Newspapers / The compass. / Nov. 1, 2004, edition 1 / Page 7
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ports Vikings defeat Trojans in amazing 2nd half comeback Rookie freshman leads defense The Compass, Nov. 2004 Page? By Samuel Bennett Sports Writer Win, win, win! That is what the Elizabeth City State University Vikings did Saturday, October 3, at Roebuck Stadium where they met the Trojans of Virginia State University. This game was critical to VSU because a win could have given them first place. Along with the win, the Vikings could have possibly made their largest second half comeback of the season. The first half proved that the Vikings would have to play their best in order to defeat this Trojan team. In this game alone, we had both the CIAA receiver and rookie of the week. Many Viking fans appeared to have lost interest in the game by the time the second quarter started. But the opening drive of the second quarter led to a quick touchdown for ECSU, reviving the Viking fans. Finding themselves down 14-0 really opened up the eyes of this Viking team. The defense needed to present some of its best work and the offense simply needed to score. The team did just that in the second half thanks to the rookie and the receiver. The rookie, Charles McEachin, a freshman linebacker from Laurinburg, NC, led the ECSU defense to shut out the Trojan offense for the entire second half. McEachin finished the game with 7 tackles and a forced fumble. Dewitt Newkirk also contributed a game high 11 tackles. Sparked by the play of McEachin, Newkirk and others, the Viking offense seemed to be touched by an angel; everything went right. The Vikings recaptured the hope of the fans as Carlos Smith and Victor Branch executed their ground game. Smith rushed for 115 yards on 26 carries and one touchdown while Branch contributed 45 yards on 13 carries. The VSU punting team had a bad snap, which the Vikings converted into a safety to bring the game to 14-9 in favor of the Trojans. Then the Vikings launched an air strike as quarterback Donald Norman completed a key pass to Marvin Jackson, the junior receiver of the week. Jackson, a native of Plymouth, N.C., described his feelings about the 35-yard touchdown reception. “It felt good coming off an injury to make such a key play which helped in the victory against VSU. Due to an injury, the coach was very hesitant about my playing time and it gave me confidence to see that the coach and team had confidence in me to go in and make a key play.” Jackson’s touchdown proved to be the winning score in the Vikings 15-14 victory over the Eastern Division leaders (VSU). The Vikings failed to execute a two-point conversion, which would have given them a three-point victory margin. The Trojans were crushed after failing to score on their next two possessions. After the smoke cleared, all the Trojans could see was Donald Norman kneeling to kill the final 19 seconds, with the Viking’s victory secure. SERVEFWASHORrHME. FOR A LIFETIML ■ ' El istfnn: Orjci Ihs rorarns s-ptu !5 rsJja: rg aij rr fcrjn "g pvs'S th; 'r- t- 'rv*'- -3 %z i1i>? !>r IS r'KsJ II s you irnsal I’air.rj? Hr? $ sf 'Ayk'i fc 1 r.vmp ‘“-r tc 60 speiis''! e? fcrgni trcis !) :r f,.r !i« mi I •' 1% 'f/r ';« life SK 'S >tu I' Ed 1*^2 ■th?nse.te # sgriethRg f Dr yjtr csur-:^ . wilfi cr‘h» S5.C-30 casSi & , sjp -to $I8X^DC '0 PI fgc' th4f -mi ■ fUt I p ,11, . . Ss, 3S m appfBac" or, - ys-i mrt ts m 2 cauoi? ‘ al ‘jae 4nj f'rg oU f’-iw 3 $aid^':{ cj** fjL Hsm : ViS'* m C8tl - 1 #0 ?tf’ '!"4Sj b eel rr-’-*' •^^las'S ECSU„baseball team determined to win CIAA championship Despite no baseball field and lack of cam pus support, Whittle remains optimistic By Matt Law Sports Writer The Elizabeth City State University Baseball team by any statistical measure is the winningest sports team on campus, despite critics and obstacles they have faced. Lead by head coach Terrance Whittle, the ECSU baseball team ended last year’s season with an impressive 21-13 win/loss record. The Vikings finished second in the CIAA after a tough loss to Virginia State in the CIAA championship last year. However, Coach Whittle said that last year’s season would only make them better. “The team’s motivation is geared to improving off of last year’s success,” Whittle said In spite of their success, campus support for the tean^has been minimal, and the general feeling among the students is that campus support is low. Although Whittle doesn’t know the reason for the lack of campus support, he acknowledges it. But he says lit doesn’t affect the team’s performance. “Most team su^>ort comes from the team,” h«^sail.“ ' Whittle also said that the veterans on the team are helping the rookies along, as he simply put it, “It’s starting to come together.” One of ttl^ reasons why campus support is lacking* some students say. is bccause there is no baseball field on campus. TTie home games are played on the baseball field at Knobb’s Creek Recreational Center. Students claim that having to leave campus to attend a home baseball game just doesn’t make sense. “When you have to leave campus to go to a home game, it’s going to an away game, Sean Williams said, a junior here on campus. The University has not had a baseball field on campus since 1984. Oddly, no one knows why. Campus support is not the only issue looming over the team. More than five students interviewed said that race is also an issue that hinders campus support. An African American female student said “The lighter skinned people on the team get more exposure than the darker- skinned people on the team.” She made reference in particular to three players, Carlos Gutierrez, Deron Chase, and PJ Comacho. When asked about the assertion, coach Whittle said, “Whoever said that is obviously not a baseball person. I don’t care what color you are. If you can hit the little round ball with the little round bat, you can play for me.” The Compass was unable to contact Gutierrez and Comacho at press time. Former player Deron Chase said, “Exposure is based on talent. Whoever said [that] exposure must be based on something else other than talent is mistaken.” Raymond Childs, a junior, said “It’s not about race. Yoi just know they’re baseball players because they are always in uniform around campus.” Despite this charge and alleged lack of campus support, which Whittle minimizes. Whittle remains optimistic about ' this year’s team.. Whittle, who won last year’s Coach of the Year award said, “Winning any accolade validates the fact that you’re doing something right.” Another obstacle facing the team is last year’s loss in the chamiMonshipgame. “I’d rather lose in the first round than get to the championship and lose,” Whittle said. As a former member of Virginia State Championship team of 1993, he knows what it’s like to win. However, for Whittle, the hardest part of the loss was for his team. “It hurts me for those guys who lost last year,” he said, referring to the graduating member of last year’s team. Whittle predicts that his team will be returning to CIAA Championship game again this year. The veterans of the team are looking ultra smooth, and the rookies are showing massive potential. Where: Elizabeth City Army Recruiting Station When: 9 a m. - 6 p.m. Monday-Friday Who: Sgt. 1st Class Poole. a38-2292 IE! Viking Men’s Basketball Schedule ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY “ VIKINGS” 2004-2005 MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME 11/2 Old Dominion University(Exhibition) Norfolk, VA 7:05pm 11/13 Univ. of Maryland Eastern Shore (Exhibition) Princess Anne, MD 7:05pm 11/17 Bluefield State College Elizabeth City, NC 7:30pm 11/22 Cheyney State University Elizabeth City, NC 7:00pm 11/26-27 Virginia State University Invitational Petersburg, VA T.B.A. 11/30 Armstrong-Atlantic Savannah, GA 5:30pm 12/3-4 RL Vaughan Invitational 6&8, 3&5 (St. Augustine’s, U. of Charleston W. V, Claflin) Elizabeth City, NC 12/18 Columbia Union College Takoma Park, MD 7:30pm 12/29- Felician College Tournament Lodi, NJ 8&6 30- 12/29 ECSU vs. Felician @ 8;00pm, 12/30 ECSU vs.Queens (NY; 6:00pm 1/4 Columbia Union College Elizabeth City, NC 7:30pm 1/6 Winston-Salem State University Elizabeth City, NC 7:30pm 1/11 Shaw University Raleigh. NC 7:30pm 1/15 Virginia State University Elizabeth City, NC 7:30pm 1/18 Saint Augustine’s College T^lizabeth City, NC 7:30pm 1/20 Johnson C. Smith University Charlotte, NC 7:30pm 1/22 Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, NC 7:30pm 1/27 Saint Paul’s College Elizabeth City, NC 7:30pm 1/29 Virginia Union University ■ Elizabeth City, NC 7:30pm 2/1 Bowie State University Bowie, MD 7:30pm. 2/5 Shaw University Elizabeth City, NC 7:30pm 2/8 Livingstone College Elizabeth City, NC 7:30pm 2/12 Saint Paul’s College Lawrenceville, VA 7:30pm 2/15 North Carolina Central University Durham, NC 7:30pm 2/19 Virginia State University Petersburg, VA 7:30pm 2/22 Bowie State University Elizabeth City, NC 7:30pm 2/26 Virginia Union University Richmond, VA 7:30pm 2/28-3/5 60th CIAA Basketball Tournament Raleigh. NC T.B.A.
Nov. 1, 2004, edition 1
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