NOVEMBER, 1966
THE COMPASS
PAGE THREE
E C S C VIKINGS REVERSE RECORD
WE SALUTE YOU
★★★★★★★★★★
2f
P
ECSC Vikings Football Team
Post Amazing 5-3-0- Record
m
A Proud Coaching Staff
The entire college family at Elizabeth City State College, the
alumni association, and the few loyal fans wish to saluje the Vi
kings’ squad for overcoming and reversing their 1965 record to post
a 5-3-0 >nark this year. In congratulating the Vikings, individually
and collectively, remembrance of the many obstacles to a winning
season, and the gloom which prevailed before the campaign opened,
makes your achievement noteworthy.
For directing the Vikings to what John T. Williams predicted
earlier, in the Pittsburgh Courier’s 1966 Football Round-up, to be
a season of jubilation; for strengthening the squad to the point
where it was able to finish high among the first division powers
of the C.I.A.A.; for producing one of the strongest defensive teams
in the conference; and for unifying a balanced offensive attack to
lead the Vikings to a position of respect, we especially salute the
coaching staff, headed by Thomas Caldwell, and assisted by Roy
Knight, Alvin Kelly, John Turpin, Jr., and Benny Hodges.
To the graduating seniors, we say thanks for adding your years
of experience to a team filled with freshmen and other inexperienced
players. This list includes: captain Sylvester Bynum, James Griffin,'
Eddie Bland, Ennis Snipes, Curtis Elder, and Ervin Francis. To
these departing players we wish much success in whatever pro
fessional endeavor they may undertake.
In the last edition of THE COMPASS, the sports page carried a headline which read, VIKINGS
BREAK EVEN. The article under the headline contained the story of the Elizabeth City State Col
lege Vikings bouncing back to defeat the Winston-Salem State College Rams, 22-12, after bowing in
their opener to the Spartans of Norfolk State College. The fact that the squad managed to play .500
■ball accounts for the initial optimism - the kind of hope necessary to close the I966 season by re
versing the 1965 record of 3'5-0 to an amazing 5-3-O.
Seeking their first victory over the Panthers of VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY, and their fourth
consecutive Fish Bowl Trophy, the Vikings came from behind too late to overcome the Panthers as
the Richmonders walked away with all the honors, including a narrow 12-6 victory over Elizabeth
City State.
The more than 8,000 fans who jammed Portsmouth’s Frank D. Lawrence stadium, watched the Vi
kings’ pivot man center three high passes to punter Charles Singleton. The third mistake proved
costly as Gene Beard blocked the punt, and dazedly picked up the ball to step two yards into the
end-zone.
The Vikings bounced back on the running of freshman backs Grover Armstead and John Brown to
set the stage for Johnnie Walton’s 36 yard scoring pass to Henry Rhoulac to p>ost a deadlocked 6-6
score at halftime.
Virginia Union opened the second half by driving 76 yards on the ground to score, with John New
man plunging over from the two. Each team battled cautiously and put up stiff defenses to halt all
scoring, as the game ended with the Vikings on the short end, 6-12.
Coach Thomas Caldwell’s eleven were able to even the record at 2-2 by overcoming SHAW UNI
VERSITY, 30-20, at Raleigh. The Bears scored first after a pass interception by Bill Jones, who
scored three plays later. But with Walton tossing to Lincoln Bonds and Sylvester Bynum, the Vikings
moved ahead, 8-6.
The see-saw battle continued with Shaw seizing the lead again, this time on an 18 yard pass from
Robert McLeod to Art Bridges, to post a 12-8 margin at intermission.
The Vikings’ defense and offense complimented each other as defensive halfback Eddie Bland
raced 60 yards to score on a pass interception return, and David Lyons climaxed an offensive drive
by scoring from the three. Shaw University remained in the contest as Fred Long galloped 81 yards
to score on a punt return. The electrifying run was much in vain, since the Vikings not only held a
slim, 24-20 margin, but scored again on a run by Lyons to put the icing on the victory cake late in
the fourth quarter.
After successfully hunting down the Bears, the Vikings began preparing for their first home game
against the raiding Tigers of ST. PAUL’S COLLEGE. Mindful of the Tigers’ 24-12 beating last year.
Coach Caldwell’s gridders carried blood-thirsty revenge into the high scoring battle.
Walton quickly set the offensive machine in motion on a 65 yard pass play to his prime target,
Ennis Eugene Snipes. Singleton later scored from the three and Charles Dickens added the extra
points. Following a pass interception by Eddie Bland, Walton hit end Lincoln Bonds for another quick
tally, and tossed to Bynum for the extra-points, as the Vikings sailed ahead, 16*0 early in the first
quarter.
Another pass interception by Ervin Francis, this one being carried 35 yards for a touchdown, and
Walton’s pass to Lyons for the extra-points, were enough to keep the Vikings out front, despite two
touchdowns by St. Paul’s College. The Vikings Carried a 24-12 lead into halftime.
Charles Singleton, the Summerville, S. C. flash, added two more touchdowns on runs of 58 and 3
yards and Lyons broke off-tackle for 8 yards to score and overshadow St. Paul’s lone tally in the
second half.
FAYETTEVILLE STATE COLLEGE provided a colorful atmosphere with its homecoming festivi
ties, and made a desperate bid to capture the Williams-Seabrook Trophy, which has remained locked
up in Viking land. The Vikings, bolstered by victories over Shaw University and St. Paul’s College,
had the necessary impetus to tame the Broncos, 22-14.
Junior halfback, Charles Singleton continued to be the thrust of the Vikings’ vicious ground attack,
by dashing 55 and 11 yards to score. The Walton to Lincoln Bonds aerial combination was unstop
pable. Fayetteville’s efforts to muster more than two tallies were thwancd by the Vikings’ solid de
fen se.
Sporting a surprising three game winning streak, and a 4-2-0 record, it appeared that Coach Cald
well’s revived squad could go from there. W'ith DELAWARE STATE COLLEGE raiding Elizabeth City,
everyone felt that the Vikings could keep the streak alive.
But thousands of alumni, students, and local fans watched the unexpected occur as the visiting
Hornets stung the Vikings, 12-6 to spoil Elizabeth City States’ 75th Anniversary homecoming classic.
The amazing thing about the whole affair was the fact that the Vikings showed no signs of anger,
panic, or dismay, as the Hornets carried a 12-0 lead into the closing moments of the third quarter.
The Vikings sought to salute the jturf of the stadium with their final victory as Singleton dashed
six yards to score and climax a 56 yard, third quarter drive.
Realizing that the record was now standing at 4*3*0, and that the alumni and students would not
agree to a final 4-4-0 record. Coach Caldwell prepared a reverse for his squad in an attempt to erase
the disaster that occured on homecoming. The final opponents were the Blue Bears-of second place
LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE (6-0-0 in the C.I.A.A.) who featured the torrid passing attack of the loop’s
top quarterback, A1 Tyler.
The Vikings, sparked by the tossing of Walton and the running of Singleton, scored two touch
downs in the final two minutes, to come from behind and nip Livingstone College, 22-17 on its home
coming. Henry Rhoulac added depth to the passing attack as he scored^on a 10 yard aerial from Wal
ton in the third quarter, and on a 40 yard pass with less than eight seconds remaining in the game.
In between the two scoring receptions by Rhoulac, Singleton scored his seventh and final touchdown
in the third quarter, to give balance to the Vikings’ attack, and spoil the Blue Bears’ homecoming
celebration.
W" *
The Loner
Delaware State had a line that outweighed the Vikings’ front seven by over 16
pounds per man. This was no problem for Charles Singleton, as the hard running halfback ran under,
over, and around the huge Hornet giants to score Elizabeth City’s lone touchdown in the homecomin
classic.