Tag Archive for: #localsports

SportsTalk: Vipers Prepared to take on Knightdale

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UPDATE – FINAL SCORE 

Knightdale 43

Vance County 0

RECAP MONDAY ON SPORTSTALK 

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The Vance County Vipers wind up a long stretch of away games when they travel to Knightdale for a 7 p.m. conference matchup against the Knightdale Knights.

Both teams have a 1-5 record, and Vipers Head Coach Aaron Elliott said he’s been reviewing film and statistics to help figure out Knightdale’s strengths.

The Knights quarterback is one of the team’s best rushers, Elliott said, so the Viper defense needs to be prepared to shut down the opponent’s run game. But they also have to be able to cover and put pressure on the quarterback when he’s in pass mode.

“If we can control the quarterback, we can control the game,” Elliott said.

As for the Vipers, Elliott said he’ll stick with the game plan that’s been in place this season, “putting an emphasis on getting better and fixing the small stuff,” he said.

In last week’s loss to Wake Forest, Elliott said the punting unit had a solid performance, and he said the fact that the Vipers were able to block a few field goals is proof that the work the team is putting in during practice is showing off a little bit.

Area High School Football Games for Week 8:

  • Vance County (1-5, 0-1 N6C) @ Knightdale (1-5, 0-1 N6C)
  • Franklinton (5-1, 1-0 N6C) @ Heritage (1-5, 0-1 N6C)
  • Wake Forest (2-4, 1-0 N6C) vs. East Wake (3-3, 1-0 N6C)
  • J.F. Webb (4-2) @ Orange (0-6)
  • South Granville (2-4) vs. Carrboro (0-6)
  • Warren County (5-1) @ Northampton County (1-5)
  • Louisburg (6-0) vs. ALA-Johnston (4-3)
  • Bunn (4-2) vs. Wake Prep (4-2)
  • Mecklenburg County, VA (1-5) vs. Magna Vista, VA (5-0)

Vance County travels to Knightdale High School for Week 8 of the 2025 season on Friday, October 10th and you can hear all the action on WIZS 1450AM, 100.1FM, and online at wizs.com with pregame starting around 6:50 p.m. and kickoff at 7:00 p.m.

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Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Vance County Football Week 7 Recap

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Scout Hughes and Doc Ayscue recap the weekend that was with Vance County’s football game against Wake Forest, in addition to the other games in High School Football. The guys also talk about the college and NFL games from over the weekend.

High School Football Scores from Week 7:

  • Wake Forest 53 Vance County 0
  • Franklinton 23 Knightdale 19
  • East Wake 34 Heritage 28 2OT
  • J.F. Webb 37 Carrboro 7
  • South Granville 48 Cedar Ridge 0
  • Warren County 49 Southeast Halifax 0
  • Louisburg 16 Nash Central 15
  • Bunn 41 ALA-Johnston 15
  • Wake Prep 27 Roanoke Rapids 14
  • Halifax County, VA 29 Mecklenburg County, VA 14

Area College Football Scores for Week 6:

  • Clemson 38 North Carolina 10
  • Duke 45 California 21
  • North Carolina State 56 Campbell 10
  • Wake Forest 30 Virginia Tech 23
  • Virginia 30 Louisville 27 OT
  • South Florida 54 Charlotte 26
  • App State 27 Oregon State 23
  • Georgia Military College 69 Louisburg College 14

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SportsTalk: Vance County Football starts conference play on Friday

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UPDATE – FINAL SCORE 

Wake Forest 53

Vance County 0

RECAP MONDAY ON SPORTSTALK 

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With five games behind them, the Vance County Vipers are headed to Wake Forest Friday to take on the Wake Forest Cougars. Both teams are 1-4, and Vipers Head Coach Aaron Elliott said he expects the Cougars are hungry for a win, just like his guys.

The Vipers are coming off a bye week, and Elliott told WIZS’s Scout Hughes and George Hoyle Thursday that having a few extra days to prepare was a good thing. Plus, it gave his team a little extra time to get over some injuries.

In fact, Elliott said Friday’s matchup will mark – knock on wood –  the first time all season that everybody’s fully healthy when they take the field at Trentini Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Although the last four games have resulted in losses for the Vipers, Elliott said he’s confident that facing those tough non-conference teams will pay off now that conference play is on the doorstep.

He borrowed a term he heard another analyst use and called the Vipers at this point in the season “battle tested.”

Two teams in the conference with better records than the Vipers include Franklinton High at 4-1 and East Wake at 2-3. Elliott takes it in stride. “None of those teams have played a Jordan. None of those teams has played a Northeastern,” he said.

Leading in to Friday’s game, Elliott said he and his team are excited about conference play. “We’ve talked to the kids about how our non-conference was going set us up to be ready for the conference. We’re excited to see what we can do and how much better we’ve gotten since day 1.

One of the keys to the game will be playing disciplined football, Elliott said. What he’s talking about is each player doing his job. “If each person does his job, offensively and defensively, and plays to their capability, I think we’ll be fine.”

As for the Wake Forest Cougars, Elliott said they’re a good team and are well coached. They look good offensively and defensively are pretty sound as well.

Wake Forest Head Coach Reggie Lucas, Elliott said, “knows the game of football and does a good job of coaching his guys up.”

Going head to head against teams with coaches like Lucas helps Elliott and his staff figure out what they need to work on and improve upon.

“It challenges us as coaches as well,” he said. “A lot of times you can be out-coached – and it happens…being able to see good coaches like that and coach against them – it’s fun. And we learn a lot – coaches and players alike.”

Area High School Football Games for Week 7:

  • Vance County (1-4) @ Wake Forest (1-4)
  • Franklinton (4-1) vs. Knightdale (1-4)
  • Heritage (1-4) @ East Wake (2-3)
  • J.F. Webb (3-2) vs. Carrboro (0-5)
  • South Granville (1-4) vs. Cedar Ridge (1-4)
  • Warren County (4-1) vs. Southeast Halifax (4-1)
  • Louisburg (5-0) @ Nash Central (1-4)
  • Bunn (3-2) @ ALA-Johnston (4-2)
  • Wake Prep (3-2) vs. Roanoke Rapids (1-4)
  • Mecklenburg County, VA (1-4) @ Halifax County, VA (2-3)

Vance County travels to Wake Forest High School for Week 7 of the 2025 season on Friday, October 3rd and you can hear all the action on WIZS 1450AM, 100.1FM, and online at wizs.com with pregame starting at 6:50 p.m. and kickoff at 7:00 p.m.

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SportsTalk: Football Recap from the Weekend

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Scout Hughes and Doc Ayscue recap the weekend that was with all the football that happened.

High School Football Scores from Week 6:

  • J.F. Webb 34 Northwest Halifax 20
  • Warren County 48 Roanoke Rapids 7
  • Louisburg 41 Carrboro 0
  • Bunn 6 Beddingfield 0
  • Bassett, VA 28 Mecklenburg County, VA 16

College Scores for our area in Week 5:

  • Duke 38 Syracuse 3
  • Virginia Tech 23 NC State 21
  • Georgia Tech 30 Wake Forest 29 OT
  • Virginia 46 Florida State 38 2OT
  • East Carolina 28 Army 6
  • Boise State 47 App State 14
  • NC Central 50 East Texas A&M 42

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SportsTalk: High School Football Games this Friday

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With Vance County, and many others on a bye week, Scout Hughes and Doc Ayscue talk about the high school, college and pro football games happening this weekend!

High School Games this week:

  • J.F. Webb (2-2) vs. Northwest Halifax (3-1)
  • Warren County (3-1) vs. Roanoke Rapids (1-3)
  • Louisburg (4-0) @ Carrboro (0-4)
  • Bunn (2-2) @ Beddingfield (1-3)
  • Wake Prep (3-2) @ Washington County (2-2)
  • Mecklenburg County, VA (1-3) vs. Bassett, VA (2-2)

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SportsTalk: Louisburg College Football Coaches Show

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Louisburg College Football Head Coach Quinderra Spellman joins SportsTalk to talk about the Canes win against Sussex County CC and how the team will address the bye week. The guys also give the final Minor League Baseball update in 2025 for teams in North Carolina, as well as recap the Monday Night Football Game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Detroit Lions.

Friday MiLB Scores:

  • Charlotte 8 Durham Bulls 7 

Saturday MiLB Scores:

  • Double Header
    • Durham Bulls 5 Charlotte 1
    • Charlotte 3 Durham Bulls 2

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Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Vipers Football Week 5 Recap

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Scout Hughes and Doc Ayscue recap Vance County’s football game against Northeastern last Friday. The guys also talk about other games that happened in high school, college and the NFL.

High School Scores for Week 5:

  • Northeastern 40 Vance County 8
  • Franklinton 35 Riverside Durham 7
  • Hillside Durham 20 Wake Forest 7
  • Holly Springs 23 Heritage 7
  • Knightdale 38 South Granville 35
  • Cary 38 East Wake 20
  • Warren County 28 Nash Central 8
  • Louisburg 23 Beddingfield 18
  • Wake Prep 48 North Edgecombe 0
  • Greensville County (VA) 14 Mecklenburg County (VA) 13

College Scores for Week 4:

  • Central Florida 34 North Carolina 9
  • Duke 45 NC State 33
  • Virginia 48 Stanford 20
  • Virginia Tech 38 Wofford 6
  • BYU 34 East Carolina 13
  • Rice 28 Charlotte 17
  • NC Central 62 NC A&T 20
  • Louisburg College 27 Sussex County CC 9

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SportsTalk: Vipers face off against Northeastern for Friday Matchup

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UPDATE – FINAL SCORE 

Northeastern 40

Vance County 8

RECAP MONDAY ON SPORTSTALK 

••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

The Vance County Vipers are on the road Friday to face the Northeastern High School Eagles in Elizabeth City.

Vipers Head Coach Aaron Elliott said he and Northeastern Head Coach Antonio Moore have known each other for awhile, and he expects a good matchup.

The 1-3 Vipers, however, are right where Elliott wants them to be as they get ready for conference play.

In preparing for the Eagles, Elliott said this week’s practice has been good. “We’ve had another good week. I really feel like the kids have bought in,” he said. Using data and statistics from the first four games, Elliott and the coaching staff have shown the players how they’ve improved week over week.

“They want to get better, so that’s a positive,” Elliott said.

In last week’s game against Rocky Mount, Elliott said he saw definite improvement. The Vipers had their biggest game on offense so far – a “plus” in the coach’s view, thanks in part to an improved passing game.

“We knew that we had a passing game, we just were waiting for the right time for it to click, Elliott said.

The Vipers’ coaching staff is keen to keep everybody healthy come conference time, and Friday’s game with Northeastern is the last non-conference matchup before the conference games kick in.

If the Vipers can get a couple of stops and get its offense rolling, Elliott said he thinks things will go well Friday.

The Eagles’ quarterback is a real weapon for the Eagles to be aware of. “After Week 4, he’s still the number one quarterback in the state as far as passing,” Elliott said. “They throw the ball real well, so we’ve worked on being able to cover and work on our defensive coverage.” They’ll run when they have to, but ultimately “they like to throw the football and take advantage of what you give them.”

With four games under their belts, the Vipers need to play four quarters of football to put some games in the W column. Elliott said they played a good first half against Rocky Mount but couldn’t keep the momentum going after halftime.

But Elliott isn’t fazed by his team’s record. “We set up this schedule to be tested,” Elliott said. “Getting tested before conference play is important to us. I’ve been telling my guys, we won’t face another team as good as Jordan. We’ve seen the best of the best.”

 

Vance County travels to Northeastern High School for Week 5 of the 2025 season on Friday, September 19th and you can hear all the action on WIZS 1450AM, 100.1FM, and online at wizs.com with pregame starting at 6:50 p.m. and kickoff at 7:00 p.m.

CLICK PLAY!

SportsTalk: Northeastern HS Eagles Host Vance County Vipers Friday Night

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The Vance County Vipers travel to Elizabeth City Friday to play the Northeastern High School Eagles. The Vipers will have a lot of time to think about the 7 p.m. matchup against the 3-1 Eagles – it’s close to a three-hour drive to get to Pasquotank County, tucked up in the northeast corner of the state about 30 miles from the Virginia border.

That’s where Head Coach Antonio Moore is from, it’s where he played college football and that’s where he’s stayed to teach and coach.

Moore told WIZS’s Scout Hughes and Doc Ayscue Wednesday that he’s familiar with teams from Vance County, and he’s positive they’ll come ready to play.

The Eagles have a pretty good quarterback, junior Zak Ishman. “He’s one of the leaders in the state in passing,” Moore said on SportsTalk. The team also has a good D-Line and a host of receivers. “I’m really excited about this team,” he added.

Coming off a win last week, Moore said the team has had one of the best weeks of practice this season to get ready for the 1-3 Vipers.

He and his coaching staff have been preparing the team for the physical game that he said the Vipers will bring.

“They’re very physical, athletic, had a lot of enthusiasm on the sidelines,” Moore said of Vance County teams he’s faced in the past. “The kids play extremely hard. I don’t expect anything less Friday night.”

His team must limit turnovers and penalties if they are to come out with a victory, Moore said. “Our penalties have been off the charts lately.”

Moore said the Eagles’ loss to D.H. Conley a couple of weeks ago may have been just what the team needed to begin creating its own identity. The Eagles lost 22 seniors from last year’s team and had not lost a regular-season game since 2022.

“I think that loss did it for us,” he said. “I’m kinda grateful for that loss. We’re in a good place right now.”

 

Vance County travels to Northeastern High School for Week 5 of the 2025 season on Friday, September 19th and you can hear all the action on WIZS 1450AM, 100.1FM, and online at wizs.com with pregame starting at 6:50 p.m. and kickoff at 7:00 p.m.

 

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SportsTalk: Louisburg College Football Back in the Top 5

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Louisburg College Football Head Coach joins SportsTalk to recap the win against Hudson Valley CC that puts the Hurricanes back in the Top 5. Scout Hughes and Steve Lewis also recap the weekend that was with Minor League Baseball around the state and go over the MLB playoff picture as the season is in its final stretch.

NJCAA DIII Football Rankings:

  1. College of DuPage
  2. North Dakota State College of Science
  3. Minnesota West Community & Technical College
  4. Louisburg College
  5. Hudson Valley Community College

Friday MiLB Scores:

  • Durham Bulls 5 Norfolk 3
  • Omaha 10 Charlotte 1

Saturday MiLB Scores:

  • Double Header
    • Durham Bulls 6 Norfolk 2
    • Norfolk 3 Durham Bulls 1
  • Omaha 8 Charlotte 3

Sunday MiLB Scores:

  • Norfolk 7 Durham Bulls 5
  • Charlotte 8 Omaha 0

Tuesday Games Today:

  • Durham Bulls vs. Charlotte Knights – 6:35pm

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