PAGE lOA—WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS, AUGUST 24, 1988 Lakers Undergo Changes SWAN QUARTER — Jim Ben nington, the first-year Mattamus- keet football head coach, has had to scramble in the weeks since Au gust started. He had to move from Princeton to Swan Quarter and he had to get the Mattamuskeet football team off and rolling on its preseason practices. He managed. He has instituted some changes — getting things going in the direction he wants. “When I got here, we had two (game) tapes,” he said. “Starting this week, we will have all our practices taped.” Taking over a 1-A program that has recorded four wins in the last four seasons, Bennington has his work cut out. But, the former assistant coach at Princeton, is a fountain of confi dence and optimism. “We’ve got the overall talent, if they are all here and all healthy, to compete in the (Tobacco Belt) conference,” he said. “We are sound defensively. Offensively, if we don’t give the ball away, we can use a lot of tlie clock.” Bennington said the Lakers will play a pure power I — lining up wi^ two tight ends. “We’ll send three people into the off-tackle hole and the defense will come a runnin’. If they stop that, then we’ll just have to get ready for next week. We will pass ... once in a blue moon,” he said. “If someone is flipping through the paper and they see a score of a Mattamuskeet game with 30’s and 40’s in it, we get beat. “We’re going to have to keep the scores in the 20’s. “The kids are hungry. Last year, they went 0-10 and got beat pretty soundly with only one close game. “But, their attitudes have been good. I’ve talked to the kids about being dedicated. ’They have a lot of heart.” Bennington said he has had as many as 23 players working out. But, the average has been around 20 at each practice, he said. He lists 17 lettermen returning — seven starters and five seniors. Reggie Blount, a junior, is slated to quarterback. “He’s never played football,” Bennington said. “He is a great athlete but he has to get used to playing football. We’ve been working with him on handoffs and reads. He’s been practicing every day steady.” Bernardo Murray, a 5-9, 180- pound junior, will be the fullback while James Spencer, a junior varsity performer last season, will handle blocking-back duties. Leondas Farrow and Jerel John son will alternate at the tailback, bringing in plays from the bench. Wallace Gibbs, a 169-pound sophomore, is the only sure thing on the line, Bennington said. “We’re still moving people around — we won’t have the line settled until the first game.” Defensively, Gyno Topping and Art Whitley are slated at end while Roy Cotton and Lawrence Blount , will play tackles. Wallace Murray will play at nose guard. Eddie Collins, James Toppings and Leondas Farrow have the in side track for the linebacker posi tions, Bennington said. Edwin Spencer has nailed down one secondary position — the others are still in contention. ’The Lakers had but one scrim mage in which to prepare for the season opener against Acme- Delco. And, that was a harried affair. Originally slated for Mattamus keet, Princeton’s team bus broke down. So, early Saturday morn ing, the Lakers made a several hour road trip for a mid-aftemoon scrimmage in the heat of the day. “They had 35 to 38 kids dressed out,” Bennington said. “For the first 10 minutes we held our own. Then we had a couple of players go down because of the heat.” Fumbles were a problem. Ben- ll.i.lWlHlI WASHINGTON TIRE COMPANY 301 N. Bonner St. Phone 946-1946 Washington, N.C. Best Wishes To All Area Teams TIRES FRONT END ALIGNMENT WHEEL BALANCING nington said. The Lakers hobbled the ball four times, losing one. But, Bennington noted, once the exchange was made, the offense clicked. » The defense held Princeton.’s offense to one touchdown. In assessing the upcoming sea son, Bennington was frank. “We might take our lumps,” he said. “Next year, if I don’t run all the kids off, things will be diffe rent.” 2 9 It 21 30 J U 21 20 MATTAMUSKEET at Ocma-Dtico September Miirtao at CtiKoarinity* Opan at Calumbla Open October laimnllla* at Crttwtir Btihavan* Batli* November 4 at Nofth EdcacoflilM* Patriots’ Outlook Not Good Members of the 1988 Mattamuskeet Laker football team are! front row, from left, l.awrenre Blount, Jerel Johnson, Mario Barber, James Spencer and Todd Mason; on the second row, from left, James Topping, Gyno Topping, l.eondus Farrow, Michael Whitney, Antowion Whitney, James Blount and Eddie CoUins; on the third row, from left, Mitchell Gibbs, Edwin Spencer, Bernardo Murray, Jason Mayo, Kevin Lloyd, Reggie Blount, Shannon Swindell and Roy Cotton. 1988 Mattamuskeet Roster NO. Player CLASS HGT. WGT. POS. 11 Edwin Spancar Jr. 5- 1 147 Back 10 Raflnald Blount Jr. S-10 126 Back 12 laondua Fairow Jr. $-10 159 Back 81 MKchall Bibbs Jr. S-tl 172 End 10 Edward Collins Jr. 6- 3 180 Back 86 Roe L Cotton Sr. S-IO 219 Una 40 lamas Bumis So. 5- 1 187 Back SO Antowlott Whitnsi Sr. 6- 2 195 End ss Micbaal Whitnay So. 5- $ 133 Una 80 Wallaca 6ibbs So. 5- 6 169 Una 12 Syno Toppini Sr. 5-11 154 End 30 iaral Johnson Sr. 5- 6 132 Back 70 Todd Mason Fr. 5-11 231 Una 82 Shannon Swindall So. 5-10 210 Una 44 Bamardo Murray Jr. 5- 9 113 Back 71 Karin Uoyd So. 6- 0 191 Una Spancar Swindlar So. 5- 9 150 End 41 Jason Mayo So. 5- 7 147 Back 42 Jamas Toppinf Sr. 5-10 180 Back 72 lawranca Blount Fr. 5- 7 240 Uno 20 Mario Barbar So. 5-11 187 Back Chris Spancar Fr. 5- 2 145 Back laon Crann Fr. 5- 6 130 Back 18 Jamas Blount Jr. 5-10 187 End MOREHEAD CITY — West Car teret head football coach Edsel Hiatt was rather blunt when asses sing his team’s outlook for the 1988 season. “We hope to do better, but with the talent and other problems we have, there's not a whole lot you can say,” Hiatt, a 27-year veteran of coaching, said. “The players on this team have good attitudes, but as a whole we are small and inex perienced and we don’t have any depth, strength or quickness.” Hiatt is in his second year at the helm. In his first year, the Patriots finished at the bottom of the Coas tal Conference at 0-6 and ended with a 1-9 record. Hiatt came to Morehead City from Richmond County, where he had been head coach for four years. “We were supposed to have nine starters back on offense but only six showed up,” Hiatt said. “On defense, we were scheduled have five back, now it’s two. We only have one senior on each side of the ball.” Jeff Blessing (5-7, 155) is the lone senior starter to return. Bles sing is the team captain and will play wideout this season. A trio of juniors return: quarterback Mike Haman (6-0, 160), tackle David Donovan (6-1, 235) and split end Nick Kukilinski (6-4, 215). Kuki- linski will also play linebacker on defense. In addition, Mark Lewis (5-7, 160), the team’s projected tail back, should help the Patriots with his speed (4.7 in the 40-yard dash). West Carteret will carry 29 play ers this season, Hiatt said. 1987 WEST CARTERET 8 Pamlico County 22 8 Southwest Onslow 7 20 Jonas Senior 14 0 lajauna 7 B West Craven 45 8 D.H. Conley 41 12 Washlniton 42 0 East Cartarat 41 B Havelock 55 1 Roith lanoir 21 EAST CARTERET 15 laiauna 14 11 Southwest Onslow 1 14 Ptymouth 11 18 Wiihiniton 7 0 Wallaca Rosa-HIII 13 17 Havelock 20 41 West Cartarat 0 31 Horth Lanoir 6 13 West Craven 14 1 O.H. Conley 23 Injury-Free Jackets Could Surprise ROANOKE RAPIDS — If the Roanoke Rapids football team can avoid ipjuries on the offensive and defensive lines and avoid the turnovers that plagued it through out the 1987 season, it may be in for a surprisingly successful 1988 season, head coach Ed Nelson said. The mqjor loss the Yellow Jack ets face is the graduation of wide receiver Walter Jones, an all- Northeastern Conference perfor mer and a second team All-East performer who is attending Duke University this fall on a full athle tic scholarship. Four senior returnees head the offensive line: Charles Hudson (5- 10,180), Jeff Baird (5-10,185), Stan Dalton (5-10, 175) and Brent Mas sey (6-0, 260). Charlie Ludlam, who was a wide reeeiver and backup quar terback last season, returns as the Jackets’ starting quarterback. Ludlam (5-10,165, Sr.) is joined in the baekfield of the I-split back offense by fullback John Lowe (5- 10, 150, Sr.) and tailbacks Johnny B. Harrison (5-10, 260, Jr.) and Chad Matta (5-11, 170, Jr.). The wide receivers are Ashley Parker (5-7,150, Jr.), Bob Wilson (6-0,155, Jr.) and Stuart Chambers (6-1,170, Jr.). Four starters — Massey (tackle), Baird and Dalton (linebackers) and Scott Harris (tackle, 6-1, 235, Sr.) lead the Yellow Jacket de fense. Competing for defensive end spots are Matta, Jeffrey White (6-0, 170, Jr.) and Tripp Elias (6-0, 165, Sr.). Brent Manning (5-7, 165, Jr.), Parker, Wilson and Casey Gregory (5-10, 155, Jr.) are com peting for the cornerback slots. Chambers and Brian Smith (5-10, 155, Jr.) will be the safeties in the Jackets’ 44 defense. The defensive baekfield will be totally restruc tured. To be in the thick of the NEAC race. Nelson said Ludlam and Smith will have to be effective quarterbacks and the younger players would have to learn throuugh valuable game experi ence early in the season.

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