PAGE 8 THE VOICE MID-OCTOBER, 1978 — ^ iVfC iVACK’S Fayetteville State is ranked no. 1 in the CIAA and NAIA District 26 in overall defense and defense against the rush. The Broncos give up a measely 68.5 yards per game rushing and a total of 176 yards a game overall. These figures rank the Broncos 13th nationally in the NAIA. Fayetteville’s Ronald Guion is currently ranked third in the NAIA District 26 for punt returns averaging 13.2 yards a return. Coach McDougal has to be pleased with the development of quarterback Ed Davis. The 6’2” 185 pound junior did not even play football last year and has already completed 12 of 31 pass attempts for 171 yards and 1 touchdown. At the beginning of the year punting was a team question mark. Freshman Bertie Wadford has erased that question mark. After the first week he was leading the CIAA in punting with a 44.1 average. Constant pressure from the Albany St. line caused Wadford to rush a few kicks that week but he still maintains a respectable 37.5 average. Fayetteville wide receiver Andre Sloan is currently ranked third in the CIAA in receiving with eight receptions for a total of 113 yards. Coach McDougal is looking for his young offense to jell against Shaw and become more productive. "We have to have more ball control so that the defense can rest,” states McDougal. Fayetteville punter Bertie Wadford, in addition to getting off a 52 yard punt, “put foot” to another that traveled 65 yards in the air but was called back. The 6’2” freshman will undoubtedly become one of the premier punters in the CIAA. Senior linebacker Ricky Furline had 32 tackles (nine unassisted) the last two weeks. In addition he defended well against the pass and just played all-around tough football. He has to be considered a prime candidate for conference and All- America honors. Defensive line Coach Frank Merchant has to be given a lot of credit for the ruggedness of Fayetteville’s defense. The first year coach has taken a lot of youngsters and players new to their positions and welded together a fiercely competitive defense. BRONCO Michael Shepard SPORTS Sports Editor FSV Wins Defensive Game; Loses Offensive Game Fayetteville State Broncos’ Football gridders lost another well fought game in Old Dominion Stadium by a score of 34-12 to the Norfolk State Spartans. FSU had portunities to many catch op- the Spartans due to a good per formance by the Bronco defensive unit. A key defensive standout for the game was senior lineback Rick Furline, who connected for five tackles and aided on 11. Furline was also partly responsible for holding the Norfolk All-American Harrington to 52 yards (Harrington carried the ball eighteen times). FSU’s “barefoot” kicking Bertie Wadford also had an overall good-kicking game keeping his 35.1 leading CIAA kicking average intact. 1978-79 Bashethall Outlook With seven returning lettermen and an outstanding recruiting year Coach Joe Robinson is looking forward to the 1978-79 basketball season Women*s Basketball Outlook With four starters returning and only two juniors and one senior on the squad, first year coach Maceo Smith has inherited a young talented and improving team. With second year assistant Robert Henderson along to help guide the team, Coach Smith is very optimistic about the upcoming season. “We have the potential and enthusiasm,” states Smith, “I look forward to us having a good year.” Last year the Broncoettes were 5-5 in the tough Central intercollegiate Athletic FSU Takes Frustration Out On Shaw FSU won over the Shaw Bears 24-6 in their third game of the season here to update their record to 1-2. This victory was well needed for the Broncos’ defense who put in their usual blood and guts football and had long awaited the offense to catch up to their ferocious style of play. FSU’s first T.D. came on a 53 yard return by “Super- back” Ron Guion. The defense was responsible for setting up the second T.D. in the third quarter by denying Shaw a first down conversion on 4th down with inches to go thus enabling our Broncos’ offen e to connect on a 35 yard T.D. The third T.D. was con tributed by (MVP) Chris Barfield who barreled through the Shaw line for a 25 yard T.D. run. Will Houston was 3 for 3 or extra points and converted on a 19 yard field goal attempt. Barefoot kicking Wadford showed splendid punting (kicking one punt to the FSU 3 yard line). Most valuable players of the game was senior line backer Rick Furline and running back Chris Barfield for the offense who received a Joseph E. Schlitz Brewing Co. Scholarship in their name. Get up for the Broncos everybody, Get Up!!! Association (CIAA) and finished with an overall record of 13-9. The Lady Broncos won the first Fort Bragg Invitational Tour nament defeating instate rival North Carolina A & T State University twice in the double elimination tourney. Retur ning letterman Angelia Newsome was named MVP of the tournament. Along with Newsome, who received All-America honors as she finished second in the National Black Association for Women Sports (NBAWS) in scoring averaging 24.6 ppg, All-CIAA performer Sandra Barnes (13.5 ppg) returns to lead the Broncoettes. Un fortunately 6 ft. 5 in. All- America Katrina Owens will the first half of the due to illness miss season she IS FSU Plays Host To Ft. Bragg The Fayetteville State Broncos, coming off their first win of the season, prepare to meet crosstown rival Ft. Bragg. Over the past nine years Fayetteville State has dominated the series winning every game. The Broncos’ overall record now stands at 1- 3 and 1-1 in the Central In tercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). Fayet teville must be careful not to look ahead to the four straight CIAA contests on tap as the Dragons are determined to end Fayetteville dominance of what has become a fierce rivalry. Against the Dragons Fayetteville will be facing the “new” Ft. Bragg. The Dragons sport an un blemished 4-0 record, a rugged defense that has not been scored on, and an offense that has outscored its op ponents 124 to two. Last week against Shaw the Bronco offense showed signs of jelling as it churned out 316 total net yards in 73 plays. Most of the damage was done on the grounds as Chris Barfield rushed for 117 yards on 18 carries (mostly behind the blocking of All- America tackle Burnis Travis) and Fayetteville came up with more net rushing yardage (219) than they had in the previous three games totaled (159). The Bronco defense has been “hanging tough” all year, last week was no exception as Shaw University was held to 74 yards total offense (55 on the ground and 19 through the air). Once again Ricky Furline and Willie Gray led thedefensive charge. “We got a good effort from everybody,” states Coach McDougal, “Against Ft. Bragg we will have to be on our toes, they always come around selling ‘wolf-tickets’ and are always out to get-us.” to be a year of continued improvement. “We won’t be big,” states Robinson, “But we will be quick and aggressive.” Last year’s Broncos surprised many experts by finishing second in the Southern Conference of the tough Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) with a conference mark of 9-7. This year’s edition of Fayetteville cagers will be out to better last year’s con ference mark and last year’s overall record of 15-13, which included a berth in the NAIA District 26 playoffs as well as the exciting always tough expected to be ready by second semester. Owens will be greatly missed as she not only led the CIAA and NBAWS in rebounding averaging 17.3 a game but also added 18 points and 7 blocked shots per game. Also returning is starting guard Nelda Cox who averaged 9 assists per game. The main concern of Coaches Smith and Henderson will be to fill the gaps left by Owens and the graduation of Gail Cameron (11.1 rpg, 13th in the NBAWS). To compensate for the loss of Owens Coaches Smith and Henderson may move Sandra Barnes to center and let Freshmen Jessie Elmore and Dianthia Morris battle for that vacated forward spot. Freshman Veronica Moore and returning letterman Stephine Settle will vie for the other forward spot. The reserves are expected to play a major role in the fortunes of the Lady Broncos this year. “What we plan to do is run alot and keep fresh players in the game,” states Smith, “Our bench will have to be ready, for us to do this.” At guard Coach Smith will be able to call on Helen Smith, Valerie Watson, and Loulla Horne to back up Cox. Katrina Bullock, Dora Jones, and Mamie Mitchell will be ready for work in Newsome’s position. Leatrice Parmley and Janice Lyons will be called on to play the center position. With the added maturity of game experience the Bron coettes could have a very good year. “We really would like to make it to the NBAWS as well as the CIAA Tournaments,” states Coach Henderson, “If everyone produces as ex pected, we can.” CIAA Tournament. Among the three starters returning is 6 ft. 5 in. All-CIAA performer Ed Jefferson. Jefferson finished third in the conference in scoring averaging 21.8 ppg along with 7 rpg. Also returning is team captain Jeff Ballard. The 6’5”, 226 pound Junior averaged 12 ppg along with 11.6 rpg last year. The last returning starter Charles Peoples. The 5’5” guard is the floor leader of the team. Last year he averaged 6.8 ppg to go along with 6 assists per game. Arnold Chambers and Kenneth Howell are gone. With them goes 15.2 ppg along with 7 rpg and 10.9 ppg along with a team leading 12.5 rpg respectively. To fill the gap at center left by Howell, Ballard will be moved to that position and returning letterman Jasper Hatten will inherit Ballard’s forward position. Hatten, who came on strong at the end of last season, averaged 6.5 ppg and 6.4 rpg. No less than six candidates will vie for the guard position vacated by Chambers. Returning letterman James Jackson (4.2 ppg and 2.4 assists per game) will battle steady Jr. Anthony Tull, So. Ricardo Bacon, and Sharp- shooting Freshmen Simon Alston, Matthew Sanders, and Richard Robinson for that swing guard spot. Coach Robinson feels that his bench will be the strongest he has had since coming to Fayetteville State. “We have a lot of guys who’ve shown that they can and want to play,” states Robinson, “Desire is something you just can’t teach.” Thomas Mann, a 6’2”, 181 pound Sr., will provide able back up at for ward along with 6’3” 185 pound Fr. James Knight. At center and strong forward 6’7”, 205 pound Fr. Eric Bowman could see a lot of action and 6’1”, 178 pound Maurice Best provides strong insurance at the point guard position. At swing guard Coach Robinson will have the luxury of calling on either Jackson, Tull, Bacon, San ders, Alston, or Robinson (depending on who starts) as backups. With better depth, im proved defense, and better team speed Fayetteville State could field one of its best teams in years. “If everyone does what they’re supposed to do and we make the things we want to happen, happen; we could have a better than good season,” states Robinson, “What it will come down to is putting the ball in the hoop, playing defense, and making free throws.”