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AC Phoenix, September 1988 Page 9 Wildcats Look To Defense for Success in '88 By Malcolm A. Pharr The Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman Col lege posted a 4-7 record a year ago for fifth-year Coach Larry Little. The defense that carried the Wildcats in 1986 faltered last sea son as they ranked last in total yards allowed in the conference, with 356.9 yards per outing. The offense, which ranked fourth, was led by the departed Greg Ross. Ross passed for nearly 210 yards per contest last season and earned second team All- MEAC. The rushing game was also some thing to be desired as the 'Cats only managed 102 yards a game. This season Little and the Wildcats hope to bring "The New Wave" to Daytona Beach, Florida, along with win ning ways as they try to capture the confer ences title as they did in 1984. Senior QB Anthony Thomas (6-2, 200), who alternated starts in 1986, played a reserve roll last year. In 1986, Thomas was true on 85 of 1 75 tosses for 1,139 yards and nirie T.D. passes. The Wildcats have experience in the back- field with senior Kevin Finnie. Finnic has led the "Cats in rushing the past two seasons. He has picked up‘over 1300 yards in the last two years. Junior Marty Butler returns to give the "Cats experience and talent at the run- ningback position. The Wildcats are blessed with three gifted receivers in se nior James Jackson, ju nior Stevie Thomas and Labrone Sumpter. Last season Sumpter caught 26 aerials for 234 yards and a score. Thomas haulded in 20 passes for 289 yards and two scores. Jack- son took in 15 passes for 202 yards with one going for a TD. Sopho more tight end Edwin Clapp is the likely selection for his posi tion. this season Clapp may get to show his versatility as a receiver, as well as a blocker. Bethune Cookman is big up front this season and their size will pre sent problems for MEAC foes. Seniors Mike Floyd (6-4, 255), Chris Holmes (6-0, 250), Fred McPherson (6-2, 286), John Brown (6-6, 285) and junior Micheal Willis (6-2, 240) should protect the tal ented Wildcats back- field. The key to the Wild cats charge may be on the end of senior Manny Manolas' foot. He is considered the best kicker in the leagues 18 year history having connected on 23 of 27 extra points and ten of 15 field goals a vear ago. Manolas holds the MEAC dis tance record with a 53- yard FG. Defensively the Wild cats are not as opti mistic as they would want to be. The de fense which they had shortcomings in last season may well repeat itself this season. Seniors Reggie Boyd (6-2, 260), Louis Jones and Gerard Kineard should man the line for the Wildcats. Junior Godfrey Story (6-4, 220) adds quickness and strength to the Wildcats machine. Junior Amos White (6-0, 190) averaged seven tackles per out ing last season from his linebacking position. What White lacks in size he makes up for in aggressiveness and de termination. Seniors Boris Johnson (6-2, 212), Ron Edwards and Dwayne Donaldson are likely starters at the other linebacking posi tions. Three seniors in An dre Pugh (6-3, 185), Jeff Alexander (6-0, 190) and Al Ar- menteros (6-0, 190) will provide a wide range of pass coverage for the "Cats. Junior Kevin Grisby is a strong can didate to fill the one va cancy in the sec ondary. The Wildcats will have no problems gen erating offense, but they key to this season is just how stubborn can their defense be in 1988? Bulldogs Set To Make History Repeat Itself By Malcolm A. Pharr Since the origin of the MEAC there has been not team as dominant on the gridiron as the Bulldogs of S.C. State. Every imaginable team record (offensively & defensively) has a touch of red and blue "Bulldogmania" in its confines. S.C. State has nine conference crowns to its credit and are runners of a five-' year championship streak that will probably never be broken, or challenged. The 1987 edition of the S.C. State Bulldogs posted a 6-5 overall record under the direc tion of head coach Dennis Thomas. Thomas in his third- year as the Bulldogs mentor hopes to have the Bulldogs, and their eleven returning starters, in position to regain the respect that they received during the 1974-1978 and 1980-1983 campaigns. The Bulldogs are not worrying about finding experience at the helm because a pair of senior signal-callers will vie for the starting job. Lance Salters (5-10, 170) and Tyrone Gilmore (5-8, 179) will compete, and possibly share the du ties as quarterback. Salters completed 52 of 122 passes for 757 yards and five touch downs. He also rushed for 130 yards and scored four times. Gilmore connected on 47 of 100 passes for 603 yards and a score. He also rushed for an other score. Senior runningbacks Clyde "The Glide" Nor ris (5-10, 175) and ju nior Zach Whitley are the top returning rush ers for the Bulldogs. Norris gained 239 yards on 45 atterhpts, scoring twice in the process. Whitley ram bled for 199 yards on 43 carries a year ago. The fullback slot will be shared between seniors Ron Geohaghan and Rod Kinlaw. Junior flanker J.W. Montgomery, snared 11 passes for 146 yards last season for the 'Dogs. Senior Fred Jones could get the nod at split end, and Darryl Mendenhall and Al Odom will seek posi tions as well. Senior tight end Rod ney McLaughlin (5-11, 230) is one of the more sure-handed receivers SOUTH CAROLINA STATE COACH DENNIS THOMAS Senior runningbacks Clyde "The Glide" Norris and Junior Zach Whitley are the top returning rushers for the Bulldogs. in the MEAC. McLaughlin caught 20 passes for 339 yards and a TD in 1987. The Bulldogs look strong in the trenches with senior guard Bobby Irby (6-0, 249), junior tackle Eric Dou glass and Honorable Mention All-MEAC cen ter Kenny Pate (6-2, 265). Sophomores Milt Gooch and David Brandyburg could fill the voids left through graduation. Quaterback Lance Salters was last seasons part-time punter for the 'Dogs. This season the job is his alone. Place- kicker William Wrighten, who made 16 of 25 extra points, while connecting on five of five field goals. The Bulldogs defense, which has been histori cally their strong suit, should be even stronger this season 'vith the return of All- MEAC nose guard David Ammons (6-2, 272) and Marco Elliot (6-2, 294). Juniors Cornelius Bobo, Matthew Murphy and John Lomax a.'3 seeking the final tackle i!ot. If there is a weakness on defense this season it is the defensive back- field. All of the starting linebackers were lost last season. Ricardo Smith, Reggie Kennedy and Jimmy Buchanan will try to revive this area in the "Bulldogs House". Sophomore Carl Jinks, Ezra Sutton, and Greg Henderson could be very impor tant in the defensive scheme of things. There is only one de fensive back returning for the Bulldogs. Sophomore Jamal Isom (6-3, 180) must rely on junior safety William Weaver (6-3, 190), who had two intercep tions last season, to give him support in the Bulldogs secondary. Corner spots could belong to Rod Brown and Pat Robinson. The Bulldogs are tough in spots. If in juries can be kept down then they have a legiti mate chance to chal lenge the pack for the crown. If injuries occur to two or three key players Coach Dennis Thomas could hit the recruiting trail in early September.
The AC Phoenix News (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Sept. 1, 1988, edition 1
9
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