PAGE 12A—WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS. AUGUST 24, 1988
Backfield, Experience The Keys For Plymouth
PLYMOUTH — The Plymouth
Vikings hope to follow a path
blazed by senior running back
Gerald Puckett into a high-
enough finish in the Northeastern
Conference race to make the state
Class 2-A playoffs this season.
Puckett rushed for over 1,200
yards and scored 13 touchdowns
as a young, inexperienced Viking
squad finished 5-5 last season.
This season, 21 lettermen, in
cluding seven returning starters
on offense and six on defense, re
turn in hopes that a year’s experi
ence — and Puckett — will lead a
Plymouth resurgence.
Nicky Alexander (6-0, 165, Sr.)
and Shawn Walker (6-0, 160, Jr.),
up from the junior varsity team,
will give the Vikings depth at the
quarterback position. Both need
to success running and throwing
the ball if the Vikes are to return to
contention within the NEAC.
Last year. Walker threw three
touchdown passes after coming
up from the junior varsity team,
where he added six TD passes and
was the squad’s leading rusher.
In addition to Puckett, Tim Col
lins (5-8, 150, Sr.) and Jermaine
Davenport (6-0, 145, Jr.) should
see some action at either tailback
or fullback.
Leading the offensive line will
be Marty Biggs, Tyree Carr, Chris
Cherry, Chris Coker, Phillip Gar
rett and Michael Jordan. Kip
Hicks, Kevin McNair, Curtis Nor
man and Jordan return as offen
sive and defensive linemen.
Ronnie Blount (6-1,195, Sr.) will
have to provide the leadership on
defense from his linebacker’s
spot. The Vikings graduated their
leading tackier in middle line
backer Freddie Williams, who
also was the tight end last season.
Williams earned Washington Dai
ly News All-Area recognition for
Memliors of llio 1988 Plyiiiuuth Vikiiifi football tram arr, from Irft, front row:
Shawn Walkrr, Nicky Alrxamlrr, Crrald Piirkctt, Jrrniaiiir Davenport, Tim Col
lins, Curtis Brown, Lenny Small anil Chris Cherry; seronil row: llrail roarh Itohert
Coily, Ronnie Blount, Travis Rouson, Tyree Carr, Phillip Garrett, (Jiris Norman,
Crrin Bryant, .Marty Big)(s anil .Michael Jorilaii: hark row: Kevin McNair, (Jiris
Coker, Aniiro Garrett, Donovan Collins, Kip Ilirks, .Vnily M’onihle, Stephen Paul,
Tyrone Simpson, assistant eoarh Jim Ilirks anil assistant roaeli Kevin Cutler. Not
pictureil is assistant roarh Stanley Janies.
his outstanding play at both ends
last year.
Andro Garrett, Tyronne Simp
son, Travis Rouson and Errin
Bryant will see action at lineback
er spots. Cherry is another player
that may see action both ways due
to lack of depth.
Puckett should handle a corner-
back spot on defense while Col
GOOD
LUCK
in the upcoming season
to our
CHOCOWINITY
INDIANS!!
FOODKING
lEH
Hwy. 33 Chocowinity
Beihoven
lins and Simpson will be the safe
ties.
Others that should get plenty of
playing time are Lenny Small (5-8,
165, Sr.), Andy Womble (5-11, 140,
Jr.) and Donovan Collins (6-3,190,
So.).
With a quick and experienced
group of returners, the Vikings
could challenge for one of the
NEAC’s three playoff spots pro
viding injuries don’t hit the key
positions, Cody said.
2S
PLYMOUTH
August
at Creswall
2
September
Waitiingtofl
9
Fannvilla
IS
at tail Cartarat
23
at Roanoka*
30
at Willianutaa*
October
7
Nortiiaffl|rt»n Eatt*
14
Edaaton*
21
Roanoka Rapids*
20
at Hoitlord County*
November
J 988 Plymouth Roster
NO.
Player
HOT.
WGT.
CLASS
POS.
15
Nicky Aleiander
6- 0
165
Sr.
Back
11
Shawn Walker
6- 0
160
Ir.
Back
65
Marty Blgys
5-11
155
Sr.
Line
55
Tyree Carr
6- 0
355
Sr.
Line
44
Chris Cherry
5-11
185
Sr.
Line
71
Chris Coker
6- 0
205
Sr.
Line
77
Oonoran Collins
6- 3
190
So.
Line
30
Tim Collins
5- 8
150
Sr.
Back
75
Andro Oarrett
6- 0
225
Jr.
Lino
61
Phillip Oarrett
6- 2
200
Sr.
Line~
80
Kip Hicks
6- 1
175
Ir.
Line
66
Michael Iordan
6- 1
203
Sr.
Line
68
Kevin McNair
6- 0
165
Sr.
Lino
62
Curtis Norman
5-11
175
Ir.
Line
17
Gerald PuckeH
6- 0
185
Sr.
Back
S3
Travis Rouson
5- 8
185
Jr.
Line
99
Tyrone Simpson
6- 1
215
Sr.
Line
42
tenny Small
5- 8
165
Sr.
Line
81
Andy Womble
5-11
140
Jr.
Back
88
Stephen Paul
5-10
140
Jr.
End
50
Ronnie Olount
6- I
195
Sr.
End
32
Curtis Brown
5- 6
165
Jr.
Back
63
Errin Bryant
5- 8
150
Sr.
Line
22
lermaino Davenport
6- 0
145
Jr.
Back
NCHSAA Celebrates 75th
Associated Press
The North Carolina High
School Athletic Association will
celebrate its 75th anniversary this
fall. The Association’s logo will
show up on the 50-yard line at
some football stadiums, on uni
form patches, on billboards and in
ads in almost every high school
program in the state.
The celebration is a sign of the
association’s success. Its budget
has tripled in the past five years
with the advent of corporate spon-
sorships that bring in about
$200,000 per year. State cham-
pionshis have been classified in
many sports and upgraded in
practically every sport.
“We have a firm set of beliefs to
try and make high school athletics
the best experience that it can be
for the youngsters of this
eseason,” Charlie Adams, the ex
ecutive director of the North Car-
1913
1996
lina High School Athletic Associa
tion, said.
“We have never changed for
change’s sake, but neither have
we refused to change simply be
cause we had always done some
thing another way. We have made
some mistakes, but probably 75 to
85 percent of the changes have
been positive. I won’t apologize
for the mistakes because some
them led to real progresss.
One of Adams’ top priorities
was moving state championship
events into the nicest facilities
available. The association took
another step toward that goal in
May, when it scheduled the state
4-A football championship game
this fall for Wake Forest Universi
ty’s Groves Stadium in Winston-
Salem.
As has been the case with many
of the changes, not everyone is ex
cited about the move. (Opponents
say leaving the high school cam
puses and hometown fans is bad.
Proponents point out this year’s
boys’ basketball finals drew more
than 13,000 spectators to the
Smith Center on the campus of
the University of North Carolina.
The girls’ finals at UNC’s Car-
(See NCHSAA. Page 13)