Tag Archive for: #optimistbowl

@NorthernVanceFB @SVHS_Athletics

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It’s the big game, the Optimist Bowl, and you need to be there in person at Southern Vance High School.  Like and share on Facebook, Tweet your friends, bring a neighbor.  And, if you can’t make it to the game, be sure to listen live on 1450 AM WIZS and online at wizs.com.  Click on Listen Live!

Pregame show at 6:45 p.m. and the kickoff follows at 7 p.m.

Scouting Report by Jeff Jenkins

Northern Vance at Southern Vance — Friday 11/3/2017

Friday’s Optimist Bowl will feature the leading passer in the Northern Carolina 1A/2A Conference, Southern Vance’s Elijah Stewart (1999 yards), and the league’s leading receiver, Raider WR Kyree Ford (692 yards). On top of that, Southern RB Tyrese Henderson is number 2 in rushing yardage (1065), Number 5 in total TDs (12), and number 4 in total points scored (80). Raider DB Malik Boyd has 4 interceptions – good enough for 3rd in the conference. With an even 5-5 overall record, and a 4-3 winning record in the conference (currently 5th place), a win tonight for Southern Vance will probably not lift them into the playoffs, but a Raider victory would result in an overall winning record for the first time since 2011, as well as taking the Optimist trophy back from the Vikings, who won the match-up 27-6 last year.

Northern Vance pales in comparison to these impressive stats: The Vikings and new head coach Antwain Cook had a difficult time overcoming the loss of Stewart and Ford, who both transferred to Southern Vance when former Viking offensive coordinator Darry Ragland took the Raider head coach position. Northern’s Coach Cook, who was the defensive coordinator for Northern before his promotion to the top job, did not find a consistent quarterback until sophomore Samien Burell took over the signal calling and the Vikings began to avoid shutouts (they failed to score in 3 of their first 4 games). Northern got their first victory in week 7 over 1A conference member Louisburg, failed to defeat the other 1A member Granville Central the next week , but then caught fire last week for their second win, a 33-13 thrashing of J. F. Webb in Oxford. This surge of offense is great for the 2-8 (2-5) Vikings, but it remains to be seen whether it will be too little / too late against the Raiders. Both teams allow opponents an average of 28 points per game, but Southern scores 30 per game, while Northern has averaged just under 10 points per game.

In the past 10 years, this rivalry has been pretty close: Southern Vance holds a 6-4 lead in the series for that period, but Northern has the largest margin of victory with a 42-0 victory in 2008. Since 2013, the teams are locked at 2-2, with Northern holding the trophy from last year’s victory.

Optimist Bowl Preview (THURSDAY GAME)

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The annual Optimist Bowl is tonight with Southern Vance High School visiting Northern Vance High School for a 7 p.m. kickoff.  Live analysis and play by play coverage begins on WIZS 1450 AM at 6:45.  You can also listen by going to WIZS.com or with the free Tunein Radio App on your smartphone or tablet.

Jeff Jenkins announces the Grid Iron Report on Tuesdays and Fridays on WIZS.  It’s part of “Sports Mayhem” with Kemp Collins at 1 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Scouting Report on Southern Vance from Jeff Jenkins:

Although their record stands at 0-2, The Raiders Offense has been effective from the beginning, scoring 22 against a strong Ravenscroft squad in their opener, and 48 against Webb last week, but without yet chalking up a win.  Scoring on the ground and through the air has been pretty even.  Against Ravenscroft, Southern quarterback Corey Twitty, Jr. passed for 2 TDs, both to Zamari Ellis; and Malik Boyd ran for the third score.  Tyrese Henderson and Shammond Lyons both ran for 2 pt conversions.  Twitty led all rushing with 105 yards (although 15 yards were called back on penalties) and Shammond Lyons ran for 94 yards (but had a 39 yard run called back).

Against Webb last week, Malik Boyd led the Raiders rushing  with 159 yards on 13 carries and scored twice; Tyrese Henderson gained 100 yards and scored a TD and a 2 pt. conversion;  and Lyons ran for a TD and a conversion.  Twitty passed for 89 yards, including 2 touchdowns, both to Shammond Lyons.  Then when Twitty was knocked out of the game early in the second half, Lyons took over at quarterback and threw a TD pass to Ellis in overtime.  Lyons also attempted the essential 2 pt conversion run in overtime and was stopped short.

And so, the Raiders have scored a very respectable 35 points per game; but their defense has not been nearly as effective, allowing 46 per game.

Scouting Report on Northern Vance from Jeff Jenkins:

Thanks to the last altogether unfortunate contest with Warren County, The Vikings’ numbers are not as impressive as the Raiders.  Northern Vance stands at 1-1, after Northern scoring 42 points against East Chapel Hill, and then 5 against Warren, giving them a modest 23 ½  point average – about the same as they had at the end of last season.  On the other hand, the Viking defense was consistently excellent, chalking up shut-outs in both games. (Keep in mind that Warren County scored it’s 7 points against the Viking offense – on a fumble recovery and run-back).