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."
