NSU Fried
3t Fish Bowl
Vikings Shut Out Spartans 15-0
in 36th Annual Grid Classic
Viking Spotlight:
Johnnie B. Walton,
ECSU’s
Hometown Hero
by Lawrence Wright
by Z.M. Bunch
Three Marching Viking
buses left Elizabeth City at
8:30 a.m. Two buses tran
sporting the gridders left at
11:00. Six buses of tense,
excited and determined
students left at noon. Hardly
a student was left on the
entire campus. Revenge was
on all minds. Last year’s
defeat at the biggest football
event next to Homecoming
had been humiliating.
The visitors’ bleachers
filled during the pre-game
ceremonies. On the field,
Vikings stretched, practiced
blocking, passing, and
kicking on the unfamiliar
Astro-turf.
Captains Steve Pope,
Bobby Futrell, and Kenneth
Rogers won the toss, and
elected to receive. The 1983
Fish Bowl was on.
Some fans said that the
Viking offense came of age in
Forman Field. None of the
“Southern Hogs” was sur
prised, however. Said new
lineman Oglesby, “All the
hard work we did in practice
this week, hitting sleds _^and
strategy planning paid off.”
Two imderclassmen shone
in the backfield. Sophomore
quarterback Eddie Morris
was 10 for 19 in the air for 181
yards, including one touch
down. Sophomore Reginald
Langhorne grabbed eight
passes for 171 yards and
scored the only six-pointer.
He also won the Golden
Helmet Most Valuable Player
Award for the game.
Morris’ aerial show was not
the only game in town. An
thony Creecy led a column of
six rimning backs, including
Greg Watford and Bruce
Butler who tallied 172 yards
on the groimd.
The “Brotherhood of
Destruction” Viking defense,
led by linebacker Tim
Cofield, rendered the Spartan
offense helpless, annulling
drive after drive.
Many fans groaned, “Not
again,” as pimter Jerome
Ingram’s first kick only made
it to the ECSU 35 yard line.
The defense held on,
however, forcing NSU to try a
field goal which was wide.
Taking over at their own 30,
the Vikes racked up 55 yards
with the rimning of Watford
and the receiving of
Langhorne. Touchdown
unsuccessful, Ingram booted
a 30-yard field goal.
The “Brotherhood” played
spoilers in the second
quarter. Horace Pendergrass
kidnapped an NSU pass and
spirited it to the Spartan 16.
Again the Vikes were unable
to get six points. They settled
for Ingram’s 40-yarder,
which made the score 6-0. The
half ended with this tally.
Blue-and-white fans
.smelled blood when the
defense halted a fourth-and-
two early in the third quarter,
but sagged as Morris’ pass
was intercepted by an NSU
cornerback. Again, the
Spartans were unable to take
advantage of the opportimity.
Not to be outdone, the
“Brotherhood” scored in the
fourth quarter. Lloyd
Jackson startled the NSU
quarterback in the end zone,
making the score 15-0.
The next series brought
screaming Viking and
Spartan fans to their feet.
Morris floated a pass to
Langhorne in the play of the
game and the only touch
down; a 67-yard explosion.
The win was halfway home.
Humiliation wore green-
and gold as ECSU fans sang
“I’m So Glad” to the the
band’s accompaniment.
See you next year, Spar
tans!
Much has been written
about Johnnie B. Walton and
literally hundreds of
photographs have been taken
of him.
- For the past year or so,
Johnnie Walton has continued
his career as the starting
quarterback and offensive
leader of the Boston Breakers
of the United States Football
League.
As quarterback, Walton
ranked sixth in the League in
passing with an impressive
58% completion ratio.
Combine that with 13 touch
downs, and it is no wonder
Walton was the talk of the
USFL. Walton was a
graduate of P.W.Moore High
School, class of ’65 in
Elizabeth City NC. He also
attended college at Elizabeth
City State University from
1965-69.
Upon graduation he was
signed as a free agent with
the Los Angelas Rams from
1969 from 1969-72. His career
continued from 1973-75 with
San Antonio (WFL) and from
1976-79 with the Philadelphia
Eagles. Walton taught and
coached at his own Alma
Mater, ECSU, from 1980-82,
and he continues with the
USFL Boston Breakers.
Question-“How did you feel
going to Boston, after leaving
Elizabeth City?”
Answer-“I felt it was
rewarding. It was a challenge
I had to meet, and when it
came, I met it.”
Q-“Do you miss coaching at
ECSU. Would you like to
coach again in the future?”
A-“Yes, I miss coaching at
ECSU, but I’m trying to
explore a career with more
security. Coaching will
always be there.”
Q-“How long do you expect
to play in the USFL and what
are your plans afterwards?”
A-“I plan to play until I can
get a 2-3 year contract with
the Breakers and afterwards
I have been offered a
coaching staff position.”
Q-“Do you plan to live here
in Elizabeth City, or move to
Boston, Mass?”
A-“Wherever there is work,
and later on in the future back
to Elizabeth City, NC because
there’s no place like home.”
Q-“Which team did you get
most of your publicity from?”
A-“I received most of my
publicity from the Boston
Breakers.”
Q-“When will the season
start again?”
A-“Our first practice will
start the first weekend in
February, and our first game
will be the first weekend in
March.”
Q-“Are you married; if so,
how many children do you
have?”
A-“Yes I’m married; I
have two daughters and two
sons.”
Q-“How were you drafted
to play football?”
A-“As a free agent with the
Los Angelas Rams.”
Q-“Do you feel you can give
ECSU players some tips and
advice on how to become a
good ball player?”
A-“Yes, every evening at
4:00 on the practice field, I
help coach Little during
practice to explore new
moves, plays, and keep the
players with a positive at
titude toward ball. This year
as we predicted, we have had
a very good team. With your
support we can be Number
One.”
Tuba player Felix Ward “ blows his horn ” in the 90 degree
heat at the Virginia State game in Petersburg.
The Vikings won 36-6.
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