and just six first downs. Dequan Battle led the Bulldog rushing attack with 42 yards on 12 carries.

SOUTHERN NASH 37, FRANKLINTON 28

The Firebirds' Terron Huffman ran for 122 yards and two touchdowns (40, 45) in a contest that was marred by a fight on the field between the two teams. Southern piled up 379 yards of total offense. Tracy Coppedge also scored twice in the game (8, 15).

Southern's fumbles cost them their large lead in the contest. The Firebirds layed the ball on the ground nine times and they lost it four times.

Penalites also made a mess of the contest. All told, a combined 233 yards of penalites were flagged on both squads.

WILSON FIKE 14, D.H. CONLEY 8

Fike trailed 8-0 at halftime, but got solid running performances from Tyler Newman and Lawrence Hardy to get the victory in Greenville.

Newman ran in from 12 yards out and Fike's DeAndreye Hill threw a two-point conversion to tie it at 8-all in the third period.

Hardy capped the comeback later in third when when he bulled his way in from a yard out.

Newman, a sophomore transfer from Kansas who had earlier in the week been on the JV sqaud, led Fike with 77 yards on 11 carries, while Hardy had 19 carries for 73 yards.

WILSON HUNT 42, EASTERN WAYNE 14

Hunt head coach Randy Raper, in his 19th season, said he wanted more from his running game this season with his salvaged Pro-I offense and he got in Goldsboro Friday night.

Junior Caleb Bass rushed for a career-high 201 yards - 128 of it coming in the first half, in the battle of the Warriors. Behind Bass' running, Hunt led 20-0 by the end of the first quarter.

He had 14 carries and scored three touchdowns - including a 90-yard scoring bolt.

Cameron Williams helped out Hunt's running attack with 117 yards on 14 carries and two scores.

Goodwin doesn't sign with White Sox

Area high school baseball fans may have gotten mixed signals about the baseball fate of former Gryphon center fielder Brian Goodwin Sunday evening.

On FSN's broadcast of the 2009 Aflac All-American All-Star Baseball Game in San Diego, the commentator, when a list of former game MVPs were listed in a graphic on screen, said "Brian Goodwin of the White Sox."

It got one thinking - had Brian, the Game's MVP in Los Angeles in 2008, been one of those last-minute signees with the Major League Baseball signing deadline set for Monday?

I got a few calls asking me if Brian had indeed made a deal with Chicago.

So I went to the No. 1 source on all-things Brian - his dad Sylvester.

He and his wife Brenda saw the All-Star game and also heard the "White Sox comment" from the broadcast. And they were slightly puzzled, too. Why didn't they say " North Carolina or UNC"?

The elder Goodwin told me that Brian had not signed with anyone and was headed to Chapel Hill the next day.

Goodwin, considered unsignable by most clubs due to his solid commitment to UNC and the possible high signing price tag being suggested to clubs by his advisor Scott Boras, went in the 17th round of the MLB Draft back in June to the White Sox.

I guess that case is closed!

GOODWIN HELPS MIDLAND TO TITLE - Brian spent his summer playing for the Midland (Oh.) Redskins - one of the top amateur teams in the nation. Midland proved that last week as it won the Connie Mack World Series in Farmington, N.M. with a 7-1 victory over the Dallas DBAT Mustangs.

The American Amateur Baseball Congress is the sponsoring organization of the Connie Mack World Series. The A.A.B.C. provides activities for youth and young adult baseball players through seven league divisions in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Connie Mack regular season play allows players ages 16 to 18 to participate.

The World Series has been played in Farmington (pop. approx. 44,000) since 1965 and is played at the 5,000-seat Ricketts Park.

Goodwin went 1-for-3 in the title game and scored a run, though he reached base four times (hit, hit by pitch, error, walk). He was one of six Redskin players to make the event's All-Tournament team.

Midland claimed its 11th national championship with the victory and its second in the last three years.

Perhaps it's only right that the CMWS is played in Farmington. Farmington High School, a 4-A school with about 1,500 students, has won 13 baseball state championships - including four straight from 2005 to 2008. The school has won 47 state titles overall.

WZAX 99.3 FM will carry a few Nash County games

- RM head coach Dickie Schock

Looks like WZAX 99.3 FM will be carrying high school football games this season, after all.

I had heard the station wasn't going to do a "Game of the Week" this season, but apparently my sources were wrong. I ran into its play-by-play guy Paul Andre at the Big East Conference's coaching meeting last week and he provided me a list of games the station, now known as Jammin' 99.3, will be broadcasting.

As a great number of its advertisers are in Wilson County, a great many of the 12 games it will carry will involve Wilson County high schools.

Here is the schedule, which includes three Rocky Mount games with new head coach Dickie Schock. All the Nash County games are in bold:

WZAX 99.3 "Game of the Week" Schedule

Aug. 21 - Tarboro at Nash Central
Aug. 28 - Wilson Fike at Wilson Hunt
Sept. 4 - Wilson Beddingfield at Southern Nash
Sept. 11 - Wilson Beddingfield at Wilson Fike
Sept. 18 - Wilson Hunt at Wilson Beddingfield
Sept. 25 - Eastern Wayne at Wilson Fike
Oct. 2 - Greenville Rose at Rocky Mount
Oct. 9 - Wilson Beddingfield at SW Edgecombe
Oct. 16 - Wilson Hunt at Rocky Mount
Oct. 23 - Rocky Mount at Wilson Fike
Oct. 30 - Nash Central at Wilson Hunt
Nov. 6 - Wilson Hunt at Wilson Fike

WHIG-TV releases "Game of the Week" slate

WHIG-TV will carry a full slate of high school football games this fall as part of its "Game of the Week" series.

Here is a list of the Friday night contests that you can see taped-delayed each Saturday morning following the game. If you can't get WHIG-TV (Suddenlink Ch. 17), then tune in on line at http://www.whigtv.com/.

Mike Hennen will provide the play-by-play, while Chris Mitchell will handle the color analyst duties.

Rocky Mount, which will appear on the show four times, has its games bold faced on the schedule.

Aug. 28 - Smithfield-Selma at Nash Central
Sept. 4 - North Edgecombe at SW Edgecombe
Sept. 11 - Tarboro at North Edgecombe
Sept. 18 - SW Edgecombe at Rocky Mount
Sept. 25 - WHIG-TV Studio Show - season recap/conference preview
Oct. 2 - Southern Nash at Nash Central
Oct. 9 - Nash Central at Rocky Mount
Oct. 16 - Northern Nash at Southern Nash
Oct. 23 - Tarboro at SW Edgecombe
Oct. 30 - Southern Nash at Rocky Mount
Nov. 6 - Rocky Mount at Northern Nash

As for live radio broadcasts of county teams, only Rocky Mount's football games will be on the air this season.

For the second straight year, WEED "Old School" AM 1390 will carry all Gryphon games each Friday at 7 p.m. beginning Aug. 28. Wes Bradshaw will provide the play-by-play action while Tony Doughtie will handle the color duties.

Post 58 Baseball Awards

Coleman-Pitt American Legion Post 58 honored its baseball team Sunday evening with a banquet to celebrate the success of the team and to dole out awards to some of its deserving players.

Post 58 (20-6), Area I champions for the first time since 1986, had five of its players honored.

The team's pitching award went to Brandon Denton. Denton will be a senior at Northern Nash this fall.

The hitting award went to Tyler Clark. He hopes to follow in the Hall of Fame footsteps of his dad Greg as he will enter N.C. Wesleyan in a few weeks.

Cameron Ramsey was honored with the team's Coaches Award. Ramsey will be a part of Wake Tech's first-ever baseball team next spring.

The MVP Award was shared by Xavier Macklin and Ben Fish. No surprise there. The "Bash Brothers" provided the power that led to the team to score nearly 13 runs a game in its run to the N.C. State Championship tournament.

Macklin will return to N.C. A&T for his sophomore season, while Fish will start his freshman campaign at Campbell University.

Whit at work!

Wake Forest freshman center Whit Barnes works out with QB Ted Stachitas during the Demon Deacons' first day of practice Friday. Notice the buzz cut Whit is sporting. Wake's barber took this shot of the former Gryphon All-Stater.

Schock replaced at Orange High

Rocky Mount head football coach Dickie Schock's shoes have been filled at Orange High School.

And they didn't have to go far to find him. Just 17 miles down I-85.

Former Graham head coach Pat Moser has accepted the head football coaching position with the Panthers.

Moser, 44, has suffered through several years of health problems since stepping down at Graham in 2004. He led Graham to consecutive NCHSAA 1-A state championships in 1999 and 2000.

He was 71-24 in his eight seasons at Graham.

New men on campus

(Photos/David Hahula) - click on pictures to enlarge

Here are Rocky Mount's new men on campus - or should I say, gridiron.

In the top photo, new head Gryphon football coach Dickie Schock gives out some instruction during Monday's practice - Day 2 of the 2009 preseason. The offense will get most of Schock's attention this season as offensive coordinator Jason Battle will not be returning to the staff this season.

In the bottom photo, new assistant coach Elbert Thomas (red shorts) has a talk with potential offensive linemen. Thomas, who most recently was the head coach at West Montgomery, will guide the offensive line.

Ten questions with Dickie Schock

So you Rocky Mount football fans could to get to know new head coach Dickie Schock a bit better, I posed 10 questions for him to answer - five about the football program and five about him personally.

Here are his responses - in italics!

1. Will you be bringing in any assistant coaches with you? If so, are any on board yet?

Hopefully. Nothing is finalized yet.

2. What is the biggest thing you have learned in your two weeks on the job about the program?

There's never enough time to do everything you want to do. There's barely enough time to do the things you have to do. So Prioritize.

3. The most-often asked question I have gotten from RM fans since you were hired is "will he pass more than BW?" OK, will you? Do you embrace the passing game more than BW did?

Embrace winning. Running or throwing is far less important.

4. Does having a complete rookie starting offensive line your biggest concern of 2009?

No. My biggest concerns are filling out the coaching staff and getting to know our players and what they do best.

5. What do you plan to coach this fall? You had the "D" and special teams last time you were here and you were OC at WF-R. So what will you do here?

I will run the offense. The defensive side of the ball is in good shape staff-wise. Coach (J.J.) Jones and Coach (Kent) Cox called the defense last year and did a great job. Coach (Gerald) Costen is over there to keep them straight. Coach (Alan) Hess is an asset on special teams, so that leaves me with the offense.

6. Now some to some personal stuff. What are your favorite professional football, basketball and baseball teams?

Raiders, Knicks, Reds.

7. You've heard this one before, but I always find the answers interesting. If you could host a dinner party of five and anyone, alive or dead, could attend, what four persons would you invite and why?

No time for dinner parties until after the season. By then, I'll know whether to invite Lombardi or Bryant - or maybe both.

8. What is your favorite movie of all-time?

The books are always better - "To Kill a Mockingbird."

9. Who are your all-time favorite actor and actress?

I'm not that interested in movies.

10. If you were stuck on a desert island with a portable DVD player with one DVD of one of the episodes from a TV classic, what show would it be?

Probably an episode of NCIS, though it's hardly a classic.

Nash County Post 58's last hurrah

(Photo/David Hahula) - click on picture to enlarge

Nash County Post 58's players (above) welcome home Collins Cuthrell and Xavier Macklin to home plate after Macklin slamed a two-run home run in the third inning of its game Sunday with Shelby Post 82 - a loser's bracket contest of the N.C. American Legion State Tournament held at Greenville's Guy Smith Stadium.

The homer gave Post 58 a 2-1 lead.

Sadly, they were the only runs Post 58 would get as it would give up a two-run shot later in the game in its 3-2 loss to Shelby. Macklin's dinger was his 12th of the season despite playing in just 16 games. Post 58's season ended with a 20-6 record.

In its opener Saturday, Post 58 suffered a 5-4 loss, despite being struck out 15 times. Macklin and Ben Fish both homered in the game.

NASH COUNTY POST 58
SCHEDULE/RESULTS

June 7 - @ New Bern - L, 14-4 - (0-1, 0-0)
June 11 - @ Kinston - W, 7-2 - (1-1, 0-0)
June 14 - EDENTON - W, 15-6 - 2-1, 1-0)
June 17 - @ Tarboro - W, 28-3 - (3-1, 2-0)
June 18 - WILSON - W, 12-2 - (4-1, 3-0)
June 19 - @ Ahoskie - W, 10-8 - (5-1, 4-0)
June 20 - @ Wilson - W, 14-3 - (6-1, 5-0)
June 21 - @ Edenton - L, 12-10 - (6-2, 5-1)
June 22 - AHOSKIE - W, 12-11 - (7-2, 6-1)
June 25 - TARBORO - W, 26-1 - (8-2, 7-1)

PLAYOFFS

Round 1 - Area One East
June 30 - PITT CO. #39 - W, 9-3 - (9-2)
July 1 - @ Pitt County #39 - W, 10-0 (10-2)
July 2 - PITT CO. #39 - W, 12-2 (11-2)

Round 2 - Area One East
July 6 - EDENTON #40 - W, 25-6 (12-2)
July 7 - @ Edenton #40 - W, 17-5 (13-2)
July 8 - EDENTON #40 - W, 6-4 (14-2)

Area I East finals
July 12 - WILSON #13 - L, 14-9 (14-3)
July 14 - @ Wilson #13 - L, 6-5 (14-4)
July 15 - WILSON #13 - W, 32-5 (15-4)
July 16 - @ Wilson #13 - W, 16-4 (16-4)
July 17 - WILSON #13 - W, 11-10 (17-4)

Area I finals
July 18 - CARY #67 - W, 15-0 (18-4)
July 19 - @Cary #67 - W, 7-6 (19-)4)
July 20 - CARY #67 - W, 8-5 (20-4)

N.C. State Tournament
July 25 - MOORESVILLE #66 - L, 5-4 (20-5)
July 26 - SHELBY #82 - L, 3-2 (20-6)

Season Complete

Dudley's star QB could have been a Gryphon

GREENSBORO - You just never know who you are going to see at a high school football game - especially one with statewide appeal like the annual East-West All-Star Football Game. The fans in the stands represent mostly the coaching staffs of the schools that the players on the field represent and their family and friends.

I was speaking to Martha Cobb, wife of SouthWest Edgecombe head coach Raymond Cobb who served as head coach of the East, near the main entrance of Jamieson Stadium Wednesday evening when in walked two characters from my past that immediately recognized.

James Wright and Ricky Lewis were the guys. Wright was a class behind me and is brother of Carolina Stallions head coach Michael Wright (who played in the 1970 game). The other, Lewis, had been going to church with me since we both were six. We graduated together from RMHS in 1976.

I had seen Lewis sparingly over the years, but when I approached him, I told him that I had heard about the death of his mother (age 89) recently and gave him my condolences.

On a lighter note, I later asked what in the world brought him here to the game. He replied, "to see his son play!"

Then the wheels began rolling in my head - and I then blurted out - 'your son is Ricky Lewis Jr.?'

He said, "one in the same."

The senior Lewis had gone to N.C. A&T after graduating from RMHS, I knew that. But I had no idea he was still in the area.

In case you don't know, Ricky Lewis Jr., at quarterback, led Greensboro Dudley to the last two NCHSAA 3-AA state football championships. I knew that, of course. I even watched him beat Charlotte Catholic in their first title game in Chapel Hill in 2007. He was the AP's first-team QB on its 2008 All-State team. But I never connected the two. I figured Jr.'s dad would be a bit younger than us - a spry 51!

But Jr. is the last of three Lewis kids. I never took that into account.

I kidded Sr., who is a counselor at Smith High School in Greensboro, that if he had stayed in Rocky Mount, Jr. could have possibly brought his alma mater a title.

He responded, "he still can. He's going to A&T in the fall."

Hahula, Lee play vital roles in All-Star Game Wednesday

Former Gryphons Nick Hahula (top) and Torey Lee, playing for the East squad, are introduced to the crowd at the 61st NCCA East-West All-Star Football Game Wednesday in Greensboro. The East won the game 6-0. (Photos/David Hahula)

GREENSBORO - Both former Rocky Mount football standouts Nick Hahula and Torey Lee said they had the time of their lives playing for SouthWest Edgecombe football coach Raymond Cobb's East squad at the NCCA East-West All-Star Football Game Wednesday night.

Both played vital roles in the East's win in the event (a 6-0 victory over the West) before an announced crowd of 8,643 at Grimsley High's Jamieson Stadium.

Lee, playing at left guard, helped make holes for the East backs on their only scoring drive of the night - a 13-play, 71-play drive that culminated in a 5-yard scoring run by Chapel Hill's Steven Moore with 9:11 left in the game.

Hahula, who handled the night's kicking duties, missed the ensuing PAT (blocked), but seconds later, he buried the kickoff into the end zone that penned the West at its 20. Twice more in the quarter, Hahula kicked punts that took all the steam out of a West comeback drive. He nailed kicks of 49 and 42 yards on the East's last two possessions to keep the West bottled up.

Apparently former teammates Kendall Noble and Nazir Levine set the winning tone for the pair. The two offensive linemen, now playing at Norfolk State and Winston-Salem State, respectively, helped the East start their now three-game winning streak with a 22-14 victory in the 2007 game.

Hahula will be kicking for N.C. Central University in the fall, while Lee will be attending a new institution, the Central Carolina Sports Academy, in Guilford County. He will attend Guilford Tech for his classes and play football for the Academy in hopes of transferring to a four-year school.

Hahula and Lee are the 45th and 46th players to represent Rocky Mount High School in the contest (including current RMHS assistant principal Linwood Weeks who played in the 1980 game). They are also the fifth and sixth players selected under former head football coach B.W. Holt. Along with Noble and Levine, the other two Holt players who have played were Robert Hart and Terrell Hudgins (2005).

Big East 3-A Conference coaches to meet Aug. 12

The new Big East 3-A Conference will have its sports coaches meet for the first time on Wednesday, Aug. 12 at Hunt High School.

During the gathering the league's football coaches will meet with the media and talk about the upcoming season. They will also make the preseason picks on who will end up on top of the heap once the season is over.

There will be four new head coaches in the league this season - Rocky Mount's Dickie Schock, Wilson Fike's Kim Brown, Northern Nash's Mickey Crouch and Hunt's Randy Raper.

Southern Nash's Brian Foster and Nash Central's Kevin Crudup are the only coaches returning from last season. And perhaps there is nothing new about Raper. After all, he may be coming up on his 20th season at Hunt.

NEW 6 Conference's final hurrah

By Paul Durham

Wilson Times

GREENSBORO - The now defunct 3-A NEW 6 Conference celebrated one final hurrah on the East sidelines of the 61st annual N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-Star football game in Greensboro Wednesday.

Leading the East was head coach Raymond Cobb of SouthWest Edgecombe, who had on his staff three former NEW 6 rival coaches in Brian Foster, head coach at Southern Nash; Grover Battle, an assistant at Northern Nash; and Greene Central's Kenneth Grantham, formerly head coach at Nash Central.

"All of us have been together in the NEW 6 the past few years," Cobb said. "We've got a great staff. We've met a lot and put a lot of time into it. We feel like we've picked some high-quality character kids and that's the key to it."

Cobb ran the offense with help from Grantham, who coached the offensive line. Jimmy Williams of East Wake and Ken Whitehurst of D.H. Conley directed the tight ends. Foster was the defensive coordinator while Battle handled the line. Whitehurst and Williams coached the linebackers and secondary.

"We did like we do at SouthWest," Cobb said. "We worked on both sides of the ball."

Except this time, the former NEW 6 coaches were working together.

"I think it's been fun. I've always thought they were good guys and they care about the kids and that's important to me," said Foster, who was chosen to participate in last year's game but declined for personal reasons.

Grantham expressed mild surprise at his first experience as an East-West coach after 18 years in the coaching ranks, including six as a head coach.

"It's a honor, No. 1, to be selected especially with the number of years I've coached. I'm still a young guy," Grantham commented. "It'll be good to reconnect with all those guys from Nash County and the NEW 6."

The familiarity extended to the East roster as five players from The Wilson Times readership area, including three from the former NEW 6, will play: Southern Nash's T.J. Batchelor, Fike's Rashad Parker, SouthWest Edgecombe's Marquis Hines as well as Jumal Rolle from Beddingfield and DaRon Tripp of Greene Central. Three more NEW 6 players -- Nash Central's Danny Allen and Nick Hahula and Torey Lee of Rocky Mount -- were on the team.

"I'm was just honored to be coaching with them," Battle said. "I think we've had pretty good crowd of athletes and kids and the coaches are just outstanding."

Cobb planed on bringing his wishbone offense to Greensboro and Parker got a prominent role. Ryan Hill of West Brunswick was the East starter at quarterback.

Defensively, Foster had to work around such rule changes as no blitzing and playing an odd front.

"It definitely gave the offense the upper hand but was an all-star game," reminded Foster.

Foster pointed to his defensive line, with players such as Fayetteville Jack Britt's Ralph Bonner and Havelock's Deylan Buntyn, along with the linebacking corps featuring Raleigh Leesville Road's Mark Walker, Justin Rodgers of Bunn and Danile Collins of Holly Springs.

Foster added the defense would certainly find a place for Rolle, of whom Foster echoed Beddingfield head coach Tyrone Johnson's sentiments: "That kid can play!"

"We've had some really, really, really good kids," Foster related. "It's amazing when you talk to principals and hear what some of these kids have done."

The players arrived in Greensboro on Thursday and two-a-day practices began Friday. Players took in the all-star basketball games Monday and soccer games Tuesday. Despite the relaxed atmosphere, the East players and coaches were all business in attempting for its third straight win which started when the East ended the West's five-game winning streak in 2007.

"I tell you what, I've talked to all of them this summer," Cobb said of his players. "They all sounded so positive, all claim to have been working hard and staying in shape. ... We've became one in a quick short time. I think this crowd's worked hard."

Nash County starts its state title drive Saturday

(Photo/David Hahula)

GREENVILLE - East Carolina University's Clark-LeClair Stadium will serve as the venue for the 2009 American Legion North Carolina Baseball State Tournament that will run from Saturday, July 24 to Wednesday, July 29.

Pitt County Post 39 (J.H. Rose and D.H. Conley are its primary representative schools) will serve as host of the event and it will have its baseball team in the field - representing Area I - one of four Areas the state is divided in. This is the 10th year the tournament has existed in an eight-team, double elimination format.

A total event ticket package (15 games) is available for $30, while session tickets (first two morning or second two evening) for each day are available for $10 per session.

Saturday's opening day will have game 1 at 9:30 a.m. - Shelby Post 82 vs. Wilmington Post 10. In game 2 at 12:30 p.m. - Duplin-Sampson Post 22 vs. Rowan County Post 342. In game 3 at 4:30 p.m. - Nash County Post 58 vs. Mooresville Post 66. At 7:30 p.m. in game 4 - Cherryville Post 100 vs. Pitt County Post 39.

The winner of the tournament will advance to the Southeast regionals at Riley Park in Sumter, S.C. with winner there advancing to the American Legion World Series in Fargo, N.D.


2009 N.C. American Legion State Baseball Tournament
July 25-29
Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium
East Carolina University, Greenville

Saturday

Game 1: 9:30 a.m. - Shelby Post 82 vs. Wilmington Post 10
Game 2: 12:30 p.m. - Duplin-Sampson Post 22 vs. Rowan County Post 342
Game 3: 4:30 p.m. - Nash County Post 58 vs. Mooresville Post 66
Game 4: 7:30 p.m. - Cherryville Post 100 vs. Pitt County Post 39 (host)

Sunday

Game 5: 3 p.m. - Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 3 - at Guy Smith Stadium
Game 6: 7 p.m. - Loser of Game 2 vs. Loser of Game 4 - at Guy Smith Stadium
Game 7: 3 p.m. - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 3
Game 8: 7 p.m. - Winner of Game 2 vs. Winner of Game 4

Monday

Game 9: 12:30 p.m. - Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 7
Game 10: 4:30 p.m. - Loser of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 5
Game 11: 7:30 p.m. - Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8

Tuesday

Game 12: 3 p.m. - Loser of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 9
Game 13: 7:30 p.m. - Winner of Game 12 vs. Winner of 11

Wednesday

Game 14: 1 p.m. Championship game - Winner of Game 13 vs. Winner of Game 12
Game 15: if needed, 45 minutes after Game 14

NOTE 1: If possible, the teams involved in games 12 & 13 will not be matched against opponents they have already faced in the tournament.

NOTE 2: If, after game 13, there are three teams remaining with one loss, the team which won game 11 receives a bye to game 15 for the title.

PREVIOUS STATE CHAMPIONS

1928 - Raleigh Post 1
1929 - Asheville Post 70
1930 - Gastonia Post 23
1931 - Roanoke Rapids
1932 - Gastonia Post 23
1933 - Gastonia Post 23
1934 - Charlotte Post 9
1935 - Gastonia Post 23 (NATIONAL CHAMPION)
1936 - Charlotte Post 9
1937 - Charlotte Post 9
1938 - Gastonia Post 23
1939 - Charlotte Post 9
1940 - Albemarle Post 76 (NATIONAL CHAMPION)
1941 - Gastonia Post 23
1942 - Shelby Post 82
1943 - Whiteville Post 137
1944 - Albemarle Post 76 (NATIONAL RUNNER-UP)
1945 - Shelby Post 82 (NATIONAL CHAMPION)
1946 - Kannapolis Post 115
1947 - Kannapolis Post 115
1948 - Hickory Post 48
1949 - Gastonia Post 23
1950 - Gastonia Post 23
1951 - Shelby Post 82
1952 - Kannapolis Post 115
1953 - Cherryville Post 100
1954 - Gastonia Post 23 (NATIONAL RUNNER-UP)
1955 - Rowan County Post 14
1956 - Wilmington Post 10
1957 - Shelby Post 82
1958 - Shelby Post 82
1959 - Wilmington Post 10
1960 - Wilmington Post 10
1961 - Kannapolis Post 115
1962 - Wilmington Post 10
1963 - Greensboro Cone Post 386
1964 - Charlotte Post 9 (NATIONAL RUNNER-UP)
1965 - Charlotte Post 9 (NATIONAL CHAMPION)
1966 - Asheboro Post 45
1967 - Greensboro Cone Post 386
1968 - Greensboro Burtner Post 53
1969 - Rowan County Post 342
1970 - Wilmington Post 10
1971 - Rowan County Post 342
1972 - Hamlet Post 49
1973 - Rocky Mount Post 58
1974 - Hamlet Post 49
1975 - Sanford Post 382
1976 - Newell Post 287
1977 - Newell Post 287
1978 - Asheboro Post 45
1979 - Hamlet Post 49
1980 - Wilmington Post 10
1981 - Cherryville Post 100
1982 - Hamlet Post 94
1983 - Hamlet Post 49
1984 - Rowan County Post 342
1985 - Whiteville Post 137
1986 - Caldwell County Post 29
1987 - Hamlet Post 49
1988 - Kernersville Post 36
1989 - Whiteville Post 137
1990 - Caldwell County Post 29
1991 - Caldwell County Post 29
1992 - Kernersville Post 36
1993 - Rowan County Post 342
1994 - Wilmington Post 10
1995 - Wilmington Post 10
1996 - Whiteville Post 137
1997 - Cherryville Post 100
1998 - Cherryville Post 100 (NATIONAL RUNNER-UP)
1999 - Garner Post 232
2000 - Caldwell County Post 29
2001 - Shelby Post 82
2002 - Rowan County Post 342
2003 - Cherryville Post 100 (NATIONAL RUNNER-UP)
2004 - Vacant (Garner Post 232 vacated due to an ineligible player)
2005 - Pitt County Post 39
2006 - Morehead City Post 46
2007 - Cherryville Post 100
2008 - Randolph County Post 45

Happy for Watson, happier for Cink

There is no bigger Tom Watson fan in these parts than me. And the same goes for Stewart Cink.

I never envisioned either in a playoff for the British Open title, but like seeing my two favorite teams in the World Series (it just may happen this season: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Boston Red Sox), I was looking forward to their playoff tilt and I would have been happy with whoever won.

I have been a fan of Watson since he wasted his first opportunity to win a major title in the 1974 U.S. Open at Winged Foot. He was always a fighter - extremely aggressive on the course with a tight, but rhythmic swing. He seemingly had practiced every trouble shot imaginable, but most of them didn't work that Sunday that saw Hale Irwin win the first of his three Open titles with an unlikely seven over par. Watson was known as a choker early in his career, but winning the 1975 British Open title changed that moniker forever.

But at the age of 59 with a replaced knee, he looked every bit the player that has earned eight majors.

As for Cink, I got to see his beautiful swing (Tom Weiskopf reincarnated) in person for three years when and he and his Georgia Tech teammates played here in Rocky Mount at the ACC Golf Championships at Northgreen Country Club (1991-94). The Ramblin' Wreck won the last three tournaments held at Northgreen. His last time here, his junior season, he had the support of his parents, wife Lisa and then baby son Connor.

I got the pleasure of meeting them all. His parents were so down-to-Earth and just glad they were able to make it up to see Stewart and his team play. And if college isn't tough enough, imagine being married and with a small child! But he handled everything so well - his school work, his role as husband and father, and his golf game. And with all that, he actually graduated the next year - on time - with a degree in Management.

But Stewart was always humble and polite - a somewhat about face from his teammate David Duval, with whom he can now share the experience of having the Claret Jug to kiss.

From that point, I felt he would break out of Duval's collegiate shadow. And he did.

He went on to become the NCAA Player of the Year his senior season, played on the Nationwide Tour and won enough times to be its Player of the Year and given a ticket to the PGA TOUR. That was 1996, and he's not looked back.

He perhaps should have won more times (six career victories, but has played on four Ryder Cup and three President Cup teams) and he's had his moments in the majors. But the only thing that has changed about him is his hairline. Believe it or not, he had a full head of hair in his college days.

But his demeanor is the same. He's still approachable, humble and personable - the very qualities we all want in our champions.