VIPERS FOOTBALL PREVIEW

North Lenoir at Vance County

Saturday, October 15th, 2018

Game Time: 1:00 PM

Southern Vance lost last year’s first-ever meeting with the Hawks in a 50-36 shootout, but N. Lenoir went on to a 5-6 record (2-4 in their conference) and missed the playoffs.  The Hawks’ 2017 offense, a lot like this year’s Vipers on paper, was not too bad,  averaging 25 points per game, and breaking 40 points in 4 of their 5 wins;  but their defense had a lot of holes in it, so when they lost they lost big, allowing an average of 34 points per game.

First-year coach Jim Collins inherited an improved program, elevated by his predecessor from records of 2-9 in both 2014 and 2015, to 6-6 in 2017, and 5-6 last year.  This year’s 50-man roster includes 16 seniors, so there should have been a core to build on.  But the Hawks were 0-3 as of September 7 this season, and they missed 3 games in a row because of the hurricane.  Returning to action against conference opponent Greene Central last week, the Hawks lost 42-26. Meeting a winless team at home who has similar challenges to their own, the Vipers have a clear opportunity to notch their second victory before entering their conference home stretch.

Catch all the action right here on WIZS 100.1 FM / 1450 AM and online at www.wizs.com.