NV / SV BB a Dead Heat

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The Northern Vance and Southern Vance men’s varsity basketball teams are essentially tied after their two cross-town rival meetings.

Tuesday night on the Vikings’ home floor, Northern Vance defeated Southern Vance 64 to 60, behind a game-high 21 points from Kristopher Haywood.  James Alexander also scored in double figures with 10.  Marcus Harrison led three in double figures for Southern Vance with 17 points.  Justus Baldwin had 13 for the Raiders an Mark Baldwin added 10.

Just this past Friday night on the Raiders’ home floor, Southern Vance defeated Northern Vance 60 to 56, so each team has a win against the other, and the point difference is the same at four.

In Tuesday night’s game, Northern Vance led from the outset, going up by as many as 14 early in the second quarter.  The margin was 29 to 20 NV at halftime.  SV suffered from too many turnovers in the first half, 11, while NV only had 11 turnovers for the entire game.

SV shot 41 percent from beyond the three-point line, going 7 of 17 overall, and scoring 5 of the 7 threes in the second half.  SV closed to within two points a couple of times down the stretch.

The game was fast paced on the floor and exciting to watch.  WIZS broadcast the game live on 1450 AM and on wizs.com.  The stands were packed.

Just prior to the men’s game, the NV and SV women’s varsity teams fought down to the wire with NV coming from behind and winning 60 to 55.

Our next WIZS live broadcast will be Dec. 19th and will feature the local ABA team, the Coyotes.  They play, as it turns out, at the home of the SV Raiders.

UNC vs Clemson; ACC Champ

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Airtime on WIZS 1450 AM is 7:00 P.M.

The ACC Championship is tonight at 8:00 P.M. from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.  Top-ranked Clemson and 10th-ranked North Carolina.

With all the offensive firepower that will take the field, both head coaches are talking about defense.

Specifically Tiger Coach Dabo Swinney  says turnovers are a definite factor in the game.  He said, “You don’t want to give a team like North Carolina a short field, and they don’t want to give us a short field.  So, the turnover margin, probably which defense can get the most stops, that’s probably the difference in the game.”

A Tiger win secures Clemson’s place in the College Football Playoff.

A UNC victory will give North Carolina its first ACC championship in 35 years, and possibly open a window to the football playoffs, if Alabama loses.

Tar Heel Coach Larry Fedora, who now has a new seven year deal with UNC, clearly says Clemson is better than any other opponent Carolina has faced this season.  He said, “This is the best offense we’ve faced this year, no doubt about it, and this is the best defense we have faced this year.  This is the best football team we have faced.  They are the number one team in the country, and they’ve been that way for how many weeks?  10 weeks?  A long time, as long as you guys can remember, so they’re really good.  They’re really good.”

VGCC Vanguards lose three, look to bounce back in Vanguard Night rivalry game

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The Vance-Granville Community College Vanguards men’s basketball team came up short in three recent games, all by margins of 10 or fewer points.

Traveling to Laurinburg to take on the St. Andrews University JV squad on Nov. 16, the Vanguards lost 76-71. Raekwon Hall of Raleigh led VGCC in scoring, putting up 27 points along with 4 rebounds. Ty’Quon Reid of Durham had an impressive performance, as well, with 22 points, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 rebounds. With 13 points, Alcyone Moore of Charlotte was the only other Vanguard scoring in double figures.

VGCC returned home to face a conference opponent, the Patriots from Patrick Henry Community College, on Nov. 18. Despite making a strong comeback in the second half, VGCC fell 68-64 to PHCC, a team that has had only one loss this season. This time, Chris Pernell of Raleigh was the top scorer for the Vanguards, with 23 points. Reid had 18 points, while Hall contributed 13 points. Donal Gooch of Raleigh had the most rebounds (5), steals (4) and blocks (3).

Back on the road, the Vanguards suffered a non-conference loss to Central Carolina Community College, 83-73, on Nov. 22. The game was played at the “Region X Blast-Off” tournament at Sandhills Community College. Hall again led the Vanguards with 27 points, while also making 5 steals, 3 assists and 3 rebounds. Reid put 13 points on the board and contributed 5 assists. Gooch led in rebounding, with 6, and scored 10 points. After being sidelined by an injury, Tyrek Beverly of Oxford made his first appearance of the season for VGCC, putting up 8 points.

After the 2-5 Vanguards travel to play the reigning national champions, Richard Bland College, on Nov. 24, they will come home to play nationally-ranked Louisburg College on Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 6:30 p.m. The annual rivalry game known as “Vanguard Night” will take place at Aycock Recreation Center (307 Carey Chapel Road) in Henderson, and admission is free. Vanguard Night festivities will include a performance from VGCC’s “Vanguard Spirit” Pep Squad, a DJ and prize drawings.

VGCC Vanguards 2-2 to start basketball season

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The Vance-Granville Community College Vanguards men’s basketball team won their first two games of the 2015-16 season before dropping the next two to nationally-ranked opponents.

VGCC kicked off the regular season with a 67-57 victory over conference rival Wake Tech Community College on Nov. 6 on the Vanguards’ home court, Aycock Recreation Center in Henderson. Sophomore Raekwon Hall led VGCC in scoring, with 25 points, while also contributing 3 assists and 4 rebounds. Freshman Chris Pernell of Raleigh put up 12 points. Another freshman, Donal Gooch of Raleigh, was the top rebounder, with 10. His fellow freshman, Antonio Adams of Oxford, was not far behind with 9.

Two days later, VGCC won on the road, dominating the JV squad at the University of Mount Olive, 101-57. Seven Vanguards scored in double figures, led by sophomore Alcyone Moore of Charlotte with 17 and freshman Aaron Robinson of Graham with 15. Moore was also the team’s top rebounder (13). Ty’Quon Reid, a freshman from Durham, led the team in assists (11) while also contributing 13 points and 5 rebounds.

The Vanguards’ first loss came at home when they hosted the Bobcats from Bryant & Stratton College of Virginia on Nov. 10. The Color Guard from J.F. Webb High School in Oxford started off the game with a salute to veterans during the playing of the National Anthem. VGCC kept it close during much of the first half, but after the break, BSC pulled away to win 97-55. The Bobcats, who, like VGCC and Wake Tech compete in Region X of NJCAA Division II, were ranked 14th in the nation at the time. Moore again was the leader in scoring, with 14 points, while Reid added 11 points. Adams put up 5 rebounds to lead in that category.

On Nov. 14, VGCC lost at home to the Storm from Davidson County Community College by a score of 107-90. Davidson County CC was ranked seventh in the nation for Division III. Reid led his teammates in scoring with 34 points. Hall added 23 points of his own. Gooch had the most rebounds (12).

Upcoming VGCC home games are set for Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m., versus Patrick Henry Community College, and Friday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m., versus Virginia University of Lynchburg. Both are at Aycock Recreation Center in Henderson, and admission is free.

UNC ACC BB Favorite

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com)– North Carolina will enter the 2015-16 season as the Atlantic Coast Conference favorite, according to a vote of media in attendance at the league’s  annual “Operation Basketball.”

The Tar Heels, who return four starters from last year’s team that reached the finals of the ACC Tournament and the “Sweet 16” of the NCAAs, received 60 of 89 first-place votes in Wednesday’s preseason poll. In addition to point guard Marcus Paige, the Tar Heels will welcome back forwards Brice Johnson and Kennedy Meeks and sophomore guard Justin Jackson. Five additional players that saw significant playing time from last season’s 26-12 team are also set to return.

Virginia, which has won a total of 60 games over the past two seasons while claiming the 2014 ACC championship and placing atop the ACC regular-season standings in both 2014 and ’15, received 18 first-place votes and placed second in the overall preseason voting. Defending national champion Duke (eight first-place votes) placed third.

Defending ACC champion Notre Dame received one first-place and placed fourth, followed by Miami, Florida State (one first-place vote) and Louisville.

NC State placed eighth, while Syracuse received the remaining first-place vote and finished ninth. Pitt placed 10th, while Wake Forest, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Boston College rounded out the voting.

North Carolina senior guard Marcus Paige and Virginia senior guard Malcolm Brogdon were named Preseason ACC Co-Players of the Year after each received 36 votes among those casting ballots. Paige averaged 14.1 points and 4.5 assists last season while shooting .395 from 3-point range and .865 from the foul line. Brogdon (14.0 ppg) was a finalist for the 2015 John Wooden Award and was named a second-team All-American by four publications.

Duke freshman Brandon Ingram, a 6-foot-9, 190-pound swing man from Kinston, North Carolina, was the overwhelming choice as ACC Preseason Freshman of the Year on 82 of the ballots cast. Ingram averaged over 24 points and 10 rebounds as a high school senior and led Kinston High to four consecutive state titles.

Paige, Brogdon, Ingram, Florida State’s Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Notre Dame’s Demtrius Jackson were voted to the Preseason All-ACC first team. Virginia’s Anthony Gill, Duke’s Grayson Allen, Notre Dame’s Zach Auguste, NC State’s Anthony “Cat” Barber and North Carolina’s Johnson were second-team selections.

UNC was picked as the ACC preseason favorite for a league-high 21st time (20 times outright, one tie) in the 47-year history of the poll, and the sixth time under current head coach Roy Williams.  Media voters tabbed Duke as the preseason favorite each of the previous two seasons.

The Tar Heels tied with Kentucky for the No. 1 spot in the USA Today Coaches Preseason Poll, while Duke ranked fourth and Virginia sixth. Notre Dame was voted 18th, while Louisville, NC State, Florida State and Miami all received votes.

The regular season begins for all 15 ACC teams the weekend of Nov. 13-15. In addition to an 18-game regular-season conference schedule, the 63rd annual ACC be held March 8-12 (Tuesday through Saturday at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

ACC Operation Basketball 2015-16 Preseason Poll
(First-place votes in parenthesis)

Team & Points
1. North Carolina (60): 1292

  1. Virginia (18): 1226
  2. Duke (8): 1187
  3. Notre Dame (1): 949
  4. Miami: 841
  5. Florida State (1): 827
  6. Louisville: 821
  7. NC State: 808
  8. Syracuse (1): 666
  9. Pitt: 623
  10. Wake Forest: 391
  11. Clemson: 359
  12. Georgia Tech: 296
  13. Virginia Tech: 260
  14. Boston College: 134

2015-16 Preseason All-ACC Team

(votes in parenthesis)

First team
Marcus Paige, Sr., North Carolina (86)
Malcolm Brogdon, Sr., Virginia (77)
Xavier Rathan-Mayes, So., Florida State (43)

Brandon Ingram, Fr., Duke (29)

Demetrius Jackson, Jr., Notre Dame (28)

Second team

Anthony Gill, Sr., Virginia (27)

Grayson Allen, So., Duke (27)

Zach Auguste, Sr., Notre Dame (24)

Anthony “Cat” Barber, Jr., NC State (22)

Brice Johnson, Sr., North Carolina (22)

ACC Preseason Co-Players of the Year
Marcus Paige, Sr., North Carolina

Malcolm Brodgon, Sr., Virginia

ACC Preseason Freshman of the Year
Brandon Ingram, Duke

For more, visit theACC.com | @theACC

ACC Teams

VGCC announces 2015-16 Vanguards Basketball schedule

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The Vance-Granville Community College Vanguards men’s basketball team is scheduled to play at least 30 games during the 2015-2016 season, including 12 home games. This is the program’s third season under the leadership of head coach Michael Woody.

The Vanguards compete in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II, which includes ten two-year colleges in North Carolina and Virginia.

The regular season kicks off when VGCC hosts conference rival Wake Tech Community College on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. All home games are scheduled to be played at Aycock Recreation Center in Henderson, and all are free and open to the public. The second home game, versus Bryant & Stratton College on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m., will be recognized as Veterans’ Appreciation Night.

VGCC’s tough conference schedule is again highlighted by area rival Louisburg College. VGCC welcomes the Hurricanes to Aycock on Dec. 2, before the Vanguards return the favor in Louisburg on Jan. 18. VGCC also plays the defending national champion, Richard Bland College, in Petersburg, Va., on Nov. 24 and at home on Feb. 3.

The regular season will continue through Feb. 23, with VGCC’s final scheduled game at home, versus Guilford Tech Community College. The team will celebrate “Sophomore Appreciation Night” at that game. After the regular season ends, the Vanguards are scheduled to participate in the NJCAA Division II Region X tournament. The first two rounds of the tournament are to be played at Richard Bland on Feb. 27-28. The semifinals and finals will follow at Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, on Mar. 4-5.

Vance-Granville Community College

Men’s Basketball Schedule

2015-16

Date                             Opponent                                 Location                      Time

Nov. 6                          Wake Tech CC                         Aycock                         7 p.m.

Nov. 8                           Univ. of Mt. Olive JV                   Mt. Olive                       3 p.m.

Nov. 10                         Bryant & Stratton                     Aycock                         6 p.m.

Nov. 14                         Davidson Co. CC                      Aycock                         3 p.m.

Nov. 16                         Saint Andrews JV                      Saint Andrews               6 p.m.

Nov. 18                        Patrick Henry CC                     Aycock                         6 p.m.

Nov. 20                         Va. Univ. of Lynchburg            Aycock                         7 p.m. 

Nov. 22                         Central Carolina CC                    Sandhills CC*                3 p.m.

Nov. 24                         Richard Bland College                Richard Bland                7 p.m.

Dec. 2                          Louisburg College                   Aycock                         6:30 p.m.

Dec. 8                           Central Carolina CC                    Central Carolina CC        7 p.m.

Jan. 5                           USC-Salkehatchie                    Aycock                         7 p.m.

Jan. 7                           Lenoir CC                                Aycock                         7 p.m.

Jan. 11                          Methodist Univ. JV                     Methodist                      8 p.m.

Jan. 13                          Patrick Henry CC                       Patrick Henry CC           6 p.m.

Jan. 16                          UNC JV                         Dean Smith Center         9 a.m.

Jan. 18                          Louisburg College                      Louisburg                      3 p.m.

Jan. 19                          Lenoir CC                                  Lenoir CC                      7 p.m.

Jan. 23                          Guilford Tech CC                        Guilford Tech CC            3 p.m.

Jan. 25                          Pitt CC                                      Pitt CC                          7 p.m.

Jan. 27                         Catawba Valley CC                  Aycock                         6 p.m.

Feb. 3                          Richard Bland College                        Aycock                         7 p.m.

Feb. 5                           Mid-Atlantic Christian Univ.         Mid-Atlantic Christian     6 p.m.

Feb. 8                           Wake Tech CC                          Wake Tech CC              7 p.m.

Feb. 11                         Pitt CC                                     Aycock                         7 p.m.

Feb. 13                         Bryant & Stratton                       Bryant & Stratton           3 p.m.

Feb. 15                         Sandhills CC                             Sandhills CC                 6 p.m.

Feb. 16                         Catawba Valley CC                    Catawba Valley CC        6:30 p.m.

Feb. 19                         Va. Univ. of Lynchburg                Lynchburg                     7 p.m.

Feb. 23                         Guilford Tech CC                     Aycock                         7 p.m.

Feb. 27-28                     Region X Tournament                 Richard Bland                TBD

Opening Rounds

Mar. 4-5                        Region X Tournament                 Sandhills CC                 TBD

Semifinals & Finals

 

Bold = Home Game, to be played at Aycock Recreation Center, 307 Carey Chapel Rd., Henderson, N.C.

Schedule is subject to change.

*As part of the Region X Blast-Off Tournament.

 

Vance-Granville Basketball Ready for 2015-2016 Season

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by Kevin Bullock

The Vance-Granville Community College Vanguard Basketball Team kicked off the season on October 1st with media day at Western Vance High School. Coach Michael Woody introduced the 2015-2016 version of the Vanguards to the media, and allowed questions after a 15 minute scrimmage in the Western Vance Gym. Below is the active roster for VGCC Basketball.

Aaron Robinson, Freshman, Shooting Guard, Southern Alamance High School

Alcyone Moore, Sophomore, Shooting Guard, Myers Park High School

Chris Pernell, Freshman, Shooting Guard, East Wake School of Arts

Darius Williams, Freshman, Small Forward, Carvers Bay High School (SC)

Phillip Williams, Freshman, Power Forward, Hemingway High School (SC)

Donal Gooch, Jr, Freshman, Power Forward, East Wake School of Arts

Dy’Quan Marrow, Freshman, Point Guard, Northern Vance High School

Joseph Avery, Freshman, Off-Guard, Westover High School

Raekwon Hall, Sophomore, Point Guard, Wakefield High School

TyQuon Reid, Freshman, Point Guard, Hillside High School

Tyrek Beverly, Sophomore, Off-Guard, J.F. Webb High School

Antonio Adams, Freshman, Small Forward, J.F. Webb High School

Anthony Mims, Freshman, Small Forward, Northern Vance High School

Stefan Cates, Sophomore, Off-Guard, J.F. Webb High School

Coach Woody is excited about the opener against Wake Tech, but acknowledges that they may not be Vance-Granville’s primary rival this year. Woody said, “Everybody thinks that Wake Tech is our big rival, but we’ve got Pitt circled on the calendar.” Vance-Granville will play their home games this year at Aycock Recreation Center. See their full schedule below.

 

Oct 24              Juco Jamboree (Scrimmage)                  Myrtle Beach SC                                  TBD

Oct 27              Saint Andrews University (Scrimmage)  Laurinburg SC                                       TBD

Nov. 6                      Wake Tech                 Aycock Recreation Center                7:00pm

Nov. 10           Brayant Stratton         Aycock Recreation Center                6:00pm

Nov. 14                       Davidson Co. CC        Aycock Recreation Center                3:00pm

Nov. 16                        Saint Andrews              Saint Andrews                                      6:00pm

Nov. 18                      Patrick Henry CC       Aycock Recreation Center                6:00pm

Nov. 20                       Univ. of VA at Lynchburg Aycock Recreation Center                      7:00pm                                   

Nov. 24                        Richard Bland College   Richard Bland College                           7:00pm

Dec. 2              Louisburg College      Aycock Recreation Center                7:00pm

Dec. 4              Pitt CC Tournament      TBD                                                     TBD

Dec. 8              Central Carolina CC      Central Carolina CC                              7:00pm

Jan. 5              USC-Salkehatchie       Aycock Recreation Center                7:00pm

Jan. 7              Lenoir CC                   Aycock Recreation Center                7:00pm

Jan. 11              Methodist Univ.             Methodist University                              8:00pm

Jan. 13              Patrick Henry CC         Patrick Henry CC                                 6:00pm

Jan. 18              Louisburg College          Louisburg College                                  3:00pm

Jan. 19              Lenoir CC                     Lenoir CC                                             7:00pm

Jan. 23              Guildford Tech CC        Guildford Tech CC                                3:00pm

Jan. 25              Pitt CC                         Pitt CC                                                 7:00pm

Jan. 27                        Catawba Valley CC     Aycock Recreation Center                6:30pm

Feb. 3              Richard Bland College           Aycock Recreation Center                7:00pm

Feb. 5               Mid-Atlantic Christian    Mid-Atlantic Christian                            6:00pm

Feb. 8               Wake Tech CC             Wake Tech CC                                     7:00pm

Feb. 11                        Pitt CC                                    Aycock Recreation Center                7:00pm

Feb. 13             Bryant/Stratton College  Bryant/Stratton College                          3:00pm

Feb. 15             Sandhills CC                 Sandhills CC                                         6:00pm

Feb. 16             Catawba Valley CC      Catawba Valley CC                              6:30pm

Feb. 23                        Guildford Tech CC     Aycock Recreation Center                7:00pm

 

Home Games are Bold

VGCC defeats Central Carolina in women’s volleyball match

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via Andrew Beal

The Vance-Granville Community College women’s volleyball team notched another Region X conference victory on Sept. 29, with a 3-0 win (25-16, 25-18 and 25-18) at home over the Cougars from Central Carolina Community College. That brought the Vanguards’ record to 7-5 (3-2 in conference play).

Kara Reese of Henderson led VGCC in kills (12) and in blocks (six). Reese and Rachel Thomas of Louisburg also contributed ten digs apiece. Caitlyn Robins of Creedmoor was dominant in digs (15) and aces (six) while also posting five kills. As in VGCC’s previous conference wins, Melissa Elliott of Townsville was the team leader in assists, with 26 this time.

“After starting out slowly in our first two sets, we settled down and played good defense,” said VGCC Coach Christopher Young. “We had strong performances from Rachel Thomas, Caitlyn Robins and Morgan Carter, great blocking from Jesse Edwards and Kara Reese, and Melissa Elliott did a great job setting up hitters. Jesse left the third set early with an injury, but we stayed the course with strong defense and pulled away with the 3-0 victory.”

VGCC was coming off a pair of non-conference losses on the road at nearby Louisburg College. In the first match of the Sept. 22 doubleheader, the Hurricanes won in three sets (25-21, 25-14 and 25-18). In the second match, VGCC lost the first two sets to Louisburg, 25-22 and 25-17, came back to win the third set, 25-17, but lost the fourth, 25-10.

Over the course of both Louisburg matches, Reese and Robins each had 19 digs, while Edwards and Thomas each had 18. Edwards recorded the most kills (12) and blocks (15). Elliott led the Vanguards in assists, with a total of 32.

The next home match for the Vanguards is set for Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 6 p.m. at Aycock Recreation Center in Henderson. The visiting opponent is the squad from Davidson County Community College. Doubleheaders at Aycock versus Rockingham Community College on Oct. 9 at 5 p.m. and Laurel University on Oct. 10 at noon will wrap up VGCC’s home schedule for 2015.

Triangle Teams Rack Up

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Atlantic Coast Conference Announces Football Players of the Week

Duke leads the way with three selections following win over Georgia Tech

GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Duke leads all schools with three student-athletes receiving Atlantic Coast Conference Football Player of the Week honors following Saturday’s 34-20 Coastal Division victory over 20th ranked Georgia Tech.

The Blue Devils’ Jeremy Cash was recognized as the ACC Defensive Back of the Week, while A.J. Wolf was named the Defensive Lineman of the Week and DeVon Edwards the Specialist of the Week.

Cash was also named the Walter Camp Foundation National Defensive Player of the Week for his play against the Yellow Jackets.

North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky picked up ACC Offensive Back of the Week honors, and his Tar Heel teammate Mack Hollins was selected the Receiver of the Week. NC State’s Joe Thuney was named the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week, while Boston College’s Connor Strachan was recognized as the ACC Linebacker of the Week and Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson as Freshman of the Week.

ACC Football Players of the Week are selected by a 14-member media panel.

OFFENSIVE BACK – Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina, So., QB, 6-3, 220, Mentor, Ohio

Trubisky completed 17 of 20 passes for 312 yards and four touchdowns and set a single-game North Carolina record for pass efficiency rating at 282.04 in Saturday’s 41-14 win over Delaware.  The previous Tar Heel record was 263.48 by Jason Stanicek vs. Maryland in 1993. Trubisky also ran the ball six times for 39 yards. He set single-game career highs for completions, attempts, passing yards and touchdown passes. Trubisky’s 64-yard touchdown pass to Mack Hollins in the third quarter was the longest completion of his career.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – Joe Thuney, NC State, Sr.-r, OT, 6-5, 295, Centerville, Ohio

Thuney helped pave the way for the Wolfpack to gain 586 total yards, including 330 rushing yards, in Saturday night’s 63-13 road win at South Alabama. Thuney earned a team-high grade of 92 percent while participating on 47 offensive snaps and did not miss an assignment or allow a sack.

RECEIVER – Mack Hollins, North Carolina, Jr., WR, 6-4, 210, Rockville, Md.

Hollins caught three passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday’s 41-14 win over Delaware to earn ACC Receiver of the Week honors for the second time in his career. Hollins now has 10 career touchdown receptions, and Saturday marked his second career two-touchdown game (also 2014 at Virginia). Hollins posted his third career game with 100 or more receiving yards.

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – A.J. Wolf, Duke, Jr.-r, DT, 6-4, 270, Greenwich, Conn.

Wolf had eight tackles – six of which limited Georgia Tech rushers to two yards or less – in Saturday’s 34-20 win over the 20th ranked Yellow Jackets. Wolf’s play up front helped limit Georgia Tech to 173 rushing yards – 204 below its season average – and just 2.9 yards per rushing attempt. The Yellow Jackets’ average of 7.3 yards per carry entering the game ranked third nationally. Wolf and the Duke defense also limited Georgia Tech to to a combined 6-of-24 (.250) on third and fourth downs – 5-of-19 on third down and 1-of-5 on fourth down.

​LINEBACKER – Connor Strachan, Boston College, So., LB, 6-2, 230, Wellesley, Mass.

Strachan led the Eagles’ defense in tackles for the third game in 2015 with nine in Saturday’s 17-14 victory over Northern Illinois.  The sophomore tallied a career-high nine tackles, including seven solo stops, and registered additional career highs with one sack for a loss of nine yards and 2.5 tackles for a loss of 11 yards. Strachan helped the BC defense hold the Huskies to just 72 rushing yards and only 153 total yards, The Eagles continue to own the top-ranking defense in the nation and have yet to allow a team over 100 rushing yards this season.

DEFENSIVE BACK – Jeremy Cash, Duke, Sr.-r, S, 6-2, 210, Miami, Fla.

Cash spearheaded Duke’s defensive effort in Saturday’s 34-20 ACC win over 20th ranked Georgia Tech with 12 tackles, including three tackles for loss and one quarterback sack. Cash forced two fumbles and had four quarterback pressures in earning ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors for the fourth time in his career.  Duke held Georgia Tech to 173 rushing yards – 204 below its season average (377.0), which ranked second nationally entering the week – while snapping the Yellow Jackets’ nation’s-best 17-game streak of consecutive outings with 200-plus rushing yards.

SPECIALIST – DeVon Edwards, Duke, Jr.-r, KR, 5-9, 180, Covington, Ga.

Edwards delivered a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at a key point in Saturday’s 34-20 win over Georgia Tech en route to earning his second career ACC Specialist of the Week honor and third conference weekly award overall. Edwards’ runback came with 6:54 remaining in the third quarter immediately following a Georgia Tech touchdown that trimmed Duke’s lead to 19-13. It was his second kickoff return for a touchdown this season and the fifth of his career. Edwards also contributed eight tackles on defense.

ROOKIE – Lamar Jackson, Louisville, Fr., QB, 6-3, 196, Boynton Beach, Fla.

Jackson rushed for 184 yards and two scores while throwing for a career-high 212 yards and another touchdown in Saturday’s 45-3 win over Samford. In his second career start, Jackson scored on runs of 13 and 14 yards and tossed a 36-yard TD pass. His 184 yards rushing are the most in a single game by a Louisville quarterback.

Preview: Optimist Bowl

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by Kevin Bullock

It has been a tale of two seasons for Vance County High School football teams. Northern Vance comes into Friday’s game red hot against Southern, and yet the Raiders will look to turn their season around against the crosstown Vikings.

Northern Vance has already picked up a victory this season over 4A East Chapel Hill, and had an impressive victory last week against Warren County.

Southern suffered a tough loss against Ravenscroft in week one, and J.F. Webb was able to pull away from the Raiders late in the fourth quarter in week two.

Players to watch:

Northern goes the way of Kristopher Haywood. The senior Viking quarterback will need the time to find his friends Joel Royster and Elijah Stewart. When he is pressured he as the running ability to take it down the field, but as a result is prone to major hits along the sideline. Haywood needs to say healthy if Northern wants to move the ball. Todd McKoon is the player to watch along the defensive line. You may think we are crazy, but no, this 5’6 145lb defensive lineman makes a great nose tackle.

Southern goes the way of their wide receivers. Mark Baldwin, Zamari Ellis, Laronta Durham, and others must limit their drops this week as compared to their game against J.F. Webb if they hope to stand a chance against Northern. Senior quarterback Jerry Throckmorton has a cannon attached to the right side of his body, which excuses the occasional overthrow. Raider wide receivers had over seven dropped passes last week, and that cannot happen Friday if the Raiders want the win.

The Optimist Bowl this year is at Southern Vance. Attend if you can, but listen to WIZS inside Raider Stadium on the all new WIZS.com or on the free Tune-In radio app. Kickoff is at 7:30p.m.

We hope to see you there.