Vance County High School

A Second VCHS Viper Football Game Cancelled by Covid

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Covid shortened as well as moved the Vance County High School football season from fall to spring.  Now the season is growing shorter again.  For the second time in what was just a seven-game season anyway, another game is being cancelled due to covid.

Vance County High School Athletic Director Joe Sharrow told WIZS News late Wednesday afternoon that the school “was alerted that a person involved with (the) football program tested positive for COVID-19.”  He said, “The district has been working diligently to contact those impacted to ensure all students, staff and families are properly notified of the situation.  Safety is always our number one priority.  We will continue to work together to ensure safety measures and protocols are adhered to, as we follow guidance from NCDHHS and NCHSAA to proceed through the season.”

The game cancelled earlier this season was a covid issue for that week’s opponent.

It was just a bit earlier Wednesday afternoon when Sharrow informed our Trey Snide of WIZS SportsTalk saying, “I am disappointed to share that we will no longer have a football game on Monday night, once again due to COVID concerns.”

The only remaining game this season is presently scheduled for Friday, April 9th at Cedar Ridge.

Sharrow also expressed appreciation for local support and to others who perform duties at the school and beyond to make things work out.

Based on past statements from Sharrow, as well as other local schools officials, the disappointment is for the players and the seniors.

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SportsTalk 03-26-21 Joe Sharrow, Vance Co. High School

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It’s Friday in the middle of football season so most schools will be taking the field this evening but not Vance County. The Viper’s scheduled game against the Northern Durham Knights was cancelled at the beginning of the week due to Covid 19 protocols meaning the Vipers won’t return to the field until April 5th when they will finally get to tangle with Northern Durham.  According to Vance County High School athletic director Joe Sharrow juggling the schedule was the only way to get the Northern Durham game back.  “We really didn’t want to lose the game with Northern Durham,” Sharrow said.  Even though Northern Durham and Vance County will be in different conferences next year, the Knights will be part of the Viper’s schedule for the next two years.

The Knights will remain under quarantine until April 1st when they resume practice and will play the Vipers on Monday, April 5th, 6:30pm at Vance Co. High School.  In order to accomodate the Northern Durham game the Vipers would originally have had to play three games in eight days as Northwood would have taken on the Vipers on April 2nd but “three games in eight days was too much,” according to Sharrow. “We’re pretty beat up right now,” Sharrow added. Sharrow said that one of the games on the schedule would have to go if they wanted to play Northern Durham.  Sharrow and Coach Hunter Jenks were not in favor of cancelling the Cedar Ridge game scheduled for April 9th. Cedar Ridge is coached by former Northern Vance coach Corey Lee and Vance County has a good relationship with the school so that meant the Northwood game would have to go.  However, Sharrow helped Northwood find another school to play, Panther Creek High School in Cary. Even though Vance County gets to keep the game with Northern Durham it does mean that the team will play one less game than intended.

At 0-3 with two games left on the schedule, Sharrow said that getting into the state playoff would require some help and that it is a long shot. The school would have to receive an at-large bid and that means the improving Vipers would certainly have to win out the rest of the season and then get the help Sharrow discussed. Sharrow says, “The primary focus is finishing up with Northern Durham and Cedar Ridge, to stay healthy and let our seniors play out the year.”

As far as athletics in general at Vance County High School, “I am ecstatic about the Vance County High School Athletics programs,” Sharrow said.  Sharrow pointed to the really good numbers with the girl’s softball team and recent wins with that program along with strong numbers for the girl’s soccer team. Where many teams have had trouble finding players to field teams it hasn’t been much of an issue for Vance County. This is likely due to the fact that Vance County High School is the only school in the state conducting Covid 19 tests every week.

Once again, Vance County High School’s next game will be on Monday, April 5th against the Northern Durham Knights, 6:30pm, at Vance County High School.  Tune into WIZS for full play by play coverage of that contest.

For complete details and audio click play.

 

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SportsTalk 03-18-21 Hunter Jenks, Vance Co. Vipers Head Football Coach

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Even though Vance County is 0-2 after a 20-0 loss at Southern Durham last Friday night, Coach Hunter Jenks praised his teams defensive effort citing a goal line stand and the pressure that was constant in the Southern Durham backfield throughout the game. In reviewing last Friday’s game, Jenks said that if events had unfolded slightly different that the Vipers could have come away with a win. Coach Jenks continues to see improvement with the Vipers. “Every day when we come off the field after practice we collectively say we’ve gotten better,” Jenks said of his team.

While Jenks is focused on playing well this season he is also looking ahead to the future of the program as well.  With only three seniors starting on defense this year he will have multiple seasons with many of the underclassmen on the Vipers squad.  “It bodes well for the future,” Jenks commented when discussing the defense. Jenks says that while the defensive unit may be undersized they make up for it with effort and speed. Jenks acknowledges that the defense is ahead of the Vipers offense. Jenks said “We’ve to be realistic and look for small victories,” when asked about the unit’s on field progress. The key is limiting turnovers, sustaining drives and limiting mistakes.

As for Saturday night’s game against Orange at 6 p.m., which was rescheduled from Friday, Jenks says that Orange lost their starting quarterback in the first game of the season, and he expects for Orange to have a similar style to Vance Co. meaning it’s likely to be a defensive battle, something in which both teams excel.

Kickoff for the game at Orange High School in Hillsborough is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday and can be heard in its entirety on WIZS Radio. Bill Harris will have the call of the game.

For complete details and audio click play.

 

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SportsTalk 03-12-21 Brian Howard, Vance Charter

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Seventh Grader McKenzie Pendergrass scored her first points as a middle school basketball player for Vance Charter School Tuesday night against Roxboro Community School. However, Pendergrass isn’t just any player and those weren’t just any points. Those points scored put Pendergrass and Vance Charter on ESPN.  Pendergrass is in a wheel chair and Head Coach Brian Howard says he became aware of Pendergrass’ desire to be on the basketball team after she wrote a story in class. In her story, Pendergrass said she didn’t think her disabilities should stand in the way of her taking the court. “She wanted to prove she could do just as well as anyone else,” Howard said.  She did play in her 6th grade year but did not score.  That changed Tuesday night.

Pendergrass got the bucket late in the game. Howard said “The gym was electric.” “When the ball went in the gym erupted,” added Howard.  Howard went on to say that Pendergrass is well liked at the school, “She is outgoing, determined and doesn’t take no for an answer.” Her determination paid off with her first points of her middle school career and making it to ESPN.

 

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SportsTalk 03-11-21 Hunter Jenks, Vance Co. High School; Victor Hunt, Warren Co. High School

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Vance Co. High School returns to the field after two weeks this Friday night against 2 – 0 Southern Durham. Vance Co. was originally scheduled to play last week but East Chapel Hill cancelled their football season giving the 0-1 Vipers an unexpected extra week off. Coach Hunter Jenks said “I would always like to play a game,” but believes that the missed game will be good for the Vipers in the long run as it has given the team more time to practice and Jenks has been pleased with those additional practices heading into Friday’s game.

After a 42-6 loss at the hands of Chapel Hill, Jenks said, “It was a rip the rearview mirror off game” where the Vipers are not looking back. “I expect to have a better performance,” Jenks said of the Vipers and he’ll need it going against Southern Durham which has not allowed a single point this season.  Jenks said the key to beating Southern Durham is for the Vipers not to beat themselves. Turnovers plagued Vance Co. in the opening game of the season, committing four against Chapel Hill giving the Tigers plenty of opportunities.  In addition to eliminating turnovers Jenks said the Vipers need to have offensive success early against Southern Durham and not put themselves in bad situations.

Jenks says that with every team in the conference improved every matchup is a test. He also expects to pick up a few more players to add to the roster once 9th graders return to school.

You can hear live play by play of the Vance Co. Vs. Southern Durham game tomorrow night on WIZS. Kickoff is at 6:30 from Southern Durham High School. No visiting fans will be allowed at the stadium.

At Warren County High School, Coach Victor Hunt has his Eagles at 1-1 after demolishing J.F. Webb in the first game of the season 40-7 and losing a comeback bid against South Granville 29-20. This week the Eagles head to Franklin County to take on the 0-2 Bunn Wildcats, a team Warren County hasn’t beaten since 1996. “They are not to be taken lightly,” Hunt said of the Wildcats despite the winless record.

During this shortened season Hunt says that, “Every game is a big game and we treat them like it’s a championship.” Hunt says “Our goal is to be 1-0 every week.” In order for Hunt to get the Eagles to 2-1 he says the team will need to limit mistakes, tackle well and play good defense. In last weeks loss to South Granville Hunt sad the Eagles had a bad first half allowing 29 points but was impressed with halftime adjustments as Warren Co. shut out the Viking offense in the second half and credits the defense with giving the Eagles a chance for a come from behind victory. While they didn’t quite make up the deficit, Hunt says the Eagles “are better because of the loss.”

When asked to name some outstanding players for the Eagles this year, Hunt was quick to mention starting freshman quarterback Nigel Williams who has ran for three touchdowns and thrown for two more this season, Cameron Hogan who has four touchdowns on the year and Reginald Douglass, a former lineman who now is a linebacker and full back.

The Eagles and the Wildcats kickoff at Bunn tomorrow night at 6:30pm.

 

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SportsTalk 03-05-21 Scotty Richardson, Andreas Prince and Player of the Week

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“He’s really been the heart and soul of the team,” Crossroads Christian Athletic Director and Head Basketball Coach Scotty Richardson said of Andreas Prince when both appeared on Sports Talk on Friday. Prince is the first player from the school to be named to receive 1A All State honors.  The school, which has only had a basketball program for four years, has made it to the Elite Eight the last two seasons.  Prince was part of the reason for the team’s success. In addition to the All State honors, Prince was named to the All Tournament and All Conference teams. He averaged 21 points over the season. “It’s definitely a great honor. It means a lot to me and my family,” Prince said.  Prince singled out Coach Richardson as making an impact on him both on and off the court.

Richardson said at the end of last season graduating players cost his team 65 points, the average of what the graduation players scored per game last season. And despite the season being interrupted by Covid 19 and having only three weeks of practice, the team was still strong this season. This year Crossroads Christian will lose three seniors to graduation. Richardson said, “The cupboard is not bare,” since the team will return four starters next season.

In the second half of SportsTalk, two county athletes received Player of the Week Honors. Alyssa Bullock, a 7th Grade basketball player at Vance Charter School, is averaging 20 points per game. Additionally, Bullock is averaging four steals, four rebounds and 5 assists per game and put up 27 points in this week’s contest with East Wake.

The second player of the week is Tyron Lyons of the Vance Co. Vipers.  In last week’s 42-6 loss to Chapel Hill, Lyons contributed one solo tackle and three assists.

Player of the Week honors are announced every Friday on the Coach’s Corner segment of SportsTalk with Trey Snide.

For full details and complete audio click play.

 

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SportsTalk 03-04-21 Hunter Jenks, Chris Edwards, Greg George

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Trey Snide and Ron Noel welcomed Vance Co. Head Football Coach Hunter Jenks, Duke Radio play by play announcer Chris Edwards and Granville Central Head Basketball and Soccer Coach Greg George on SportsTalk on Thursday.

Jenks, whose Vance Co. Vipers came up on the wrong end of a 42 – 6 score against Chapel Hill on Friday, said of the first game of the season, “We are never happy with losing.” He said four turnovers and too many plays on defense sealed the teams fate. The Vipers’ defense was on the field for 80 plays during the loss.  Even though the Vipers lost by a large margin Jenks said, “By and large, with the first game, I was happy with the defensive side of the ball.”

Jenks explained that practices this week have been good as they prepare to take on Southern Durham on March 12. For that game Jenks hopes his offense will do a much better job at protecting the football. “Don’t be afraid to win the game on the last play of the game,” Jenks said when talking about what he has told his team this week. He said he has already seen improvement and hopes to see more consistency as the team moves through the season.

The game against Southern Durham will be the first road game for the Vipers and can be heard over WIZS radio beginning at 6:30 on Friday, March 12.

During the second part of the show, Chris Edwards talked about Duke baseball and what it has been like to not have games for the past eleven months. He said he missed little things like sunsets from the stadium that he won’t take for granted again. Duke has a weekend series against Pittsburgh. Edwards said it would be a big challenge for the Blue Devils since Pittsburgh just swept Florida St.

In regards to the ACC as a whole, “The ACC will beat up on each other,” Edwards said. He also feels that the ACC has a legitimate chance to have all fourteen teams in the NCAA tournament. Edwards says we will know more about how the teams will shake out after a month of, “beating up on each other.”

Currently, Duke is 4 – 4 on the season and are, “still trying to figure stuff out,” said Edwards. Much of Duke’s success will depend on the team’s bullpen figuring out its role.

In the third part of SportsTalk, Greg George of Granville Central spoke about the success of his JV team. He said the “JV team exceeded expectations. We keep trying to build it because that’s what lays the foundation for the varsity program going forward.”

George says it is challenging to coach so many different programs but he has a great support system with the staff and other coaches at the school. Currently Granville Central is number one in the conference with its soccer program. He said the disruption to the normal athletic schedules because of Covid has leveled the playing field for all of the schools in the conference. Lastly, George commented that the Granville Central football program is making great strides this season. Granville Central will take on county rival J. F. Webb on Friday night.

For full audio and complete details click play.

 

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SportsTalk 02-25-21 Hunter Jenks, Vance Co. High School and George Marshall, Henderson Collegiate

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Hosts Trey Snide and Ron Noel talk with George Marshall, Head Coach of Henderson Collegiate’s basketball team, about the cancellation of their playoff game and with Vance Co. High School’s Head Football Coach Hunter Jenks about the season opening game against Chapel Hill.

Coach Marshall called into Sports Talk this afternoon just after learning about the cancellation of tonight’s basketball game against West Columbus due to Covid 19 protocols. “We were thirty minutes outside of Henderson when we got the call,” Marshall said. Marshall also commented his wishes for the West Columbus team, “We are praying for them.” Due to the forfeit by West Columbus, Henderson Collegiate will now advance in the state playoffs to the elite eight. The next game for the team will be on Saturday against either Princeton or Wilson Prep Academy.

Vance Co. Head Football Coach Hunter Jenks was also on SportsTalk today and he spoke about tonight’s kick off of the football season against Chapel Hill which begins at 6:30 at Vance Co. High School. Coach Jenks said, “When you think about how much we’ve overcome, you’ve got to be happy,” in reference to the challenges his team has faced due to Covid 19 and the delay the pandemic has caused.

In preparation for tonight’s game, Vance Co. played in a scrimmage in Goldsboro this past Saturday. Jenks was happy with how that scrimmage went. The preparation and process for the scrimmage and tonight’s contest have been good, according to Coach Jenks. “Now we just have to go out and make the best of it,” Jenks said about tonight’s matchup.

When asked about standout players Coach Jenks said to watch for Malik Williams who could be a difference maker for the Viper’s defense. According to Jenks, Williams was all over the field. Jenks also said the team improved offensively during Saturday’s scrimmage.

Next week the Vipers were scheduled to play East Chapel Hill but that school has forfeited its entire season leaving Vance Co. a hole in their schedule. Coach Jenks said that he and athletic director Joe Sharrow are looking at other schools to fill next week’s slot.

For those planning to attend tonight’s game, it has sold out. All tickets have been purchased.

Kick off for tonight’s matchup between Vance Co. and Chapel Hill is at 6:30 and, for those who don’t have tickets, you can hear Trey Snide and Doc Ayscue call the the game here on WIZS 1450am and 100.1 FM and online at wizs.com.

 

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SportsTalk 2-22-21 Joe Sharrow

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Hosts Trey Snide and Doc Ayscue spoke with Vance County High School Athletic Director Joe Sharrow Monday on SportsTalk.  Sharrow spoke about the season opening football game for Vance County as they take on Chapel Hill Thursday evening in Henderson. “I’m really excited,” Sharrow said. “The offense is in a rebuild mode. The defense will be the star of the show,” Sharrow added.  Vance County participated in a scrimmage against Goldsboro over the weekend and, according to Sharrow, played well.

In regards to Covid 19 and its impacts on schools Sharrow said “We take pride in keeping kids safe”. Sharrow also said that Vance County High School is the only school doing regular testing in the entire state. While state guidelines allow for 100 people to attend games, Sharrow says Vance County has not been allowing anyone to come to any sporting events but the policy is being reviewed this week.  “Athletic Directors are trailblazers,” Sharrow said when talking about how school systems have worked to have athletic events during the pandemic. He added that many local and conference teams have far less players than in previous years. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see some schools back out of football this season,” Sharrow commented.

Vance County’s team has a new coach this season with Hunter Jenks taking over the program. Sharrow said that over the long term he believes Coach Jenks will put together a really good football program at Vance County High School.

Vance County takes on Chapel Hill Thursday at 6:30 Thursday at Vance County High School. The game will be broadcast live on WIZS.

 

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SportsTalk 02-18-21 Coach Hunter Jenks Vance Co. HS FB

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With high school football scheduled to kick off next Friday, Trey Snide talked with Vance Co. Vipers head coach Hunter Jenks to discuss the game against Chapel Hill to begin the football season. Despite having fewer players than last year’s squad, Jenks says, “The kids have been fantastic. They’ve had great attitudes.” Jenks hopes that once in-school instruction returns on March 9th that the team will be able to add more players. With only seven regular-season games this year, it will be important for the Vipers to hit the ground running. “We have a good knowledge of the Chapel Hill team,” Jenks says. Film study has given the staff some insight into what Chapel Hill will bring to the field in Henderson next Friday night.

Like all other high school teams, Vance County has challenges. The team has only had two contact practices and must contend with replacing Samein Burwell at quarterback. “We have two players battling for quarterback,” says Coach Jenks. Jenks has not named a starter for the opening game but did say he hopes that whoever does start will be able to “step in and play to the best of their ability.” Additionally, Jenks said many players have had to fit practices around his player’s work commitments including students who work full time.

Originally, the Vipers were scheduled to have a scrimmage against Goldsboro tomorrow, Feb. 19th, but that has now been pushed back to noon on Saturday.

Once again, the Vipers welcome Chapel Hill for the first home game of the season on Friday, Feb. 26th. The game will be broadcast live on WIZS.