Numbers
Short At
Columbia
COLUMBIA — Coaches dream
of inheriting a successful
program.
Take Class 1-A Columbia for in
stance.
Last year, the Wildcats tied Cho-
cowinity for the conference title
and earned the playoffs for the
second straight year. They thrilled
their fans by advancing to the
state championship game —
several hundred made the 500-
mile trip to Murphy.
Although Murphy ended Col
umbia’s Cinderella dreams with a
56-15 triumph, the Wildcats
emerged with the best record in
the school’s history — 12-3.
That would seem like enough to
excite the community’s youngs
ters into wanting to be a part of the
program.
However, in the off-season head
Spencer White departed for the
Perquimans helm.
Kevin Wilson, an assistant
coach at Class 4-A Durham Jor
dan, was hired. Wilson came in
familiar with running a 1-A prog
ram, having been an assistant at
Richlands, his alma mater, for
four years.
Wilson came in, looked the
situation over and instituted a lift
ing and running program in July.
He had a turnout of approx
imately 15 players.
On the opening day of practice,
that number remained the same—
the smallest turnout on record, he
said.
“We had six or eight different
circumstances come up,” Wilson
said. Many prospects were in
volved in farm work and could not
get away. Others were working at
the beach and needed to stay
through the summer, others had
conflicts at home ...”
" One of the players that didn’t
appear was Andre Cummings,
one of the stars of last year’s team.
WASHINGTON DAILY NEWS, AUGUST 24, 1988—PAGE 15A
Pack Coaches
Year-By-Year
Member* of the 1988 Columbia Wildcat football team are, from left, front row: Tim Howlett, Dwayne Willi*, Eric Syke*,
Eric Brown and Mike Owens; *econd row: Thomas Wall, Hank Reynolds, Harvey West, Mike Holiday and Johnny
Spencer; back row: Nelson Davenport, Kevin Spencer, JelfCreef, Joe Pledper and Winson Barnes. Not pictured is Allen
Bateman.
Cummings has transferred to
Hertford High School.
However, five lettermen includ
ing three starters on offense and
one on defense did materialize.
The cream of the returning crop
is Joe Pledger, a six-foot-two, 180-
pound senior back. He is joined by
Jeff Creef, the Daily News’ Top
Pitcher in baseball last spring,
and by Kevin Spencer, a 6-3
lineman.
Pledger and Creef will join
junior quarterback Eric Brown (5-
5,180) in the backfield of Wilson’s
I-formation attack.
Pledger will get the lion’s share
of the running duties while Creef
may be a threat to peel out and
dish off the halfback pass.
The primary passing targets will
be flanker Mike Owens, a 5-6,155-
pound junior and Hank Reynolds,
a 5-9, 160-pound junior.
Because of ipjuries, Wilson has
had to reshuffle his offensive
linemen.
Creef and tackle Eric Sykes
appear to be the leaders of a defen-
1988 Columbia Roster
NO.
Player
CLASS
HOT.
WGT.
POS.
50
Tim Hovlelt
Ir.
5- 7
130
Line
40
Owayne Willis
Ir.
5- 6
130
Back
9
Eric Sykes
Jr.
5- 5
150
Line
1
Eric Brown
Ir.
5- 7
ISO
Back
15
Mike Owens
Jr.
5- 9
155
Line
25
Thomas Wall
So.
5-10
175
Back
22
Hank Reynolds
Jr.
5- 9
ISO
Line
SO
Harvey West
Jr.
6- 0
200
Line
92
Mike Holiday
So.
5-10
175
Line
45
Johnny Spencer
So.
5-10
ISO
Line
77
Nelson Davenport
Sr.
6- 2
290
Line
55
Kevin Spencer**
Sr.
9- 3
195
Lins
7
left Creef**
Sr.
9- 2
190
Back
44
loe Pledger**
Sr.
9- 2
195
Back
20
Winson Barnes
Jr.
9- 3
170
Line
Mien Bateman
Sr.
5-10
170
Line
Season Champs
TOBACCO BELT CONFERENCE
CHAMPIONS
1977 — Bath
1971 — Mairtao
1979 — Mairtao
1990 — Mantao
1991 — BalhavM
1992 —Bath
1913 — Cramll
1994 — Jaraasalll*
1999 — North Eilitcomh*
1999 — North Ediocomho
1997 — Chocoorinily
— ColumUa
NORTHEASTERN CONFERENCE
CHAMPIONS
1977 — PlyiiHHith
1979 — Tatboro
1979 — AhosUo
I9N —Edoirton
1991 — Noanoho NapMs
1992 — WasMnilsn
19tt — Tarhoro
19M —Tatboro
1995 —Mwakio
19N — EBootoo
1997 — EBooM
sive unit that lost nine player to
graduation.
Wilson is frank in the assessing
his squad’s weaknesses.
“We will be slow and weak,” he
said. “We have no depth, we’re
young and inexperienced.”
However, there is something ab
out Columbia’s team. Call it an in
tangible. The Wildcats drew a
good crowd for their first scrim
mage at nearby Creswell. The
offense, hampered by exchange
problems between the quarter
back and the center, was able to
move the ball. Pledger bulled be
hind the line and the receivers got
the opportunity to flex their skills.
It only takes 11 to play the game
— Wilson has a few more than that
to work with.
COLUMBIA
August
29 Stlonst Senior
September
Satit
Opofl
Mmtoo
Mittamutkost*
30 North Edfocombo*
October
7 *1 Bath*
14 Chocowinity*
21 lamosyillo*
29 Gronrall*
November
4 at Bolhavon*
2
9
19
23
Year Coach
1997 Bob Hanna
1999 UntHHcholl
1995 BinfMItehoH
1994 Bin|Mitth*ll
1N3 Blni Mitcholl
1992 Bint Mitekall
1991 BinfMitchall
1990 OIni Mitcholl
1979 PMIHarrii
1979 PkllHanti
1977 Pbil Harris
1979 loan Wortiilnfton
1975 Okk Chany
1974 Olch Chtriy
1973 Oick Chany
1972 Oick Cherry
1971 Oick Cherry
1970 OlckCheny
1999 OlckCheny
1999 Oick Cherry
1997 Choppy Wafner
1999 Chappy Wafner
1995 Choppy Wafner
1994 Choppy Wafner
1993 Choppy Wafner
1992 Choppy Wafner
1991 Choppy Wafner
1990 Ghepn Wafner
1959 Choppy Wafner
1959 Choppy Wapnar
1957 Choppy Wafner
1959 Choppy Wafner
1955 Choppy Wafner
1954 Choppy Wafner
1953 Choppy Wagner
1952 Choppy Wagner
1951 Choppy Wagner
1950 Choppy Wagner
1949 Choppy Wagner
1949 Choppy Wagner
1947 Choppy Wagner
1949 Choppy Wagner
1945 E. $. lohnion
1944 E. $. lohnson
1943 E. S. lohnson
1942 E. S. lohnson
1941 Choppy Wagner
1940 Doug Kelley
1939 Doug Kelley
1939 Oouf Kelley
1937 Oouf Kelley
Totals 1937- 1987
W L T
5 5 0
2 9
4 0
3 7
9 4
9 I
3 7
7 1
9 9
3 7
I 9
9 2
7 3
3
5
9
9
9
9
7
4
3
9
9
9
II
2
4
7
9
II
9
9
9
10
4
3
2
7
0
3
3
3 4
1 7
2 9
3 1
4 0
1 1
7 1
2 3
3 0
PF PA
179 192
99 290
193 210
159 ISO
232 139
290 95
131 150
75 249
74 229
195 113
54 192
99 202
134 199
149 202
115 190
123 207
44 230
299 107
223 131
137 119
179 99
200 127
209 90
202 127
195 43
123 91
129 ISO
72 134
197 77
152 99
215 103
370 75
79 159
77 94
192 99
193 145
240 40
210
201
119
224
90
5 I
7 0
2 0
2 0
261 227 19
SUBS
PIZZA
TACOS
CHICKEN
HOURS
Sun.-Thurs. 11 AM-11 PM
Fri. & Sat. 11 AM-1 AM
LOCATED
1050 E. MAIN ST.
Across From Washington Park Bridge
FREE
DELIVERY
975-6666
WE WISH THE BEST
TO ALL AREA TEAMS
FOR THE ’88-’89 SEASON
Give Us A Caii
After The Game-
We Deiiver!
91
74
so
95
39
92 120
39 151
222 50
255 39
9t 99
55 113
90 93
47 119
79 95