Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Vance County Looks To Move To 3-0 Friday Night

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The first two weeks of the high school football season have been good for the Vance Co. Vipers as they sit at 2-0.  This week they take on Riverside, which is coming off a 42-0 blowout of Southeast Raleigh after an opening season 18-14 loss to #15 ranked Cape Fear. Both Riverside Head Coach Cory Lea and Vance County Head Coach Aaron Elliott were guests on Thursday’s SportsTalk and discussed this week’s matchup.

Both teams are strong defensively. “Vance County’s defensive ends scare me to death,” Lea said of the Viper’s strong defense. “It’s one of the best defensive lines I’ve seen during my time coaching,” Elliott said of the Vance County Defensive Unit.

With all this talk of how strong the Viper’s defense is one would think defense is the key to this game, but not so according to Elliott. He said,  “The key to the game will be scoring. I’d like to score on every possession. We need to improve the most on offense.” Elliott has a few new offensive wrinkles up his sleeve for Friday night that will hopefully get the Vipers in the end zone a few more times.

Coach Lea lost only three seniors from last year’s team. “Our babies have grown up,” Lea said referring to his team which features many juniors.  “We hang our hats on defense,” Lea continued summarizing his team’s strength.

The Vipers have cut down on mistakes and Coach Elliott has encouraged his team to stay hungry and stay focused. Elliott said the team didn’t have a great practice on Monday, but they have settled down the rest of this week and are playing together.

Friday looks like another defensive battle as the Vipers host Riverside. Airtime on WIZS is 6:50 p.m. and kickoff is at 7 p.m. Join Bill Harris and Doc Ayscue for all of the action of Vance County Friday Night Football.

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Vance Vipers vs Roanoke Rapid Yellow Jackets

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Vance County 14

Roanoke Rapids 7

Final

Vipers move to 2-0 on season. Second half defensive struggle as neither team scored after the break. Vance never trailed.

Full recap Monday at 12:30pm on SportsTalk.

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Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Vance County High Welcomes Roanoke Rapids Friday Night

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The first football game of the season tends to be a little ragged around the edges, and according to Vance County High School Head Football Coach Aaron Elliott, this was true of the Vipers in their season opening four point win over the rival Eagles in Warren County last Friday night.  Twelve penalties totaling 95 yards is something the Vipers can ill afford to have happen this week when the school hosts Roanoke Rapids who beat Northampton County last week by the score of 48 -16.

“They are very disciplined,” Elliott said of Roanoke Rapids. Elliott said that after looking at the film of the Northampton game, the Vipers can expect to see a Wing-T offense and a heavy dose of the running game.  This might be good for the Vipers as they held Warren Co. to minus 46 yards rushing last week.

Click to hear full audio of Coach Elliott – SportsTalk: Vance County High Welcomes Roanoke Rapids Friday Night

Elliott said the Warren County game was very emotional at kick off, as it was his first as head coach, but after the game and the victory, despite the mistakes, it was very fulfilling. Those mistakes cannot be repeated Friday night if the Vipers want to move to 2 – 0 on the season. “We have to keep players accountable for mistakes,” Elliott said.  In addition to the penalties, Vance Co. muffed a punt that gave Warren Co. a short field and a touchdown. In contrast, Roanoke Rapids had a total of three penalties last week.

Roanoke Rapids nor Vance Co. suffered any injuries and both teams should be a full strength when they hit the field at 7pm Friday night. Vance Co. Friday Night Football will broadcast the game live beginning at 6:50pm with the pre-game show.

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Crossroads Christian School

SportsTalk: Crossroads Fall Schedule Keeps Richardson Busy

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Send in the clones!  Scottie Richardson may likely need one in the upcoming days. The Crossroads Christian Athletic Director finds himself rather busy this time of year with fall sports including volleyball, soccer and cross country. All three sports have kicked off their schedules which puts Richardson in high demand at the school where he has served as AD for the last five years.

The Colt’s men’s soccer team is hoping to return again this year to the state final four. “Men’s soccer is coming off a good win against Henderson Collegiate,” Richardson said.  Earlier in this young season, Crossroads defeated Pungo 5 – 0.  Kerr Vance Academy is the opponent this afternoon (Thursday) and Lee Christian tomorrow (Friday).

Soccer isn’t the only thing on Richardson’s plate as volleyball is underway as well. Last year the lady Colts had their first season of double digit wins in 12 years. So far, the team is 2 – 0 on the season and they are also schedule to play Kerr Vance Academy this afternoon (Thursday) and Lee Christian tomorrow (Friday).

When combined with JV games, Richardson will be keeping an eye on five different games tomorrow (Friday). To add to that, the school’s cross country team, which is the defending state champion, will conduct four meets on Friday as well.

Richardson, who was on SportsTalk today (Thursday) on WIZS, said his school’s success on the field and on the court comes down to one thing. “We’ve changed the culture over the last five years,” Richardson said. When he started at the school five years ago, the school had only had two all state players in the previous 13 years.  Last year the school boasted 12 all state players in five different sports. “We’ve achieved some success but, we have to sustain it,” Richardson says. Maybe a clone could help!

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SportsTalk: Panthers Go With Mayfield As Starter

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Four Takeaways From Panthers’ Second Preseason Game at Gillette Stadium

— by Patrick Magoon freelance writer for WIZS

Friday’s preseason game, while initially sloppy, featured bright spots for both teams. Carolina Panthers quarterbacks PJ Walker and Matt Corral each handled 15 snaps and yielded a combined 135 yards through the air. New England Patriots quarterbacks Bailey Zappe, Mac Jones, and Brain Hoyer racked up 249 passing yards. Here are four takeaways.

Jones Shines in Preseason Debut

Despite an unflattering first-quarter performance from a Jones-led offense, the group found its footing late in the second quarter. Jones completed four of his eight pass attempts, netting 61 yards. The highlight of his limited playing time occurred during the Patriots’ third offensive drive when he connected with receiver Nelson Agholor on a 45-yard passing play, which set the team up for a score.

However, it is worth noting that the Panthers’ defensive unit consisted of backups. Head coach Matt Rhule kept his starters sidelined for the entire game.

Rhule is Hesitant to Name a Starting Quarterback

What we thought was once a relatively easy decision is now seemingly more complicated in the mind of Rhule. While Baker Mayfield, a former top pick, and teammate Sam Darnold shared equal reps for most of training camp and team practices, Mayfield’s deep-ball accuracy, decision-making abilities, and composure appeared to warrant a slight advantage over the competition.

“Like I said all along, when we know, we know. And we’ll announce something when it’s right,” said Rhule.

PJ Walker Continues to Crumble Under Pressure

Another unsatisfactory preseason performance from Walker further extends the gap between himself, rookie Matt Corral, and other potential prospects. Considering that Rhule intends to keep three quarterbacks on the active roster, Walker will need to correct some ongoing careless mistakes sooner rather than later.

In two quarters, Walker completed nine of 15 pass attempts for a total of 107 yards. However, two of the 15 pass attempts resulted in interceptions. Matt Corral, on the other hand, finished 9-for-15.

Carolina Panthers Receiver Talent Runs Deep

Regarding the Panthers’ wide receiver rankings moving forward, Rhule and his staff have some tough decisions to make. For the first time in many years, the competition and strengths amongst a versatile group of backup receivers are plentiful.

Shi Smith, an excellent special teams asset and talented pass catcher, is making a case for additional offensive responsibilities. Also, receivers Rashad Higgens and Terrace Marshall Jr. have demonstrated flashes of explosive plays.

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Vance County at Warren County 20-16 Vipers Victory WIZS Audio

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WIZS 1450 / 100.1 – You’re Community Voice for News and Sports

Final Score

Vance County 20

Warren County 16

Vance Vipers scored the go-ahead touchdown with 10 seconds to play

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Vance County High School

 

SportsTalk: Louisburg Hopes To Beat Them All

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Dante Lassiter, head football coach at Louisburg High School, feels good about his team this season.  Of course every coach feels good before the first game but with a turn out of fifty kids perhaps Lassiter is correct. “It’s the biggest turnout we’ve had in years,” Lassiter said.  Louisburg lost five seniors from last year’s team and boasts 12 seniors this year. That’s experience that could mean a return trip to the playoffs this season for the Warriors.  Lassiter did lose a couple of assistant coaches to Vance County High School. These are issues all coaches face year in year out. The concern for Lassiter is that the offensive line took a hit with senior losses.

Lassiter and the Warriors had a brief scrimmage recently against Warren County before storms rolled through and cut the evening short. Still, Lassiter feels that having seen his team in action helped him learn a few things. “Defense is a strength,” Lassister stated on Thursday’s SportsTalk with George Hoyle and Bill Harris.  Louisburg plays in a modified Big East conference that mixes 2A and 3A teams.  The only 3A team Louisburg faces in the conference is county rival Franklinton. The conference also includes Bunn, Northern and Southern Nash and Roanoke Rapids.  Roanoke Rapids is the favorite to win the conference this year with the two Nash County schools projected to finish two and three.

Lassiter may have something to say about all of that before it’s over. His goal for the season?  “Beat everybody and win the conference,” Lassiter said of his idea of success for Louisburg this season.  They will scrimmage against JF Webb this weekend and open the season on August 26th.

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The Carolina Panthers Quarterback Battle Heats up in Spartanburg

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— story and pictures by Patrick Magoon freelance writer for WIZS

The starting quarterback role for the Carolina Panthers is up for grabs, and a decision is looming in the distance. Head coach Matt Rhule is not prepared to name the starting quarterback until after the second preseason game concludes on Aug. 19.

Even then, a lack of definitive separation amongst Carolina’s quarterbacks might yield additional testing and analysis before a conclusion occurs.

“I’m not putting a timetable on the quarterback position until after we get back from the Patriots week,” said Rhule. “The Patriots week is a true litmus test for us. That will really show us where guys are.”

During Saturday’s practice (Aug. 6), Baker Mayfield, a former top pick in the NFL draft, and teammate Sam Darnold (also drafted in 2018) took equal snaps with the first and second teams. While Mayfield’s composure and deep-ball accuracy warranted a slight advantage over Darnold, the battle is far from over.

Mayfield’s ability to sling the football efficiently and effectively down the field was comforting, but a handful of risky throws in tight coverage kept the quarterback competition close. Darnold looked solid when dumping the ball off to a nearby receiver. However, both quarterbacks gave the ball away on mistimed throws in crucial situations.

Mayfield finished 14-for-21, and Darnold completed 20 of 28 pass attempts. Both athletes netted a touchdown and interception during two hours of practice time.

“The disappointing thing is each guy had an interception,” explained Rhule. “We’ve got to protect the football.”

Mayfield is motivated to bounce back in 2022 after barely surpassing 3000 yards and recording just 17 touchdowns last season, which are both career lows. Darnold, on the other hand, is looking to secure the starting quarterback role long-term. In 2021, Darnold, despite starting the season hot, failed to achieve double-digit touchdown passes, and his single-season completion percentage remained below 60% for the third time in his career.

As competition at the quarterback position continues to heat up in the coming weeks, watch for changes in snap counts and offensive strategy.

SportsTalk: Hunt Looks For Improvements In Warren Co. Football

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Northampton County may be the kings of the Tar Roanoke Conference in football, but when all is said and done, Warren County may be knocking on the door of the castle.  Victor Hunt, Warren County Head Coach and Athletic Director, looks to have the Eagles poised to take their game to the next level this season.  “We were very young last year. We started five freshmen and we are very young this year but we have eight seniors,” Hunt said of the makeup of the Eagles this season.

Last season Warren County was 4-6, but with a late season surge from his defense, the Eagles made it to the second round of the state playoffs and that was without their starting quarterback and punter, Nigel Williams who missed all of last season with a torn ACL. Williams is back and is competing for the starting job at quarterback, the defense is more experienced, and Hunt says the secondary is a strength of the Eagles this season.  He also has three returning starters to his offensive line and a solid group of young men at running back and receiver who will also be factors in the success of Warren County this year.

Hunt will be starting his 4th year at Warren County and is still learning the ropes of the Tar Roanoke Conference which Warren Co. joined last season.  Hunt says that during the first season in the conference Warren County was a methodical, ball control team because of their youth, but even though they are a team that is still young, they may add a few wrinkles this year since the team gained a lot of experience in 2021.  He’s hoping that when the first game of the season kicks off on August 19th against the Vance Co. Vipers he will have about 40 kids on the roster.

While he remains optimistic about the Eagles going into the 2022 season he also is realistic. “We have the potential to be a champion.  We also have the potential to be middle of the road.”  That road begins in just a little over two weeks.

You can catch the Vance Co./Warren Co. game Friday night, August 19th here on WIZS for the kick-off of Vance Co. Friday Night Football.

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Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Elliott And Vipers Prepare To Kickoff 2022 Season

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Twelve midnight!  12:01 a.m. Monday to be exact.  That’s when the Vance Co. Vipers football team will begin the first official practice of the 2022 season.  According to Coach Aaron Elliott, the team is excited about the “midnight madness” practice.  The team will gather around 9 p.m. Sunday to prepare and learn the rules and expectations from Elliott and his coaching staff. “I’ve always wanted to have a midnight practice. I’m super excited,” Elliott said on Thursday’s SportsTalk.

“We have a special group of kids. Very mature. They stick together and hold each other accountable,” Elliott said of the 2022 Vipers. Right now Elliott has between 45 and 50 kids. Twenty of those will be on the JV team with the remainder making up the varsity unit. The Vipers have not had a JV team for several years but this season Elliott has re-established the JV team and they will have a full schedule.

Coach Elliott, in his first season, has been building relationships with the Vipers. He has taken them bowling, eaten dinner and brought a water slide to the school. He hopes all of this will add up to the Vipers playing as a team. “Talent and good players don’t necessarily make a great team,” Elliott said, citing the Louisburg Warriors team where he was a coach a few seasons ago. Louisburg went deep in the playoffs that season because of team work not because he had the best talent.  He’s hoping for the same thing to take place with the Vipers.

The Vipers, who made it to the playoffs last season, have a strong core to build around.  Elliott feels the receiver corp, anchored around Israel Terry, is particularly strong and Quarterback Nazir Garrett has also been impressive. Elliott adds the offense is ahead of his expectations.

On August 12th the Vipers will host the annual Jamboree with Cedar Ridge, Western Guilford and Roanoke Rapids participating and then on Friday night, August 19th, the season gets underway against Warren County – a team that Elliott says the Vipers will have to be ready for because the Eagles don’t quit.

You can catch the action all season long on Vance Co. Friday Night Football on WIZS beginning with the Vipers traveling to Warren County to take on the Eagles.

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