PAGE 4A-WASHINGT0N DAILY NEWS, AUGUST 24. 1988 Experienced Pirates Aim For TBC Title BATH — Bath is in its last sea son as a Class 1-A football team. Next year, a consolidation with Belhaven Wilkinson will place the new school, Northside, in the Class 2-A ranks. Pirate head football coach Walt Davis has made the point plain and simple; he wants the 1988 team to be remembered as one of the best teams ever to wear the maroon and gold of the Pirates. Davis has good reason to feel this year’s team might accomplish that feat. The Pirates were 6-3 last season and only a loss to Jamesvil- le kept them from making the state playoffs. Seventeen starters — nine on offense, eight on de fense — return to lead an experi enced and depth-laden team at several key positions. “I definitely feel that (depth) will be one of our advantages going into the season,” Davis, who has posted the winningest record in the area (63-31, a .669 percen tage) during the last nine years, said. "Some schools go from a senior to a freshman in terms of backups. In our case, we’ll be re placing seniors with juniors and maybe a sophomore here and there.” One player that will not play for the Pirates this season is John Paul, a projected starter at offen sive tackle. Paul, a 6-1,196-pound senior, suffered tom ligaments in his knee in a freak accident suf fered while the team was en route to Manteo Aug. 19 for a scrim mage. “We’re still not sure exactly what happened, but we were told that Jotm was changing seats on the bus and his knee locked,” said Members of the 1988 Bath Pirate football team are, from left, front row: Wayne Jeflerson, Scott McGowan, Stephen Waters, Marcus Lacy, Jay Evans, Jeff Frasier, Jay Shively, Brad ABigood and Mitchell Ransall; second rows head coach Walt Davis, assistant coach Dwrayne Lanier, Boyd Woolard, Bill Ambrose, Jerome Bailey, Gray Woolard, Ernie Cornelius, Neil Woolard, Butch Oliver, Bryan Tutcn, Gary Tyer, Christopher Peele and assistant coach Brian Swain; bark row: assisinm coach Horace Miller, Kris Sauls, Cray Moore, B.G. W'oolard, Wayne Fisher, Keith Boyd, Kevin Newman, Wally Basnight, i.auris Joyner, Melvin Bailey, Roger Rraddv and assistant coach Gerry Klas. Not pictured are John Paul and assistant coach Bin^ Mitchell. Davis. “But we do know he’s out for the season. “We just hope whoever we put in can get the job done,” Davis said. Leading Bath’s wishbone offense for a second straight sea son will be Bryan Tuten (5-11,173, Sr.), who passed for 476 yards and threw just six interceptions last season. "Bryan will have to be able to read the defenses and then make quick decisions,” Davis said. "A lot of offensive success will de pend on him.” All five mnning backs return for EASTERN OPTICAL COMPANY, INC. “THE HOME OF FASHIOHABLE EYE WEAR”^ Wishes Area Teams Great Success For The Football Season (We Specialize In Crystal And Plastic Lenses.) DIAL 946-2397 Or 946-3252 LocatecJ In The Professional Bldg. the Pirates, led by 1,000-yarcl rusher Jay Evans (5-9, 154, Sr.) at one halfback spot. The other half back position will be manned by either Marcus Lacy (5-7, 142, So.) or Lauris Joyner (6-0,187, Sr.). Bill Ambrose (5-9, 208, Sr.) and Jeff Frazier (5-9, 155, Sr.) will be the Mlbacks. For Bath to have continued suc cess mnning the ball, as it did last season when the backs produced 2,094 yards and 26 of the Pirates’ 31 touchdowns, three offensive linemen—center B.G. Woolard (6- 1,187, Sr.), tackle Gary 'Tyer (5-11, 197, Jr.) and guard Ernie Corne lius (5-11, 212, Sr.) will have to have productive seasons block ing, Davis said. Keith Boyd (6-2,185, Sr.) and Pooh Woolard (5-10,163, Sr.) lead the tight ends while Roger Braddy (6-1, 163, Jr.) and Kevin Newman (6-2,194, Sr.) are also expected to see time at that position. Another strength is Bath’s 6-2 defense which returns seven star ters. Neil Woolard (5-10, 171, So.) and B.G. Woolard are the inside linebackers. They will be backed up by Ambrose and Scott McGo wan (5-9,171, Sr.). The starting outside lineback ers are Frazier and Boyd while Jerome Bailey (5-10,174, So.) and Wayne Fisher (6-3, 191, So.) pro vide backup help. Joyner and Melvin Bailey (6-0,184, Sr.) return at defensive ends and Butch Oliv er (6-0,182, Sr.) and Newman will be the backups. A much improved secondary (said Davis) will fea ture Pooh Woolard at safety and either Evans, Stephen Waters (5-8, 146, Sr.), Gray Woolard (5-10, 147, Jr.) or Jay Shively (5-10, 153, Jr.). Tuten will be the backup safety. To be a successful football team, Davis said the Pirates had to im prove on three areas. “First, we have to improve our kicking game and our specialty teams,” he said. “Second, we have to keep up our enthusiasm and in tensity. And third, we have to find out how bad we really want to win. “I hope the kids think about the fact that this is our last year,” 1988 Bath Roster NO. Player CLASS HOT. WOT. POS. 52 Brid Alligood Sr. 5- 9 205 line 44 Bill Ambrou Sr. 5- 9 206 Back 32 Melvin Bailey Sr. 6- 0 164 Back 60 Wally Basni(ht Sr. 6- 3 205 line 86 Keith Boyd Sr. 6- 2 165 End 62 Ernie Cornelius Sr. 5-11 212 line 22 lay Evans Sr. 5- 9 154 Back 40 letf Frailer Sr. 5- 9 155 Back 79 Andy Jackson Sr. 6- 1 207 Line 41 Lauris Joyner Sr. 6- 0 167 Back 66 Scott McSowan Sr. 5- 9 171 End 61 Kevin Newman Sr. 6- 2 194 End 51 Butch Oliver Sr. 6- 0 162 line 72 John Paul Sr. 6- 1 196 line 65 Gary Salchell Sr. 5- 9 133 line 11 Bryan Tuten Sr. 5-11 173 Back 84 Stephen Waters Sr. 5- 6 146 Back 50 8.6. Woolard Sr. 6- 1 167 Line 23 Boyd Woolard Sr. 5-10 163 End 14 Roger Braddy Jr. 6- 1 163 End 77 Mitchell Randall Jr. 5- 6 241 One ~ 55 Kris Sauls Jr. 6- 1 192 line 30 Jay Shively if. 5-10 153 Back 73 Gary Tyer Jr. 5-11 197 Line 10 Gray Woolard Jr. 5-10 147 Back 26 Jerome Salley So. 5-10 174 Back 63 Wayne Fisher So. 6- 3 191 Line 54 Wayne lefferson So. 5- 9 170 Line 21 Tommy Jones So. 5- 9 147 Back 24 Marcus lacy So. 5- 7 142 Back 13 Gray Moore So. 6- 3 156 Back 42 Christopher Peele So. 6- 0 145 Back 15 Neil Woolard So. 5-10 171 Back 1987 BATH 30 Rouwood IS limesfille 20 Btllimn 6 lamesville M Creswell S Colunibii 21 North CdiKombe 02 Malbmuskoat 21 Chocowinrty Davis said. “I hope it will be a stepping stone (the last season). And if we avoid injuries at key positions early so we won’t have to play a lot of people both ways, we could be a good team this year.” 21 13 0 13 6 32 IS H 34 2S 2 S IS 23 30 7 14 21 2S 1988 BATH August Rouwood September at lamosvilla at Balhartn* Jamauilla* Opon at Cratwoir October Golumbia* at North EdRocombo* Porquifflaai at Mattamutkoot* November Chocowinitir* *—Conlaronco lamas l^uick Baekfield Keys Northampton East CONWAY — Last season, the Northampton East football team finished 4-6 overall and 1-5 in the Northeastern Conference. This season. Coach Diego Hasty hopes a quick backfield can lead the team to the Class 2-A state play offs. The Rams return six starters of offense and six on defense. Three of the offensive starters are backs; ^®*ter Harris (6-1, i«B, br.) and running backs David Perry (5-9,170, Jr.) and Doug De- loatch (5-11, 190, Sr.). ^ Terry Williams (5-8, 160, Jr.), another back that will push for in- cresed playing time this year, is the fastest player on the team, having been timed at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Hasty said. The team, which has 29 players, will not be deep, especially on the offensive and defensive lines. Players expected to contribute defensively are Matt Howard (6-0, 200, Sr.), Winfred 'Tann (6-2, 159, Sr.), Greg Peebles (5-10, 170, Sr ), Michael Thompson (6-0, 204, Sr.) and Reggie Lawrence (5-7, 171, Sr.).