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http ://www.thecharlottepost.com c Section tE^e Cliarlotte $osit SPORTS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2006 A fabulous finale JOHhBON C. SMfTH AT N.C. CefTRAL I SATURDAY, 1 P.M., O’KELLY-RIDDICK STADIUM, DURHAM Records and rankings on line for Bulls and rival Eagles By Herbert L. White heft).wh/le@thechortofteposf.corr) It’s been a long time since Johnson C. Smith played meaningful football in November The Golden Bulls play at N.C. Central with regional rankings, school records and a Pioneer Bowl berth at stake. The Eagles (9-0, 6- 0 CIAA, No. 4 in Division 11) have wrapped up the West Division championship, but a Smith (7- 2, 4-2 CIAA, No. 10 in Southeast region) win would be the Bulls’ first ei^t-victo- ry season since the 1975 team went 8-2. “We feel like Dix to. We’re going to give Central everything they ask fisr in a Smith football team.” Smith pulled closer to the Roneer Bowl bid by beating Division I-AA Savannah State 27-6 last week for homecoming. As one of five CIAA teams eligible for the postseason game, the Bulls need a win at Central, ranked foTirth in the nation in Division II, to solidify their case. ‘We’re looking forward to that Central game. That’s our next homecomit^,” said linebacker Omar Bizzell, a senior fix)m Raleigh. ‘We 3 STATEMENT/3C PHOTO/CURTIS WILSON Johnson C. Smith cornerback De'Audra Dix (4) has returned four kicks for touchdowns this season, including a 74-yarder last week against Savannah State. Win helps JCSU keep pace in Pioneer Bowl chase By Herbert L. White herb.whife@fhectiariottepost.com Johnson C. Smith is one of five teams still in contention for the CIAA’s Roneer Bowl slot. The CIAA representative must have at least a .500 record. The contenders are; • N.C. Central (10-0, 6-0) roUed Livingstone 37-15 to wrap up the West and a likely Division n playoff bid. The Eagles are fourth in the nation, third in the Southeast. Only North Alabama, the No. 2 team in the Southeast, is in fiunt of NCCU in the national poU. Next up: Johnson C. Smith for the Eases’ homecomii^. • Johnson C. Smith (7-2, 4- 2): The Golden Bulb pasted Savannah State 27-6 to clinch second in the West. The Bulls haven’t won this many games since 1996 and are a stm-ng See ELIZABETH/3C With Wallace, Bulls’ expectations rise By Andrew Seligman THE ASSOC/ArEp PRESS CHICAGO - The afix) b gone, and Ben Wallace is wearing the Chic^ Bvilb’ red and white instead of the Detroit Pistons’ red and blue. “I look real good in it,” the former \^ginia Union standout said. The Bulls agree. The new hairdo and uni form aside, the four-time Defensive Player of the Year is on a team that b expected to cont^d for the Eastern Conference championship. Nothing new there. But for the Bulb, it’s a change. After two straight first- roimd playoff exits, they want more. The Bulb finished with 41 victories last season after winning 12 of thdr final 14 games to make the playoffs and gave eventual champi on Miami a scare last sea son, before losing in six games. Then, they made Please see BIG BEN/2C Life in the pits a dream come tme for crew woman PHOTOCARRCK IGNASIAK Melanie Thomas ditched her regular routine for a career as a tire-changer for Mike Skinner’s NASCAR team. By Darrick Ignasiak NAHONAL NEWSPAPER PUBUSHERS ASSOCIATION MARTINSVILLE, Va. - Melanie Thomas’ early resume gave no hint of what was to come. She held several typical jobs - she had worked in a Hbrary was employed in the day care field and was hired by a bank. But Thomas b an54hing but typi cal. So she packed everything into her car and made the 14-hour jour ney firom Lake Geneva, Vis. to Hickory to follow her dream; to work as pit-crew member for a NASCAR driver. It was a dream she had clung to since she attended her first race at the age of 13. Now, 13 years later, she b making it come true. Thomas recently was a member of NASCAR driver Morgan Shepard’s pit crew. Two days after her brief stint with Shepard, she joined CJM Motorsports headed by driver Mike Skinner - to be the right-rear tire changer. In all, she has worked on four teams. “Td have a girl that wants to be a tire changer and works at it shows real commitmait on her part,” said Robbie Loomb, a former crew chief for Jeff Gordon and ®cecutive vice president of operations for Petty Enterprises. A committed Thomas was the first woman to ever to “go over the waU” (working on a car during a racing pit stop) in a Nextel Cup event. She was abo the first female to do pit work in a Nextel Cup points event. Thomas’ growing Ibt of “firsts” has largely gone unnoticed by the news media, which b fine with Thomas. “I’d rather be off the radar to give me a chance to get my feet wet,” See HER DREAM/2C ooos PHOTO/WADE NASH Carolina cornerback Ken Lucas upends Dallas receiver Terrell Owens Sunday. So many questions, sofew Panthers are nowhere near a smooth-naming team yet By Chens F. Hodges cherishodges@fhechQriotteposf.com For the Carolina Panthers, the bye week couldn’t have come at a better time. Coming off a 35-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the Panthers have to figure out why they can’t score in the second half It happened in their loss to Cincinnati and the defense , allowed 25 unanswered points in the fourth quarter against. Dallas. “We have to get better,” said fi^ safety IVQke Minter. “The coaches will go into the bye week and look at what they have to do to make changes and well just go with that,” “One minute we look like a playoff Super Bowl contender and the next minute we look like we don’t have a clue,” said cornerback Ken Lucas. ‘We have to try and figure tbingg out. It’s not too late, but time b running out for us.” Lucas said the Dallas loss was a total embar rassment because the Panthers didn’t finish the game. ‘We have not been finbhing games and that’s something that we have to learn to do as the season goes forward,” he said. In Carolina’s four losses, the Panthe:s failed to score in the fourth quarter. We have to do the little thiugs correctly and not making mistakes,” Lucas said, “Tlimovers b the biggest key in whether you win or lose and we’ve got to try to cause turnovers and not give the ball away” Please see PANTHERS/2C CHARLOTTE GOLF Brown earns Revolution fall championship FROM STAFF REPORTS Victor Brown won the Revolution Fall Club championship at Revolution Park Golf Course Oct. 28. Brown, who finished with a 69, won a tiebreak^ with James Bouler. Harold Varner and Brandon Fbher each finbhed at 71. • Donald Littlejohn, Rick Best, Joe Johnson and James Johnson won the Jack Brayboy homecoming tournament at The TYadition Oct. 27 The foursome won a tiebreaker with Lasonio Thompson, Julian Collins, Shelden Davb and ' David Sellers. The tournament was part of Johnson C. Smith’s homecoming activities. • Wiliie Fields won the Masters City Golf Association Classic Sept. 16 in Augusta, Ga. Reids carded a two-round total of 149,11 shots ahead of Chrb Coles. Melvin Jackson was third at 161, • Par-Busters Golf Group will host its Member-Guest and Friends tournament Nov 19 at Birkdale Golf Club in Huntersville. Entry fee b $70 per player, and includes green fees, carts, range balls and prizes. Deadline for payment b Nov. 12 and can be mailed to John Love Sr., 929 Pliunstead Road, Charlotte, NC 28216 or Andre Springs, 165000 See PAR BUSTERS3C
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