UNC Prevails in Overtime to Defeat App State

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— text and picture by Patrick Magoon freelance writer for WIZS

The North Carolina Tar Heels (UNC) fought hard to defeat in-state rival Appalachian State, 40-34.

UNC’s first offensive series stalled out at the App State 13-yard line. In an attempt to build momentum and quickly move the chains, UNC running back Omarion Hampton charged forward but was pushed behind the line of scrimmage for a 1-yard loss.

In contrast, App State quarterback Joey Aguilar started hot, connecting with receiver Dashaun Davis twice for 33 yards. But, the momentum was short-lived. An incomplete pass and a couple of rushes for minimal gains forced the Mountaineers to settle for a 47-yard field goal attempt, but App State kicker Michael Hughes missed.

UNC, hoping to turn things around, faced another third-and-short situation. Running back Caleb Hood forged ahead but was wrapped up immediately. The Tar Heels had to punt the ball away.

The Mountaineers capitalized on the missed opportunity, bouncing back and capping off a 19-play, 66-yard drive with a 46-yard field goal to take an early lead.

Then UNC responded.

Running back Omarion Hampton evaded multiple defenders and displayed incredible speed while carrying the ball 68 yards to the end zone. That was only the beginning for the elusive Hampton. He ran rampant for most of the game, accumulating 234 yards and three touchdowns.

“Omarion is a really good player, and we’ve seen that type of performance coming,” said UNC head coach Mack Brown.

Omarion Hampton (UNC v App State 09-09-23)

App State fought hard to reclaim the lead before the half. Aguilar, early on in the second quarter, hit Davis in stride for 34 yards. Moments later, Aguilar completed a pass to tight end Eli Wilson for a 5-yard touchdown.

The Mountaineers started the second half strong, executing six plays for 75 yards and a touchdown. Then UNC quickly found its footing and matched App State’s energy.

UNC safety Don Chapman intercepted Aguilar in the third quarter, forcing a 31-yard field goal. Aguilar distributed the ball to Miller Gibbs, Dalton Stroman and Milan Tucker for a total of 47 yards before handing the ball off to Noel, who ran seven yards for a touchdown.

The shootout persisted well into the fourth quarter as Maye launched a deep pass to receiver J.J. Jones for a 57-yard completion before setting up Hampton for a 7-yard touchdown.

With little time to spare, App State relied on Aguilar’s passes and Noel’s runs to set up a 33-yard field goal and tie the game. Tar Heel fans anxiously watched as their kicker lined up to attempt a game-winning field goal. A few minutes later, the kick was declared no good.

To secure the win in overtime, Maye propelled his team forward with a 13-yard rushing touchdown. Then UNC’s defense made a vital stop in crunch time.

“Drake just glows with confidence and always knows we’re gonna win the game,” said Brown.

Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Elliott Focuses On Eliminating Viper Mistakes

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It’s hot.  The temperatures have forced the Vance Co. Vipers to practice in the gym most of this week as they prepare to face Northern Durham Friday night at Durham County Stadium.  “It changes practice a lot,” said Vipers Head Coach Aaron Elliott on Thursday’s SportsTalk.

The Vipers are coming off a 28-19 win over Orange in a game that could be best described as ugly. The Vipers gave up 205 yards on 20 penalties in the win, something they can’t afford to do against Northern Durham.  “It’s undisciplined for our team.  We weren’t real proud of it.  We need minimal mistakes and I know we can do it,” Elliott commented.

Northern Durham comes into this week’s game with an 0-3 record, but Elliott has cautioned his players about taking them lightly.  Northern Durham has had a very strong schedule which included Charlotte Christian.  “They have athletes on both sides of the ball and on film, they are a pretty good football team,” Elliott said.  The Vipers are pretty good too.  They are currently undefeated but are now getting into the heart of the season as they face perineal conference champions Southern Durham in two weeks, and Elliott says it’s hard not to look over Northern Durham when Southern Durham is on the horizon.

Despite the win against Orange, the Vipers dropped ten places in this week’s MaxPreps poll.  “Good teams beat bad teams badly,” Elliott said.  The Vipers were favored to win by forty but the close victory caused the Vipers to fall in the poll this week. A solid win against Northern Durham will help reverse that trend.

Join Bill Harris and Doc Ayscue around 6:50pm just after the Joy Christian Center broadcast for live coverage of the Vipers/Northern Durham game here on WIZS Radio on Vance Co. Friday Night Football.

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Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Vipers Look For Third Win Of The Season Against Orange

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Last Friday night the Vance County Vipers dismantled Roanoke Rapids 52-14.  “I was surprised that Roanoke Rapids was not as competitive,” Vipers Head Coach Aaron Elliott said on Thursday’s SportsTalk.  The Vipers eliminated many of the penalties that plagued the team in a win over Warren County in week one.  That, along with a six touchdown performance from quarterback Javion Vines-Holder helped shut down Roanoke Rapids.  “He is slowly getting better. He only lacks confidence,” Elliott said of his young quarterback.

With five touchdown passes and another on the ground Vines-Holder is a threat to run or pass.  “We built our offense around a true running quarterback,” Coach Elliott added.  “It opens up opportunities,” stated Elliott.

The Vipers will be looking for those opportunities as they take on Orange this Friday night at Viper Stadium.  Orange is 1-1 on the year and is a team full of athletes Elliott said of this week’s opponent.  Orange will throw a 3-3 Stack defense against the potent Viper offense and that is a style of defense the Vipers have not faced.  “We’ve worked all week on how to block it and how to read it,” Elliott said.

The Vipers can move to 3-0 on the season with a win Friday night.  Join Bill Harris and Doc Ayscue for the live play by play beginning immediately following the Joy Christian Center broadcast at 6:50pm here on WIZS for Vance County Friday Night Football.

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Oxford Prep School

SportsTalk: Oxford Prep’s Challenging Schedule Could Pay Dividends Later

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It takes a young team time to learn and Oxford Prep Athletic Director John Hammett hopes the school volleyball team’s challenging schedule to open the season will do exactly that.  Oxford Prep opened with two losses against Wake Prep and East Wake.  Both schools field strong volleyball programs. Those losses were followed by two close wins against Kerr Vance Academy.

Conference play opened with a loss against Roxboro community this week.  “We hope the schedule will pay dividends later,” Hammett said of his young team on Thursday’s SportsTalk.  “We just have to play through it,” Hammett continued.

On the soccer field Oxford Prep won against Kerr Vance Academy last week but lost to Granville Central. Hammett is also optimistic about the soccer program.  “Our numbers are up,” Hammett stated.  “We are taking small steps building our program,” Hammett added.

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Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Vance County High School Kicks Off Season Friday Night

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Coach Aaron Elliott is excited.  And why shouldn’t he be?  The Vance County Vipers kick off their season Friday night against a solid Warren County Eagles team, and it should be an exciting start to the season for both schools.  “Practice has been great,” Elliott said on Thursday’s SportsTalk.

Tuesday’s weather kept them for practicing, but Elliott kept his team focused with plenty of board work, and as the rain moved out, the Vipers moved back on the field to prepare for Warren County’s triple option.  “Our guys will do a good job against it.  We have practiced against it,”  Elliott added.  He expects Warren County to be more run focused Friday night than in years past, with about a 50/50 split between run and pass.

This season the Vipers have put a big emphasis on winning the mental aspect of the game which he thought was a bit of a problem last year.  He knows it will be tough to keep the kids focused Friday night. “It’s a rivalry game and the first game of the season,” Elliott said.

Join Bill Harris and Doc Ayscue for live play by play of the game beginning around 6:50 p.m. immediately following the Joy Christian Center broadcast here on WIZS.

 

SportsTalk: Elam Goes To The Dogs

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Jim Elam has been fortunate to have two long careers.  The Warren County native spent over 20 years as an educator and coach.  He started in Johnston County at Princeton High School, and after getting married, decided he wanted to be closer to home.  His desire to return to Warren County would land Elam the head football coaching position at Halifax Academy and then in Roanoke Rapids where he coached the middle school football team.  It was while he was there that he became interested in training dogs.

“I learned from my father,” Elam said on Thursday’s SportsTalk.  He read books to add to his knowledge not knowing he would be able to turn his interest into a new, second career.  He sees a lot of similarities between coaching young people and training dogs.  “Some are more difficult and some are easier,” Elam says.

Elam says training for puppies begins at six weeks of age and at seven weeks he explains it is important to socialize them.  “The sit command is the place to start,” says Elam.  At seven months the formal training begins.

If you are interested in learning more about training retrievers, contact Jim at Lake Country Retrievers at 252-432-2245, on Facebook or at www.lakecountryretrievers.com.

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SportsTalk: Hunt Prepares Eagles For Football

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The Warren County High School Eagles’ progress as a football team can be easily traced by looking at the number of wins over the last three years. Two, four and, last season, seven. Those seven wins last year put the Eagles in the state high school playoffs.  Victor Hunt, Head Football Coach and Athletic Director at Warren County, points out that those seven wins came with a struggle: overcoming an injury bug. “We were down to a fourth string running back,” Hunt said on Thursday’s SportsTalk.  The injuries caused Warren County to get off to a slow start last year and put players who were not ready to play on the field. Hunt hopes that experience along with many returning players from last year will mean that the Eagles can improve on last year’s playoff team.

Warren County kicks off their season on Friday, August 18th against Vance County in Henderson.  “It’s a rivalry game. The loss last year haunts us.  It really hurt and it really stung, ” Hunt said of the last minute Vance County win.

He has 47 players on the roster this season and is pleased with the number of kids who have turned out. “Winning helps but it has a lot to do with what is going on culturally at the school,” Hunt said about athletic participation.

As athletic director, Hunt has also kept things moving along for volleyball and cross country.  The Eagles’ volleyball team has back to back conference championships and Hunt is looking for a threepeat in that sport.  Last year also saw the cross country team bring their first conference championship back to Warren County High School as well.

You can hear the matchup between Warren County and Vance County here on WIZS beginning at 6:50pm Friday, August 18th.

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Crossroads Christian School

SportsTalk: Volleyball And Soccer Gets Underway At Crossroads Christian

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The beginning of the school year is a busy time not only for students and teachers but for athletic departments as well.  Just ask Crossroads Christian Athletic Director Scottie Richardson.  “We are wide open. We have open house on Monday and school starts on Wednesday,” said Richardson.

Teams are already practicing and preparing for season openers.  The school’s three volleyball teams open at home on Thursday, August 17th against Thales-Apex and soccer will start on Friday, August 18th with a home game against Franklinton.

Holden Coghill, soccer coach at Crossroads, took the team to the final four last year and were ranked #1 all season. “The team got caught up in the hype,” Richardson said but he sees a different mentality this year and with most of the team returning he thinks they will be better prepared to handle the success.  He said the numbers of students that have turned out this year for athletics has been great.

 

SportsTalk: Lassiter Preps Louisburg High For Football

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A quick look at the Vance County Vipers football schedule will reveal a new conference opponent this year.  The Louisburg High School Warriors have been added to the 2A/3A Northern Lakes Conference. “We had no place to go,” Louisburg Head Coach Dante Lassiter said on SportsTalk Wednesday.

The Warriors were 7-3 last year but failed to make the playoffs due to a technicality.  The team did not play a full conference schedule last year and found that they did not have a conference this season so they were placed in the Northern Lakes Conference this season.

Lassiter, in his ninth year as head coach at Louisburg, says the Warriors will be young this year but looks at that as a good thing.  The team will get some experience with scrimmages before the kick off of their season on August 25th against Southeast Halifax.  “We will scrimmage against Warren County this weekend,” Lassiter said.  Warren County is coming off a playoff year last season and will take on Vance County in the opening game of the season for both teams on August 18th.

Lassiter says his coaching experience is an advantage to his young team.  “They know what to expect,” Lassister said.  “I may have coached or played with an older brother or a parent,” Lassiter continued.

The Warriors will play the Vipers in Henderson on Sept. 22nd.