UNC vs Duke Football – Listen Here

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— written by Patrick Magoon freelance writer for WIZS

Almost 134 years ago, a North Carolina-based higher education rivalry was born. The deep-rooted rivalry, located in the vicinity of the Research Triangle, includes The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and Duke University. Both esteemed institutions are working towards advancing their football programs to the next level.

The Victory Bell: A Yearly Tradition

The two football teams met for the first time on November 27, 1888. Since 1922, the Tar Heels have clashed with rival Duke yearly.  Each year, the teams compete for the Victory Bell, a trophy awarded to the winner of the annual Duke-UNC game. The Tar Heels received the first-ever Victory Bell in 1948 after a shutout victory in Chapel Hill.

The trophy, deriving from an idea introduced by cheerleaders Loring Jones of Duke and Norman Spear of UNC, fuels the growing intensity of this fierce rivalry. When the Tar Heels possess the Victory Bell, before kickoff, the cheerleaders and Rameses, the team’s mascot, wheel out the bell while simultaneously ringing it. Then the bell is placed in front of the students’ section for display. In the past, the winning team customized the base of the bell to include their school colors.

A Photo That UNC Fans Will Never Forget

In 1989, former Duke head coach Steve Spurrier, in his last game at Kenan Stadium, led his team to a stunning 41-0 victory in Chapel Hill. Immediately after the game, Spurrier celebrated the monumental ACC win by posing with his players near the scoreboard, an image that UNC fans and some former employees will never forget. To this day, Spurrier keeps a copy of the photo in his office.

Now, roughly 33 years after that photo was released by Duke, the scoreboard at both institutions is immediately shut off when the game clock hits zero.

A Head-to-Head Duke-UNC Comparison

Since 1948, The Tar Heels lead the series 46-25-1. The Tar Heels’ longest win streak of 13 games occurred from 1990 to 2002. In comparison, Duke’s series-high seven-game win streak lasted from 1950 to 1956. Considering Duke won just seven games over 35 years from 1959 to 1984, the rivalry briefly lost some of its appeal. However, a recent coaching change at Duke facilitated new energy and philosophy that reenergized both fanbases.

As of October 9, 2022, The Tar Heels’ top-performing offensive assets through six games include wide receiver Josh Downs and running back Omarion Hampton. The assets have amassed 643 yards and 12 touchdowns. Duke’s best offensive performers, including wide receiver Jalon Calhoun and running back Jaylen Coleman, have accumulated 692 yards and six touchdowns.

SportsTalk: Vipers To Celebrate Homecoming Against Granville Central; Listen Here

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Live Play by Play Friday Night at 1450AM / 100.1 FM / and by clicking Listen Live at WIZS.com (or click here https://player.listenlive.co/53101)

With only three games left on the regular season schedule, the Vance County Vipers are 5-2 heading into homecoming week this Friday night against an 0-6 Granville Central team.  While it may look like a mismatch on paper Coach Aaron Elliott says that Vance County can’t take the night off. “We almost lost last year. They made it a close one,” Elliott said referring to a game the Vipers should have won easily. Elliott expects Granville Central will try to pressure quarterback Nazir Garrett in much the same way as South Granville did last week.

With homecoming also taking place Friday night, it’s a big game for the Vipers.  “Most coaches will tell you they hate homecoming week,” Coach Elliott said on Thursday’s SportsTalk. He said the opportunities for disruption can be a challenge but at the end of the day they have to go out and play a football game Friday night.

Ray Noel, Vance County Athletic Director, was also on Thursday’s SportsTalk and said there will be an expanded half time and more food than usual to accommodate the growing crowds.  Food trucks will on site for Friday’s game and he encourages everyone to arrive early.  Noel said at recent games the concession stand has been cleared out by the third quarter with nothing left to sell but cold drinks.

You can hear all of the action of Vance County Friday Night Football beginning at 6:50 tomorrow night with kickoff at 7pm here on WIZS.

 

Listen to Vipers Football – Coach Elliott And Vipers Building Confidence

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You can hear the growing confidence in his voice.  Vance County High Head Football Coach Aaron Elliott has reason to be confident; in the last 6 quarters, the Vipers have allowed only 7 points while putting 82 on the scoreboard.  The Vipers shut out Carrboro last week 54-0. Elliott attributes the win to practicing. “We had our best week of practice all season last week,” Elliott said. One thing that has helped his team understand the importance of practice was having a Duke University linebackers coach talk to the players about its importance.

Even though Elliott and his players have confidence, he couldn’t foresee the Vipers rolling up 54 points against Carrboro. “You couldn’t predict that they would play as well as they did,” Elliott said.  Quarterback Nazir Garrett threw seven touchdowns in the game which ties him for third all-time in the North Carolina high school record books.

The Vipers will have to put that win behind them and focus on this week’s opponent, South Granville.  The Vikings are 2-4 and coming off a 7-6 win against Southern Durham. “They have a great running back averaging over 175 yards per game,” Elliott said.  While the Vikings pose a challenge, Elliott still feels confident that the Vipers are where they need to be. “We are playing together, everything is clicking,” stated Elliott on Thursday’s SportsTalk on WIZS.

Vance County Friday Night Football on WIZS begins at 6:50 p.m. Friday night with kickoff from Creedmoor at 7 p.m.

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Offense and More Offense

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— text and picture by Patrick Magoon freelance writer for WIZS

Duke’s potent offense, once again, got off to a hot start, scoring multiple touchdowns in the first half. An impressive display of offensive efficiency and strong tackling on defense helped Duke end a 13-game Atlantic Coasting Conference losing streak. Duke earned its first win against the visiting Virginia Cavaliers since 2014. The Cavaliers have yet to win a road game this season.

Duke, averaging 35 points per game, now sits at the top of the division and continues to propel itself further ahead of the competition. They are showing no signs of slowing down.

“Excited to get ACC win No. 1,” said head coach Mike Elko. “But I just told (the players) the expectations around here are changing.”

Riley Leonard completed 18 of 24 pass attempts and ran the ball nine times for 59 yards, scoring twice with his legs. Duke’s top rushers, led by junior running back Jaylen Coleman, averaged 5.2 yards per carry and ran for a combined 248 yards. In comparison, Virginia’s ground attack accumulated 93 yards on 48 attempts, averaging 3.7 yards per carry.

Even in inclement weather, Duke’s offense didn’t miss a beat. The group maintained a strong grip on the football to avoid unnecessary turnovers. Duke’s offense also dominated in time of possession, holding onto the ball for just over 36 minutes.

Duke’s dominant defense forced two turnovers, including a fumble and interception. The defense, led by senior linebacker Shaka Heyward, collectively amassed 70 tackles (six for a loss) and one sack. Virginia’s defense, on the other hand, compiled 98 tackles (seven for a loss) and one sack.

What’s next?

Duke (4-1) will travel to Atlanta for a matchup against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2-3). The Yellow Jackets are averaging 16.2 points per game. Both teams won on Saturday, October 1, scoring at least 26 points and allowing 21 or fewer points.

Vance Vipers Defeated Carrboro Thursday Night 54-0

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Vance County High School’s varsity home football game against Carrboro High School was moved to Thursday, September 29th due to weather concerns.

The Vipers won 54 – 0.

 

Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Elliott Pleased With Come Back Win

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20-0.  That was the half time score last Friday night and the score wasn’t in favor of the Vance Co. Vipers.  By the time the whistle blew the Vipers had turned the game around and walked off the field with a 28-27 comeback victory to move to 3-2 on the season.  Head Coach Aaron Elliott attributes the win to players trusting the plan that the coaches had laid out for them.  “We made zero adjustments at half time,” Coach Elliott said.  He felt that if the team would work together they could turn the game around.  “The mood was down and a lot of finger pointing was going on at halftime,” Elliott said.  Coach Elliott said he felt that at halftime that the coaches wanted the win more than the players.

That changed in the second half when Nazir Garrett began to connect on passes in his first game back after a two week absence due to a concussion.  Garrett had struggled in the first half as had the Viper defense but it all worked out for the Vipers as they scored 28 points in the second half.  “It was an emotional win,” Elliott said.  Now the Vipers have a week off before taking on Carrboro on Oct. 30th in the first conference game of the season. Elliott gave his team a couple of days off to enjoy the victory but are now focused on a Carrboro team that Elliott says is better than there record would indicate. The extra week off means that players like Sean Alston, who has been injured will be able to return to the Viper lineup.

You can catch all the action next Friday night, Oct. 30 as Vance Co. takes on Carrboro at Viper Stadium. Airtime on WIZS is 6:50pm with airtime at 7pm.

 

Recap: Duke Blue Devils Annihilate Aggies to Extend Win Streak

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— text and picture by Patrick Magoon freelance writer for WIZS

Building on two high-scoring wins, the Duke Blue Devils amplified their momentum during Saturday’s exciting victory against North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State’s Aggies.

There was no shortage of fans cheering on the Blue Devils during their second home game of the season. For the first time since 2019, Duke University’s Wallace Wade Stadium hosted over 32,000 fans. The fans’ electrifying energy, echoing across the stadium, overwhelmed the Aggies.

The Devils’ offense, led by quarterback Riley Leonard, started hot, executing a 38-yard passing touchdown in fifteen seconds. Stunned and overpowered by Duke’s potent offense, the Aggies allowed two additional scores in the first quarter. Leonard completed 11 of his 12 pass attempts before the conclusion of the first half and finished the game with an impressive 98.9 QBR rating.

After achieving a comfortable lead, Leonard exited the field to provide an opportunity for other offensive assets to showcase their abilities and allow Duke’s ground game to take charge. Backup quarterback Henry Belin IV finished 5-for-6 for 43 yards, and running backs Jaquez Moore, Jordan Waters, and Eric Weatherly collectively rushed for 122 yards on 16 attempts.

On defense, Duke’s starters were nothing short of exceptional. Right out of the gate, the pressure from the Blue Devils’ front seven was immense. After Duke’s second scoring drive, defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles broke through the Aggies’ offensive line, took down quarterback Jalen Fowler, and knocked the ball loose. Defensive tackle DeWayne Carter, who was in the right place at the right time, scooped up the fumble and ran it down the field for a touchdown. That touchdown extended Duke’s lead to 21 in the first nine minutes into the game.

Duke’s defense acquired 75 tackles (11 for a loss), four sacks, and deflected two passes. Linebacker Nick Morris Jr. led the team in tackles, and Jaylen Stinson, Brandon Johnson, Cam Dillon, and Peebles earned a sack.

What’s next?

Duke (3-0) will travel to Kansas for a matchup against the Jayhawks (3-0). Both teams are operating under a new head coach, and their rebuilding efforts are moving in the right direction.

Fresh off of a 48-30 win against Houston, the Jayhawks are eager to test the limits of Duke’s potential. Considering Kansas is averaging 53 ppg, their offense poses a real threat.

Vance County High School

Vance County Defeated Jordan Friday Night By One Point

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Vance County defeated Jordan Friday night 28 to 27.  The Vipers trailed 20-nothing but fought back and took their first lead inside a minute to go.  Vance County High School thwarted Jordan’s final drive with excellent defense to secure the win.  The Vipers move the 3-2 on the year and start conference play this week.  Tune in Monday at 12:30 p.m. on SportsTalk for a full recap.

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SportsTalk: Elliott And Allred Preview Vipers Vs. Jordan

After losing the last two games to powerful Durham schools, 2-2 Vance County makes another trip down I-85 to battle 1-3 Jordan High School in the final non-conference game of the season. While no coach likes to lose, Vance Co. Head Coach Aaron Elliott felt much better about his team after last week’s 28 – 20 loss to Northern Durham. “We went toe to toe with a good Durham football team,” Elliot said on Thursday’s SportsTalk. “We were able to establish a run game,” Elliott continued. The Vipers had been a heavily pass oriented team, but with the loss of quarterback Nazir Garrett, the Vipers had to find a running game. Last week they did. Elliott feels there is a good chance that Garrett may be back for the game tomorrow night and, if so, the Vipers will have a better balanced offense that won’t have to rely exclusively on Garrett to throw the ball.

Jordan Coach Justin Allred, who was also on SportsTalk Thursday, alluded to the Viper’s double threat. “It’s like watching two different teams,” Allred said. Jordan is coming off a 34-14 loss to Southeast Guilford, but he feels the tough non-conference schedule has helped. “It’s a chance to test our squad,” said Allred. Jordan is also a very balanced team capable of both running and throwing the ball, but he says his biggest concern about the Vipers is team speed which he described as incredible. Jordan does have one thing in its favor other teams haven’t and that is Athletic Director Joe Sharrow.  Until this year, Sharrow had been athletic director at Vance County High School, and Coach Allred has been able to use Sharrow’s knowledge to help him prepare for Friday night’s matchup.

Airtime is 6:50  p.m. with kickoff at 7 p.m. for Vance County Friday Night Football here on WIZS.

Listen Local on 1450 AM / 100.1 FM or click on Listen Live at wizs.com (https://player.listenlive.co/53101).

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Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Elliott Reflects On Vipers’ First Loss And Prepares For Northern Durham

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Last week as Vance County High School prepared for Riverside, Coach Aaron Elliott commented his team had not had a great week of practice, and last Friday Vance County was handed its first loss against a powerful Riverside team by the score of 42-13. Not only was it the Vipers’ first defeat of the season, they also lost starting quarterback Nazir Garrett to a concussion.  Now the Vipers will have to hit the road to take on Northern Durham which is coming off of a double overtime win at Franklinton.

Without their starting quarterback and a banged up team, Friday night’s game will be a challenge. “We have to be ready to play four quarters,” Coach Elliott said on SportsTalk on WIZS Thursday.  “I asked the guys a question after the game. I asked if they know how important practice is during the week,” Elliott continued. After getting an answer in the affirmative, Elliott said practice this week was much better.

While praising the team’s defense and their ability to stop the run against Riverside, Coach Elliott was surprised at how much they threw the ball.  Northern Durham is another team that does both well, and with the offense hobbled not having Garrett in the lineup, it will put more pressure on the Viper defense to step up.  With the injury bug hitting the Vipers it will also mean there are opportunities for back up players to make an impact.

The Vipers and the Knights kick off Friday night at 7pm at Durham County Stadium. Airtime is 6:50pm on WIZS Radio 1450 AM / 100.1 FM / via live internet stream at https://player.listenlive.co/53101.

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New Beginnings Signal Bright Future for Duke University’s Football Program

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— text and picture by Patrick Magoon freelance writer for WIZS

A fresh start for Duke’s football program hints at a brighter future for the coaching staff, players, and fans. For the first time in nearly 33 years, Duke shutout a Football Bowl Subdivision team. Duke’s offense, under the control of Mike Elko, the team’s new head coach, rallied and outscored the Temple Owls 30-0.

“To pitch a shutout in the opener was pretty special,” said Elko.

Elko replaced David Cutcliffe, the former head coach who accumulated 77 wins and a bowl game victory in 14 seasons with the program. While Cutcliffe’s leadership skills and diligence were inspiring at times, inconsistent production on the football field during the final years of his tenure and three consecutive losing seasons escalated the need for change.

With the addition of ambitious goals and an electrifying offense led by sophomore quarterback Riley Leonard, Elko is working towards rejuvenating the energy levels in Wallace Wade Stadium.

“We asked a lot of people to believe in where this program could go,” Elko said. “And it was just awesome to see the students come out like they did tonight.”

Leonard, in his season debut, completed 24 of 30 pass attempts for 328 yards. He also led the team in rushing with 64 yards. Leonard credits much of his success to a brilliant play-calling strategy and near-perfect execution.

“We had the perfect scheme drawn up every single play,” Leonard said.

Offensive production aside, we must also acknowledge the exceptional performance of Duke’s defense unit. Duke’s defense limited Temple’s offensive production to just 179 yards in four quarters of football, 50 of which came in the first half. Temple, frantically searching for answers, could not build momentum against a powerful defensive front.

Despite allowing numerous scores in recent years, Duke’s defense put on a spectacular show on Friday, September 2. The unit collectively racked up one sack, four tackles for a loss, and seven deflected passes. D’Wan Mathis, Temple’s starting quarterback, was frequently under duress and forced to make difficult throws. Once any chance at victory was out of reach, Mathis was pulled to the sideline and replaced by quarterback Quincy Patterson, who also achieved minimal success.

What’s next?

Duke (1-0) will travel to Illinois for a matchup against the Northwestern Wildcats (1-0). The Wildcats’ offense, led by quarterback Ryan Hilinski, has amassed 314 yards through the air, an average of 11.6 yards per reception. Duke’s offense is averaging 13.7 yards per reception.