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PAGE 8A—WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS. AUGUST 24, 1988
Jordan Says
Eagles May
Fly In ‘88
Graduations are a happy time
for high school seniors.
But, for the last two years. West
Craven coach Clay Jordan has bid
goodbye to 38 senior football
players.
1986’s senior class numbered 17
— the 1987 Eagles survived, earn
ing the playoffs and finishing the
season with a 7-4-1 worksheet af
ter a loss to Tarboro.
Last year’s graduating class in
cluded 21 players.
Therein lies the challenge for
Jordan, who starts his 11th year at
the helm.
He said he is optimistic — de
spite not being picked to win the
Class 3-A Coastal Conference race
by his fellow coaches.
"Being picked to finish in the
middle of pack makes anything
else we do gravy,” Jordan said.
“(In the past) we’ve had a lot of
pressure on us.
“I will be disappointed if we
don’t battle for a playoff spot. But,
you never know what sopho
mores and first-year juniors will
do.”
“We might be picked to finish
fifth or sixth in the conference —
I’ll take that bet.”
Jordan has gotten used to hav
ing to coach in the last days of
November while a lot of other
teams are getting ready for bas
ketball.
West Craven has reached the
playoffs six of the last 10 years and
will be gutming for its fifth con
secutive post-season trip.
In the last four years. West
Craven has finished 10-1,12-2,10-2
and 7-4-1.
This year’s edition will be a
more inexperienced one. The
Eagles have four players return
ing from last year’s squad, includ
ing two starters.
The 31-man roster lists eight
seniors, 18 juniors and five sopho
mores. A number of the younger
players performed on last year’s
8-2 junior varsity edition — a team
that lost its last game after 10 play
ers were elevated to the varsity
ranks.
Size-wise, West Craven is mam
moth with eight players tipping
the scales over 220 pounds. Junior
tackle Stacy Fulcher is the big
gest, distributing 235 pounds over
a 6-foot-8 frame.
Junior tackle Eddie McKeel (6-
1, 245) is the strongest of a squad
devoted to power lifting, Jordan
said.
Mpinbera of ihe 1988 West Craven Eagle football team are, friim left, front rows
Tony Bryan, John DIzon, l.eonard Slinnions, Kip Bryan, Adrian Canieroii, Colvin
Sanders, Russell Acker, Bobby Newby and James Johnstone; second rowi WiUiani
Sanders, l.,arry Green, Janies Smith, Troy Dawson, Chuck Bandy, Bobby Gaddy,
Lee Becton, a
,Monte Brown, l.ee Becton, Kevin lioizworth and Tony Gatlin; back row: Dennis
Howard, Darail Singleton, Horace Smith, Joel Brow n, Jeff Pow ers, Darren Bizzell,
Stacy Fulcher, Eddie McKeel, Jay Gaskins, Arthur Golden, Thomas McGee and
Craig Coward.
The fastest is
sophomore.
Becton (6-0,175) is slated to take
over the tailback position. He will
only be the second sophomore to
start for a Clay Jordan Eagle
squad — the other was two-time
All-Washington Daily News per
former Jesse Campbell.
Becton became the first fresh
man to start for the West Craven
basketball team last year and adv
anced to the state championships
in track. This summer he won a
silver medal in Junior-Olympic
competition in Florida. Last year,
Becton scored three touchdowns
in the playoffs after being ele
vated from the junior varsity.
Jordan regards Becton a plus —
even though he is a sophomore.
“He is still developing,” Jordan
said, noting Becton’s 4.65 timing
in the 40-yard dash.
Joining Becton in the backfield
will be senior Monte Brown (5-11,
190)—the apparent victor in a pre
season battle for the starting post
ion with Kevin Holzworth, a 5-10,
155-pound sophomore.
Both shared playing time in
West Craven’s scrimmage.
“The quarterback situation will
be a plus for us,” said Jordan.
“Both are straight-A kids. They’re
good young’uns.
“Monte Brown will have to con
tribute — whether it is at quarter
back or not. We will be as solid at
quarterback as we have ever
been.”
At the blocking back, senior
Chuck Bandy (5-11, 210) has been
moved from offensive guard to
fullback. His progress in the pre
season has been hampered by a
ankle iiyury suffered in practice.
Although the offense will be
run-oriented, a band of Smurfs
will be available at the receiving
positions, Jordan said.
SHOP US FOR
BACK TO SCHOOL
NEEDS
We have
typewriters
by
AWLEK
946-2197
Tott
Downtown Washington
“We’ll average six or seven
throws a game — depending on
the situation,’’ he said. “Kip
(Bryan) and Adrian Cameron can
catch and run although we some
times have a hard time finding
them.
“Both are big-hearted kids.”
Bryan is 5-7 and weighs 160
pounds while Cameron is 5-8 and
weighs 150 pounds.
The offensive line will be totally
retooled. Jordan said four players
ft-om the junior varsity will man
the blocking positions. He said he
was boosted by their size but was
worried about inexperience.
Jordan said he expects four
players to play offense and de
fense.
Darren Bizzell will play nose
guard and center. Bizzell (6-3,
215) was iixjured last season. Ilius
far, he as been a big surprise, Jor
dan said.
At defensive tackle, Darail Sing
leton (6-2, 265) teams with Horace
Smith (5-11, 240.
Bandy will play middle line
backer while Brown is the leading
candidate at one outside lineback
er postion. The other is up for
grabs he said. Senior John Dizon
and junior Tony Gatlin are bat
tling for the other.
In the secondary, Cameron and
Bryan will play the corners while
Colvin Sanders will work at free
safety.
Overall, experience is the big
gest question mark for the Eagles,
Jordan said.
“We’re going to be green, green,
green,” he assured. “We’ll jump
offsides time after time in the first
games.”
But, given game experience.
West (iraven will be a good bet to
be in the race for one of the Coas
tal’s three playoff berths.
’That’s a bet Jordan will take.
26
2
9
16
23
30
1
14
21
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4
1988
WEST CRAVEN
It Nortli Pitt
Septembsr
6rNM Cintral
New Bern
at Pimlko
Wist Cirtirit*
It North lonoir*
October
Opin
at Couloir*
Washiniton*
East Cirtorot*
November
At Hirolock*
1987
WEST CRAVEN
8 North Pitt
7 Greene Central
7 Now Bom
34 Pamlico County
45 Watt Carteret
25 North lonoir
16 D.H. Conley
9 Washlnfton
14 East Cartaret
0 Havelock
28 East Wake
7 Tarboro
6
8
19
20
0
7
15
13
19
12
14
1988 West Craven Roster
NO.
Player
HOT.
WGT. CLASS
POS.
24
Russell Acker
5- 7
140 Jr.
End
44
Chuck Bandir
5-11
210 Sr.
Back
52
loel Brown
5-10
180 So.
Line
1
Monte Brown
5-11
190 Sr.
Back
4
Kip Briran
5- 7
160 Jr.
End
81
Tony Bryan
6- Q
175 Jr.
End
22
lee Becton
6- 0
175 So.
Back
55
Oarren Bizzell
6- 3
215 Jr.
Line
10
Adrian Cameron
5- 8
ISO Jr.
Back
2
Cral( Coward
6- 0
IBS Jr.
End
63
Troy Ozwson
5- 9
175 Jr.
End
30
John Oizon
5- 9
180 Sr.
Back
51
Stacy ^ulcher
6- 8
235 Jr.
line
54
lay Gasnins
5-10
240 Jr.
Line
7
Bobby Gaddy
5-10
170 Sr.
End
32
Tony Ciiiin
5- 9
165 Jr.
Back
Arthur Golden
5-11
195 Jr.
Lina
70
Oennis Howard
6- 2
270 Jr.
line
80
Urry Green
5-10
150 Sr.
End
5
Kevin Holzworth
5-10
155 So.
Back
20
James Johnstone
5- 8
145 Jr.
End
84
Thomas McGee
6- 1
205 Sr.
End
61
Bobby Newby
5-10
220 Jr.
line
74
Jeff Powers
5-10
220 Jr.
line
50
Eddie McKeel
6- 1
245 Jr.
line
53
William Sanders
5-10
180 Jr.
line
40
Leonard Simmons
5- 9
160 Sr.
Line
8
Colvin Sanders
5- 9
165 Sr.
Back
60
Oarail Singleton
6- 2
265 So.
line
63
Horace Smith
5-11
240 So.
line
82
James Smith
5-10
170 Jr.
End
We wish the best of
luck to the area
teams during the
upcoming season
King Chicken
Drive In
Bridge St.
946-4594
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untii t s.ni.
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Your cooperation
appreciated.
is