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mmmmm http://www.thecharlottepost.com c Section Wf)e Charlotte SPORTS TUESDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2006 N.C.’stop programs play right here The one thing that’s pretty obvious firDin this year’s high school playoffs: Mecklenbui^ County and the Southwestern 4A in particu lar, is head and shoulders above the rest of the state. Three county schools are in the 4AA West Region final four, with Providence, Butler and Independence in the run ning. Everyone knows about Independence, which has 104 consecutive wins and six straight state titles, Butler has one of the state’s best running backs in Ryan Houston. But who would’ve thought Providence? Richmond County the gold standard before Independence’s reign of excel lence in N.C, football, didn’t see the Panthers coming. The Raiders, who waved a gaudy 12-0 mark like a flag in the breeze, had the wind taken out of their sails by Providence in a 27-0 beat- down Friday The Panthers beat Richmond County in every phase, leaving no doubt as to who had the superior team. In fact, that was the first shutout the Raiders endured since 1995. BEST GAME: This one’s easy Providence and Butler. The Bulldogs knocked off pre viously unbeaten Greensboro Grimsley to advance against Providence, which is feelir^ pretty confident after spank ing Richmond County There’s also a good tailback battle to check out in Providence’s Corey Darrington against Butler’s Ryan Horrston. All things'bedrig even, look for Providence’s passing attack, featuring the sure- ' handed Dominick Magazu. This has the potential to be highly enteidaining STAYIN’ ALIVE: West Charlotte believes, so it must be true. The Lions are in the final four in the West 4A bracket after dismantling Crest 33-20 on the Chargers home field. West Charlotte, the No. 7 seed, played perhaps its best game of the season in upend ing No. 2 Crest, which hadn’t allowed that many points in a postseason game since 1996. The Lions did it with their ground game and defense, the hallmarks of thdr success most of the season. ’Ibe reward is another opportunity at an upset, this time against East Gaston, the No. 3 seed, i PHOTOSANADE NASH Rookie running back DeAngelo Williams took over for DeShaun Foster Sunday against St. Louis when Foster hyperextended his elbow. Depth perception New starters stepping in and up for Carolina’s departed By Cheris F. Hodges cherishodges@fhechartotteposf.com The Carolina Panthers are in first place in the NFC South. But it’s not the usual suspects givit^ the Panthers the push they need if they're to make the playoffs-it’s the replacements. Middle linebacker Chris Draft took over for the injured Dan Morgan. Right tackle Jeremy Bridges took over for Travelle Wharton and Thomas Davis took over at outside linebacker for Win Witherspoon, who left for St. Louis via fi^ agency Rookie running back DeAngelo Williams is adding big running plays subbing for DeShaim Foster. Bridges said coming to the team he knew he didn’t have a grace period, he was expected to hit the turf runnir^. “They basically told me to get See PANTHERS/3C Chris Draft took over at middle linebacker for Dan Morgan in Week 1. Draft said the Panthers struggled to integrate six nevif starters on defense, which left them 4-4 two weeks ago. Longest season in N.C. A&T history leaves Aggies blue PHOTO/WADE NASH N.C. A&T's Chaz Truesdale (left) and Andre Garth celebrate after an Aggies touchdown against S.C. State Saturday. By Herbert L. White herb.white@thechar1ottepost.com N.C. A&T football coach Lee Fobbs has seen just about everything, but never a season like this one. The A^es closed out the first win- less campaign in school history, capped by a 41-19 thumping by arch rival S.C. State last week in Charlotte. “This is my 35th year in coaching and if you’ve been in it long enou^, you ejqjerience aU of it” Fobbs says. “As the days get older and when I sit arcxmd the fireplace I’ll be able to teU them Tve seen a 0-11 year, Tve seen some undefeated years, Tve seen some nine- and 10-win years. So why not mix one of those in there? That’s just coadiing. That’s just football.” A^es football wasn’t very good in 2006. Over 11 games, A&T (0-11) scored just 108 points while giving up 476. A&Ts lack of experience showed in nearly every facet, especially on offraise, but Fobbs isn’t totally sur prised. “The positive thing is I won’t be able to sit in fix)nt of you guys next year and say we’re not an ejqjerienced foot ball team,” he says. “That’s tiie one thing I wanted and ej^ressed to all the coaches. We’re playing kids who this time last year might have been playing in high schocJ playoffs but right now, they’re in college football. It’s been a great year for experience for them.” “Fobbs, who was hired in the spring, didn’t have a full recruiting season. Now, his attention turns to bringing in players who can contribute immedi ately and grow this year’s newcomers into a winning core group. See AGGIES/2C prepldr ceMer stage After 2 weeks of waiting,: JCSU reopens camp : By Herbert L. White rierb.whife@fhecharioffepostcom For 11 days, aU Johnson C. Smith line backer Ed Wilson could do was wait. When the (jolden Bulls’ regular season ended Nov. 4 with a loss at N.C. Central, Wilson and his team- inside: Tuskegee’s coach learning on the job. Page 4C mates would gather for informal work outs and talk about tiieir chances of get ting a bid to the Pioneer Bowl against Toskegee Dec. 2 in Charlotte. Was 7-3 JCSU in? Or would it be Virginia Union, which had an identical record but better conference mark despite a loss to the Bulls? “Anxious is not the word,” Wilson said. “It’s like a kid waitir^ at ChristmEis. What am I going to get? It wes sitting on tlie edge of your seat. It was hard.” But JCSU is in, and the Bulls are prepar ing for their fii*st postseason game since the 1970 CIAA championship game and first bowl game since the 1941 Floiida Bowl. After nearly two weeks of inactivity they’re Please see GOLDEN BULLS/2C HANG TIME PHOTO/CURTIS WILSON Johnson C. Smith freshman center Jerome Davis goes up for a lay-in during the Golden Bulls’ 95-86 loss Saturday to West Virginia State in the Wendy’s Tip-Off Classic. The Bulls (1-1) next play Nov. 24- 25 at the Bluefield State Classic in Bluefield, W.Va.
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