OCTOBER, 1966
THE COMPASS
RAGE THREE
The Roving
Sports Eye
Reporter JOHN WILLIAMS
VIKINGS BREAK EVEN
Going into the 19th Annua) Fish Bowl Classic, after what start
ed out to be another one of those fruitless years, the Vikings of
Elizabeth City State College have managed to even their season
record at one victory and one defeat. This is certainly a far better
beginning than last year when Coach Thomas Caldwell’s gridders
went all the way up to October 16th before tasting victory.
NORFOLK SPARTANS 16
EC SC VIKINGS 6
Portsmouth's Frank D. Lawrence Stadium, where Elizabeth
C.ty had clipped Norfolk in two Fish Bowl encounters, provided
the battleground for this yearly, intense Viking-Spartan rivalry.
But, meeting a seasoned squad that was out to profit from its loss
to Virginia Union University, absorbing a total of 144 yards in
penalties, passing and punting into a strong and gusty westerly
wind, were just too much to overcome. It seemed as if the "gods”
were angry. Nevertheless, the Vikings grudgingly bowed to them
and the Spartans by the narrow score of
Unable to move the ball on the ground and to effectively pass
the ball against the strong wind, Elizabeth City was forced to
punt early in the first quarter. A bad pass from center put punter
Charles Singleton on the spot, as he picked up the loose ball
and attempted to run it out, before being nailed on the I5 yard
line. The strong Viking forward wall would not budge, and Norfolk
was pushed back with a I5 yard penalty which set the stage for
Kenny Edmond’s 35 yard field goal which gave the home team a
slim 3—0 lead.
The Vikings could not do anything with the ball after taking
the kick-off, and were forced to punt again. This time the mighty
wind was felt much more than the Spartans’ charging line, as
Singleton’s punt traveled only two yards from the line of scrim
mage to the eleven. Four plays later,Norfolk’s Alex Moore banged
over from the four yard line and Edmonds converted, giving the
Spartans a 10—0 lead.
Elizabeth CUy, seeking to come from behind in the second
period, marched over 50 yards on the passing of sophomore quarter
back Johnnie B. Walton and the running of fullback Grover Arm
stead. The desperate drive ended on the five yard line where
Chauney Crenshaw picked off a Walton pass in the end zone to
end the first half with Norfolk leading 10—0-
Coach Caldwell probably got in a few strong words during
halftime because the Vikings came sailing back early in the
third quarter. Led by the power running of Armstead, Elizabeth
City drove 63 yards to the Spartan’s three yard line. Two plays
later the young freshman back smashed Norfolk’s battered forward
wall to score standing up. Walton’s pass for the extra-points
failed, but the score was narrowed to four points with Norfolk
leading 10—6. as the third period ended.
Feeling that the Vikings’ six points were too close for com
fort, Coach William Archie’s offensive unit began to move again.
Out guessing the Elizabeth City defense which was well dug in
to halt the ground attack, the Spartans’ quarterback dropped a
short pass over the line to Moore for a short gain, enough to keep
the drive alive. From that point a mixture of passing and running,
plus timely penalties against the Vikings, sustained the march
which ended with James hitting Moore in the end zone.
WINSTON-SALEM RAMS 13
E C S C VIKINGS 22
Highly dissatisfied with the performance of his squad, and
knowing that the Winston-Salem College Rams are unusually
rough in Bowman-Gray Stadium, Coach Caldwell began working
immediately to patch up his defensive and offensive units for
the second battle of the young I966 campaign. Apparently it
paid off as the underdog Vikings returned to Elizabeth City
singing, "Ring ’dem Bells on Old State’s Campus.”
Despite the fact that the rain was "tumbling down” on the
soggy turf, and the Rams had taken full advantage of a fumble
by David Lyons to score early in the first quarter, the Vikings
sought not to be outdone this time. Aided by a pass interference
call which placed the ball on the Rams’ 17 yard line, Lyons
quickly removed the "scapegoat” tag from his jersey by smashing
over from the four. Quarterback Johnnie B. Walton hit Charles
Singleton for two extra points and an 8—7 lead at half-time.
Realizing that the arms of the charging Vikings and the mud
of the soaked gridiron was too much for his squad, Coach Conrad
changed his offensive strategy to the passing which netted 245
yards in a losing cause the previous week. With his line Strong
enough to halt the running game, Coach Caldwell took advantage
of the scouting reports and put his defensive backs on alert.
The remainder of the contest was a defensive story as Bille
Anderson intercepted a pass and rumbled 30 yards to score and
break the Rams’ back, and Eddie Bland picked-off another pass
and raced 20 yards into the end zone to climax the Vikings’
"slaughtering of the Rams” ceremony. Winston-Salem fought
back gamely in the closing moments of the fourth quarter to score
aeain.butthe Vikings’nine point margin was too much to overcome.
Mr. «T" Speaks
By: John T. Williams,
How can we watch a very
exciting football game and,
after it is over, we only remem
ber the names of those players
who score the touchdowns,
catch the passes, or make the
long runs down the field? How
ever,much of the game of foot
ball is played in that small
space between the lines of
scrimmage where the contest’s
un-sung heroes battle it out
before returning home to dress
their wounds in silence.
Our forward wall has been
strong enough to limit the op
ponents to (only) 174 yards per
game rushing for a very small
average of 2.7 yards per carry.
In addition the boys up front
have grudgingly yielded 148
yards in the air for a combined
total offense by the opposition
of 322 yards and 14 points per
game. Excellent, indeed!
On the other hand the Viking
linemen have opened holes and
held enough for our backs to
gain an average of 314 yards on
the ground and 118 yards by
way of passes for a total of
fense of 432 yards. .
This column takes pleasure
in pulling' out those linemen
who have played exceptionally
well.
Attention! Present Arms!
Pass In Review: SYLVESTER
BYNUM,end,Chapel Hill, N.C; '
SAMUEL JETERS, tackle,
Chester,S.C;JAMES GRIFFIN;
tackle, Chicago, Illinois; and
GpORGE MlZtVELL, guard,
Edenton, N. C. It is hoped that
you continue to excel, and that
others on the team will follow
your fine examples of valor.
Farewell!
To Arms!
m-.
Those were the cries of de
fensive halfbacks, Ervin Francis
(sandwiched between two lovely
co-eds) and Eddie Bland (flank
ed by the Trailway Bus driver)
before they departed to lead the
Vikings to a 22 — 13 victory over
the Winston-Salem State Rams.
GEARED FOR BA TTLE
The last time you saw a picture of SYLVESTER BYNUM was, per
haps, in the S'?ptember edition of the COMPASS. At that time the
CAPTAIN of ttie ECSC Vikings was in a coat, with shirt and tie.
This is the way Bynum No. 85. the big 6’*2/4” 222 lb- Senior end,
looks when he is geared for action.
HOMECO
rsus;
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VIKlWG^STAj
(ELIZABEl|i CITY ITATE COI
:ami^s)
COLORFUL
THRILLING
HOMECOMINGibANCE