Tag Archive for: #vancecountyvipers

Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Vance County High Welcomes Roanoke Rapids Friday Night

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The first football game of the season tends to be a little ragged around the edges, and according to Vance County High School Head Football Coach Aaron Elliott, this was true of the Vipers in their season opening four point win over the rival Eagles in Warren County last Friday night.  Twelve penalties totaling 95 yards is something the Vipers can ill afford to have happen this week when the school hosts Roanoke Rapids who beat Northampton County last week by the score of 48 -16.

“They are very disciplined,” Elliott said of Roanoke Rapids. Elliott said that after looking at the film of the Northampton game, the Vipers can expect to see a Wing-T offense and a heavy dose of the running game.  This might be good for the Vipers as they held Warren Co. to minus 46 yards rushing last week.

Click to hear full audio of Coach Elliott – SportsTalk: Vance County High Welcomes Roanoke Rapids Friday Night

Elliott said the Warren County game was very emotional at kick off, as it was his first as head coach, but after the game and the victory, despite the mistakes, it was very fulfilling. Those mistakes cannot be repeated Friday night if the Vipers want to move to 2 – 0 on the season. “We have to keep players accountable for mistakes,” Elliott said.  In addition to the penalties, Vance Co. muffed a punt that gave Warren Co. a short field and a touchdown. In contrast, Roanoke Rapids had a total of three penalties last week.

Roanoke Rapids nor Vance Co. suffered any injuries and both teams should be a full strength when they hit the field at 7pm Friday night. Vance Co. Friday Night Football will broadcast the game live beginning at 6:50pm with the pre-game show.

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SportsTalk: Ray Noel Prepares For AD Position At VCHS

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Ray Noel said he’s looking forward to his new job as athletic director at Vance County High School, but right now, he’s focused on his closing out the school year at Granville Central High School, where he will still be athletic director until the end of June.

July 1 marks his first day in Vance County, and Noel said he’s excited about the new opportunity.

When his teams faced Vance County High School’s teams, Noel said he noticed how close and tight-knit the community seemed to be.

He told David “Doc” Harris, Bill Harris and John C. Rose on Monday’s Sports Talk that really made a lasting impression on him.

“I’d see the turnouts for sports in Vance County,” he said, adding that he looks forward to being part of an athletic program that receives such positive support.

But Noel said he values his 15 years at Granville Central High School – he took a job there upon graduation from Averett University – and will miss the relationships that he has developed with staff during his time there.

Noel takes over the AD position from Joe Sharrow, who announced in April that he would be leaving VCS, took the AD position at Jordan High School in Durham.

“I hope to continue the success that Mr. Sharrow had and take it to the next level if we can,” Noel said.

It’s important for student athletes to be recognized for their efforts, Noel said, and there are a number of athletes at VCHS who will get a lot of attention on social media and elsewhere for their accomplishments in sports.

But, he acknowledged, not everybody who plays high school sports makes it to the next level of sports. Quality, stable athletic programs are important to help students be successful after high school, he said. “We want them to be good men and women out in the job force,” Noel said.

 

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Vance County High School

VCHS Viper Graduation Moved Inside, Will Air Live on WIZS

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We have an important message for the Class of 2022 graduates at Vance County High School. The large amount of rain over the last 24-hours has greatly impacted the field conditions of the high school stadium field. After careful consideration, the decision has been made to move the Vance County High School graduation indoors into the VCHS gymnasium. Each graduate received 4 tickets for the rain location. We also want to let you know that the VCHS graduation will be livestreamed on the VCS website tomorrow, May 25, at 9am and aired live on WIZS.
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Aarika Sandlin

Director of Communication and Marketing
Vance County Schools | www.vcs.k12.nc.us

SportsTalk Omari Allen Signs Letter Of Intent With ECU

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Vance County High School’s 2021 football season resulted in a trip to the state playoffs. One of the big reasons, and that’s a term that certainly fits this story, is Omari Allen. Allen was a lineman for the Vipers and a good one.  Good enough to garner the attention of East Carolina University.  On Wednesday, Allen signed his national letter of intent to play for the Pirates.  Allen received an official offer this past June and Allen spoke with his coaches at length about the decision to attend ECU.

At yesterday’s signing, held at the school’s library, Vance Co. High School Athletic Director Joe Sharrow said he was very, very proud of Allen’s accomplishments over the course of his high school career.  “Allen embodies the term “leadership”,” said Head Football Coach Wilbur Pender. “He provided great input and feedback to the coaching staff,” Pender continued. Allen credits Pender with turning the school’s football program around and said it has been fairly easy navigating the changes that have come through the school with different head coaches and the consolidation of Northern and Southern Vance that happened during his high school football career.

In addition to his coaches and Vipers players, Allen had many family members present. Allen’s mother described her son as a gentle boy who was always huge. “Every mom know it’s a lot taking care of a child. It’s not always easy,” she said. She said Omari had great support from the coaching staff. “He’s worked really hard but I’m not ready for him to leave,” she added.

His grandmother was also in attendance at the signing ceremony and said it was a bittersweet day. She said Omari would do anything for her such as mowing grass and other household chores. She also said he really enjoys her cooking.

Allen took the signing opportunity to thank all of the school’s staff, coaches, players and family members who have made it possible for him to continue his football journey at East Carolina.  Allen says he plans to play 10 to 15 plays a game as a freshman and to make an impact immediately at ECU.

 

Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Aniyah Miller Breaking the Glass Ceiling at Vance Co. High School

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There’s a Brad Paisley song called The Last Time for Everything. He’s singing about the last high school football game and the last dance. Perhaps he should write a song about the first time for everything. Aniyah Miller might be able to help him with that. Miller is the first varsity female wrestler in the history of Vance Co. High School. Because of this achievement, she was named WIZS Female Player of the Week by Trey Snide host of SportsTalk on WIZS.

Miller was a guest on today’s show and said that as a child she was rough as a kid which led her into wrestling at the middle school level. At first, she didn’t want to be involved in the wrestling program at the high school level but had a change of heart.

When asked about what it’s like to wrestle men during matches she said, “At first men try not to be so touchy but by round 2 they get rough.”  She said wrestling is a great sport but the practice and learning the moves can be hard. “It’s not about who’s stronger,” Miller added.

Vance Co. High School Athletic Director Joe Sharrow said “We’re really excited that she’s a part of the team. She represents the school well.”  Sharrow also commented that Miller is breaking the glass ceiling for female athletes at Vance Co. High School.

 

Vance County High School

Vance County High School Announces Changes to Basketball Schedule

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According to Vance  County High School Assistant Principle and Athletic Director Joe Sharrow the following changes are taking place to the Vance County Basketball schedules:
– Tonight’s home game vs. Northern Durham will be Varsity Girls only at 5:00.
– Tomorrow’s home games (JV Boys, Varsity Girls, Varsity Boys) vs. Warren County are all postponed to February 9.
– Friday’s away games (JV Boys, Varsity Girls, and Varsity Boys) at Wakefield are going to be postponed until the schools are able to agree on a rescheduled date.
– Next Monday’s (12/6) home game vs. Franklinton will be Varsity Girls only at 5:00.
– Next Wednesday’s away games (JV Boys, Varsity Girls, and Varsity Boys) (12/8) at Warren County have been postponed until January 19.
– Next Friday’s away game (12/1) at Rolesville will be girls only at 6:00.
WIZS had planned to  carry tonight’s game between Northern Durham and Vance County. Due to the boy’s game cancellation, WIZS will now broadcast the game between Crossroads Christian and Cape Fear Christian.  Air time will be 7:00 p.m. with Trey Snide on the call.
Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Pender Reflects On First Season At VCHS

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Wilbur Pender was hired as Vance County High School’s head football coach only four weeks before the season started, and the team’s season was disrupted for two weeks due to Covid but none of that really mattered as the Vipers posted a 7-3 record this season making it to the state playoffs. They lost in the first round 48-6 to Westover High School in Fayetteville. Pender says that game, “Let us know where we are, I saw a lot of deficiencies show up.”
The Vipers, according to Pender, are a close team but, “We just didn’t play good enough to win that game. I hate to say it but the best team won,” Pender added. Looking back on the season Pender said the Vipers did their best to control what they could control, and he tried to give his team the best chance at a positive outcome.
While losing seniors like Omari Allen, who will be moving on to East Carolina next season, Pender says there will be a good group of players returning and he is encouraging his players to play other sports that will help make them better athletes when next season begins.
He expects to continue to grow the program at Vance County and would like to see a rebuild of the Jay-Vee program which, because of the pandemic, did not happen this year.

 

Vance County High School

J. F. Webb forfeits game to Vance County High School

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According to Joe Sharrow, Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at Vance County High School, tonight’s (Oct. 29) scheduled football game between Vance County and J. F. Webb has been canceled.  J. F. Webb has forfeited the game. This is the second game this year Webb has forfeited.  A game against Franklinton earlier this season suffered the same fate.  No reason was given for the cancellation and forfeit.  Vance County will now play in the state playoffs beginning next week. The opponent for the first round playoff matchup has yet to be determined.

Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Vipers Look To Rebound Against Webb

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Shocked is the word Vance County High School Head Football Coach Wilbur Pender used to describe his and his coaching staff’s reaction to the 48-0 loss to Southern Durham last Friday night. “We knew it was going to be a mountain climbing experience,” Pender said. “We didn’t make enough plays and put our defense in bad situations,” Pender added about the Viper’s performance.  Despite the great week of practice the Vipers just couldn’t get the job done against Southern Durham. “It was the perfect storm for them and a great learning experience for us,” Pender said in summation of the loss.

Even with that loss Pender feels that the Vipers have been better than expected and that he’s put a good product on the field. He’ll need it tomorrow night for the final regular season game against J. F. Webb in Oxford.  The Warriors feature Javon Bullock who has torched defenses for over 1200 yards this season and the Vipers will have to shut him down and play better offense to walk off the field with a victory. With playoffs looming for the Vipers a victory against the Warriors to wrap up the regular season will add some momentum going into round one of those playoffs next week.

 

Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Vipers Prepare For Southern Durham

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128 points…sounds like what a high school basketball team might score over a couple of games but, that is not the case here. This is what Southern Durham has scored in their last two football games and the high powered Southern Durham offensive show is coming to Henderson this week to take on the Vance Co. Vipers in what will most likely determine the champion of the Northern Lakes Athletic Conference.

Both teams are 3 – 0 in the conference and while Vance Co. boasts an overall better record at 6 -1 to Southern Durham’s 4-4, the Spartan’s have played a much more difficult schedule and Vance Co. is coming off a poor performance in a 21 – 8 win over Granville Central last week that saw the Vipers struggle on offense against a winless team.

Coach Wilbur Pender felt his team didn’t have their best offensive game last week but thought the defense may have turned in its best performance.  “We couldn’t get out of our own way,” Pender said of the Viper’s offense. This week Pender and Vipers are working on those mistakes. “Let’s stop being our own worst enemy,” is what Pender has stressed to his team.

Pender says the key Friday night is to tackle, stop the big play and don’t allow Southern Durham to score on special teams. Practice has been much better this week so Pender hopes that will result in slowing the Southern Durham offensive machine down and will lead to a victory and likely conference championship.

WIZS will have live play by play of the games beginning immediately after the Joy Christian Center broadcast about 6:45pm with kickoff at 7pm.