3C
SPORTSATJc CJarlotte
Thursday, November 2, 2006
‘Statement’ game for Bulls
[Continued from page 1C
(won) this one, and we’re looking
forward to going down there and
winning that one. That’s another
big game to us. We’re going to prac
tice hard all week, and then
Pioneer Bowl, here we come.”
Few would’ve given the Bulls
much of a chance for postseason
play three months ago, but Smith
quickly became the CIAA’s sur
prise team. The Bulls broke a 24-
game losing skid and developed a
flair for dramatic, late-game hero
ics that have ripped the loser label
frcan the long-suffering program.
Much of the credit goes to McNeUl,
whose second stint at JCSU mir
rors his first. As coach fix)m 1995-
96, he took the Bulls finm winless
to seven victories in his second sea
son.
‘Tts been great to just be part of
the change,” said comerback
De’Audra Dix, who returned a
kickoff 74 yards for a touchdown -
his fourth this season - against
Savannah State. “The coaches are
doing a great job with us. Its just
been a blessing to be a part of this
team in 2006. I’m just proudtobea
part of it.”
Said McNeill: ‘Tts been great
because of my kids, because of the
seniors. Its even more special this
time because we got a lot of love for
each other, but its not about me.
It’s for the whole univ^ity, the
way they do things. I’m elated for
(JCSU President Dorothy Cowser)
Yancy and the fans.”
The Eagles will have something
to play for as well. A win would give
Central its second lO-win cam
paign in as many seasons and
clinch the first unbeaten regular,
season in school history Tb beat
NCCU, the preseason pick to win
the league championship. Smith
will need to play at its peak.
‘For it to be a good week for tis,
we’ve got to practice hard every
day, continue to do the little
things,” Dix said. “If we continue to
do that, everything will work out
for itself”
For the BuUs, that means jiaying
for a spot in the Pioneer Bowl.
“We definitely made our state
ment,” BizzeU said. “Coming out
here and beating a D I-AA team
and shutting them out..we made
om statement and we’ve got to con
tinue making our statement.”
FILE PHOTO/CURTIS WILSON
J.C. Smitti tight end Eddie Minter and the
Golden Bulls will try for the school’s first eight-
win season since 1975 Saturday at N.C. Central.
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Elizabeth City State, Virginia Union
fight for CIAA ehampionship berth
Continued from page 1C
candidate for the Pioneer
Bowl shovdd the CIAA get
two teams into the playoffs
or Elizabeth City State slips
against Virginia Union.
Next up: N.C. Central in
the Eagles’ final regular-sea
son CIAA game before step- '
ping up to Division I-AA.
• Elizabeth City (8-1, 6-0):
Beat Saint Paul’s 7-3 to stay
in the himt for first in the
East. The "Mkings are
ranked 22nd in the nation in
Division II and seveaith in'
the Southeast Region, one
spot out of playoff position if
the postseason started today
• Virginia Union (7-2, 5-1):
Beat Bowie State 9-7 in
Richmond. Next up is a trip
to Elizabeth City State for
the East Division champi
onship. The loser will likely
fall out of Pioneer Bowl con
tention.
• Bowie State (4-5, 2-4)
BuUdogs are all but done
after loss to Yrnginia Union,
although beating Virginia
State Saturday would put
them back at .500.
N.C. CENTRAL HALL OF FAMERS
m
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Charlotte's
ultimate
source for
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tIDI)e Cliarlotte
^OSit
PHOTOS/ROBERT LAWSON
Charlotte natives Eric Montgomery (above) and Gerald Patton were recenliy inducted to N.C.
Central’s athletic hall of fame last month. Both received their certificate of induction from
NCCU Chancellor James H. Ammons. Patton was a four-year football starter (1982-85) and
was a two-time all-CIAA first-team selection. Montgomery (1983-87) played football and was
a three-year starter at center.
Par Busters win Interstate Bash
Continued from page 1C
Birkdale Commons Parkway
Huntersville, NC 28078. For
information, caU Love at
(980) 253-1176 or (704) 392-
1036 or Springs at (704) 605-
0273.
• A team including Par
Busters won the Interstate
Golf Association Bash Oct. 21
at Willow Creek Golf Club in
Spartanburg.
The 12-player Par Busters
team finished with a total
score of 60, four shots ahead
ofAnderson, S.C.-Athens, Ga.
Asheville-Shelby finished
third.
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