Page 6
THE COMPASS
Thursday, October 11, 1990
SPORTS
Koolball pholoa bj Renel S»mpi,
Last three losses leave team 2-3-1;
but improved Vikes may prevail
By Mark Morris
and James Sims
After going undefeated for three
straight games, the ECSU Vikings
had high hopes of having a winning
record for the 1990 season.
The Vikings began their season
travelhng to Rocky Mount, N.C. and
defeating Livingstone College in the
First Annual North Carolina Classic,
and also romping over the Broncos in
the Port City Classic.
The Vikes then went on to tie
Winston Salem 28-28. That game
marked what was thought to be the
start of a winning season; however
losing the last three games pushed the
Vikings back to a record of 2-3-1.
Losing their last three games to
Norfolk State, poweriiouse Grambling
University and a still undefeated Vir
ginia Union, moved the Vikings down
to the number five spot in the North
ern Division of the CIAA.
In the game against Union last
Saturday, the Vikings stuck with the
number one ranked Panthers by a score
of 7-7 until the fourth quarter when
the Panthers scored on a pass and won
14-7.
“We played a good game but it
wasn ’ t good enough because we didn’t
win,” said Coach Johnny Walton in
Monday’s practice session. “We have
to work harder and ehminate the small
mistakes.”
Despite the three-game loss, the
Vikings have several areas of strength.
“We played a good game but it wasn’t
good enough because we didn’t win. We have to
work harder and 'eliminate the small mistakes.”
Coach Walton
—in reference to Saturday's Virginia Union game
On the offensive side of the ball for
the Vikings, the ECSU ground attack
is probably one of the most versatile
in the CIAA. The Vikes have 796
yards in rushing alone.
With a multi-dimensional back-
field, the Vikings’ horns are pointing
toward a completely different turnout
this season.
Freshman sensation Andre Nelson
from Lugoff, S.C. has electrified
Viking fans this season to the tune of
214 yards in five games on an average
of 53 carries.
Nelson received the Player of the
Week award after scoring two touch
downs against Livingstone Septem
ber 1.
“I’m glad to be a part of the team,”
said Nelson. “And I will do anything
possible to help the team have a win
ning season and possibly go to the
playoffs.”
Along with Andre Nelson, Billy
Powell, a power fullback from Curri
tuck, N.C., has contributed a total of
232 yards on 50carriesanda“healthy-
at-last” Nelson Welch, a senior from
Fayetteville, Ga. has averaged 284
yards on 86 carries.
But the major story on the gridiron
is an inspired Viking defense. This
season it’s no longer “The Iron Mike
Show.” The Viking defense is spear
headed by linemen Everette McGy ver
and Mark Hines.
McGyver, also known as “Big
Mac,” has had an awesome season
thus far with 22 unassisted and 25
assisted tackles, 4 sacks, 1 intercep
tion and the Port City Classic MVP
award.
The linebacking corp, which in
cludes Mike Mabrey, Spencer Abra
ham, and the new and improved Van
Freeman, have proven to be one of the
best in the CIAA.
The Vikings are preparing to jour
ney to Bowie Maryland this week-end
to play Bowie StateUniversity. Bowie
State, Cl A A champions last year, have
a 1-4 win-loss record.
1
Steve Juiston takes a breather while ECSU’s offense take the field.
Juiston, a defensive end, made one of his two interceptions Saturday
night, Oct. 6 against Virginia Union. Despite a hard fought game, the
Panthers went on to win 14-7.
CIAA
Football Standings
(week 6)
NORTHERN DIVISION
Conference
Virginia Union 4
0
0
Norfolk State
3
0
0
Hampton
3
1
0
Virginia State
2
1
0
ECSU
1
2
0
Bowie State
0
4
0
Overall
Virginia Union
6
0
0
Norfolk State
5
1
0
Hampton
3
3
0
Virginia State
3
3
0
ECSU
2
3
1
Bowie State
1
4
0
SOUTHERN DIVISION
Conference
Winston-Salem
2
0
1
N O. Central
1
2
0
Fayetteville St.
1
4
0
J.G. Smith
0
2
0
Livingstone
0
3
0
Overall
Winston-Salem
3
2
1
N.C. Central
2
4
0
Fayetteville St.
2
4
0
J.G. Smith
0
5
0
Livingstone
1
4
0
•Vikinas Win
Loss^ecord
overall
2
3
1
conference
1
2
0
non-conf.
1
1
1
home
0
1
0
away
2
2
2
mm. ^
C
m
f
II
L
Juan Langford gets rid of the ball while being rushed by Bronco defenders in the Port City Classic gamw
September 8. The Vikes went on to win 10-3. 4
€
ECSU's Everette McGyver along with Michael Mabrey, take control of Ihe Bronco’s offense, holding there
to only 3 points in the Port City Classic. , I
Eaton poised for his senior season!
Lee Macon moans on the bench because of an ankle injury that took him out of the game against Fayetteville
^State University. Macon’s face shows the pain of his injury sustained in the 3rd quarter.
By Mark Morris
As sweat rolls off of James
Eaton ’ s face onto the floor,
he leans forward and grabs
the end of his shorts; then, with a
sudden thrust, he runs around a screen,
catches the ball and fires a pass inside
the lane for an assist.
Instead of looking for a rewarding
“high-five” he just hustles back to
play defense.
It’s a scenario that the senior point
guard from Franklin, Virginia must
have lived more a thousand times. In
fact, it’s merely a fundamental move
ment for Eaton as he gets poised and
ready for his fourth and final season
with the ECSU basketball team.
“To me, a point guard is the most
important player on the court, because
he has to Imow what everyone else is
going to do,” says Eaton.
“As a point guard, my job is to
make good decisions and to make sure
everyone knows when to shoot, pass,
and everything else.”
For the past three seasons, Eaton
has done just that. Arriving on the
scene atECSUa5’ll”, 1751b.,bounc
ing bundle of energy, it was his expe
rience as a pure point guard that
prompted head coach, Claude J.
Mackey, to recruit him here in 1987.
And Eaton has not been a disap
pointment. In his three seasons, he
has compiled 954 points (making 45-
46% of his shots), 417 assists (5.1 per
game), 281 rebounds, and 250 steals.
He is also a 71% free-throw shooter.
Even more impressive, Eaton has
been a starter since his freshman year,
missing only two games out of 82 total
coming into this season. Despite his
accomplishments, Eaton is humble
about his success.
“It wasn’t easy for me,” he recalls.
“When I first came here, there were
four guys that I had to compete with
for the starting job. My edge came
from hustle and hard work.”
Eaton’s hard work really began to
pay off during his sophomore season,
when the Vikings, under the leader
ship of Eaton and senior Ernie “EZ”
Griffin, posted a 17-10 record and
advanced to the semifinals of the CL\A
post season tournament
“My sophomore year was better
than my freshman year,” says Eaton,
“When I first came here, there were'
four guys that I had to compete with for thei
t
starting job. My edge came from hustle and\
hard work.” }
■I
James Eatoil
“because the guys that I came in with
became used to playing with one
another as well as the run-and-gun
offense that is played here,”
“The guys” are the group of sen
iors who all began their careers at
ECSU in 1987: Tyson Ransom, Dar
ryl Riddick, Patrick Harper, Ronald
Couser, Melvin Satchell, Sean Mos
ley, DerrickWilliams, Marvin Trot-
man, and Eaton himself.
Eight players from the class are
■l!
still with the team.
“By the time we were sophomor^
we were together as a team,” Eaton
recalls. »'
Eaton sees teamwork as being vii;
for success during his senior year.''
“This year we need to focus (^!
being together,” he says. “The team jsj
going to win it game by game.” !;
And, with his characteristic hu
mility, Eaton adds, >
“I’m going to give it all I have.’?
Photo by Mark
'teamwork- as Ihe
by Tame - he says "This team is goingtowin ilgaW j