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Tigers set to take on ‘Canes in round two
By STEVE FRANKLIN, Sports Writer
Asim McGill and his Williamston Tigers are feeling pretty confident as they head into tonight’s NCHSAA Class 1A East second round state playoff game against the Northampton-West Hurricanes.
The Tigers are averaging 46.5 points over their last four contests, and in the opening round of the playoffs, Williamston recorded its first shutout of the year, trouncing Northside, 42-0.
“Anytime you can get a shutout it gives you confidence,” McGill said. “Our guys are playing really well right now on both sides of the football. We’ve been very consistent offensively and defensively.”
Williamston quarterback Emery Griggs has been the catalyst to much of the Tigers’s success the last few weeks. Griggs began the year as a bruising fullback, but made the transition to quarterback midway through the season. Since then, the Tigers have been on a tear, with Griggs rushing for nearly 140 yards per game and demonstrating the abilty to throw the ball with great accuracy.
“We kind of stumbled upon Emery as our quarterback by accident,” McGill said with a chuckle. “He never threw a pass in practice before. One game we had him line up back there and take direct snaps, and we decided to throw the ball. We found out he wasn’t a bad passer, and the next week he was taking snaps in practice.”
The Tigers also have plenty of talent around Griggs.
Kareem Bell, K.J. Brown, Kenny Brown and Ramelle Lanier all can run the ball or catch passes from their slot receiver positions, and fullback Derek Everett churns out big runs is short yardage situations.
Defensively, linebackers DeBrian and DeBrian’t Everett, along with the defensive front of Griggs, Derek Everett and Rakeem Speller, anchor a stout defensvie unit that allowed only 55 yards to the Panthers in the opening round of the state playoffs.
“We feel like we’ve got a pretty good team,” said DeBrian Everett after the win over Northside. “We’re really starting to come together and we believe we can go far in the playoffs.”
Standing in the way this week for No. 3 seed Williamston (7-5) is No. 11 seed Northampton-West (6-6), which took out No. 6 seed Cape Hatteras, 36-8 last Friday.
“Their record doesn’t indicate how good they are,” McGill said. “They’re going to provide a good challenge for our football team. This is the playoffs, we’re going to have to bring our ‘A’ game if we want to keep winning.”
No. 5 Plymouth (9-3) at No. 4 Weldon (10-1)
The Plymouth Vikings face a stiff test later today when they hit the road to take on the Weldon Chargers in the second round of the NCHSAA Class 1A East state playoffs.
Last week, the defending state champion Vikings squeaked out a 14-6 win over Northampton-East, while the Chargers rolled over Mattamuskeet, 55-0.
“We played a real good opponent in week one, and we were fortunate enough to win,” Plymouth coach Robert Cody said. “We’ve got another tough opponent this week in Weldon.
“I believe it’s going to come down to turnovers and the punting game,” Cody said. “Whoever can hold onto the football, and win the field position battle, will likely come out on top.”
The Chargers feature a potent offensive attack, while Plymouth’s strength is its defensive play. The Vikings have held their opponent to eight points or less in seven of their 12 games this season.
“We’re expecting a great defensive battle,” Cody said. “Offensively, we got to play ball control and keep their offense off the field.”
Last week, the Vikings rushed for more than 200 yards on the ground behind running backs Anthony Sealy, Dylan Watts and Elmer Cooper.
Cody said that for his team to win this week, they’ll need to better that performance.
“If we can get 300 yards on the ground, and play the kind of defense we did last week, then we’ll do well,” Cody said. “This is going to be a heck of a challenge for our football team. Weldon is very good team.”
No. 10 Perquimans (7-5) at No. 2 Creswell (9-1)
Crewsell enters tonight’s contest against Perquimans as the higher seed, but coach Wayne Rodgers knows his team has a difficult draw this week.
“Perquimans is very potent and strong on both sides of the football,” Rodgers said. “Last year, they beat us pretty good in the first round, so we know what they are capable of.”
Creswell advanced to the second round with a 27-8 win over Rosewood last Friday, while Perquimans scored five defensive touchdowns in a 51-0 drubbing of Roanoke.
The Tigers are averaging 46.5 points over their last four contests, and in the opening round of the playoffs, Williamston recorded its first shutout of the year, trouncing Northside, 42-0.
“Anytime you can get a shutout it gives you confidence,” McGill said. “Our guys are playing really well right now on both sides of the football. We’ve been very consistent offensively and defensively.”
Williamston quarterback Emery Griggs has been the catalyst to much of the Tigers’s success the last few weeks. Griggs began the year as a bruising fullback, but made the transition to quarterback midway through the season. Since then, the Tigers have been on a tear, with Griggs rushing for nearly 140 yards per game and demonstrating the abilty to throw the ball with great accuracy.
“We kind of stumbled upon Emery as our quarterback by accident,” McGill said with a chuckle. “He never threw a pass in practice before. One game we had him line up back there and take direct snaps, and we decided to throw the ball. We found out he wasn’t a bad passer, and the next week he was taking snaps in practice.”
The Tigers also have plenty of talent around Griggs.
Kareem Bell, K.J. Brown, Kenny Brown and Ramelle Lanier all can run the ball or catch passes from their slot receiver positions, and fullback Derek Everett churns out big runs is short yardage situations.
Defensively, linebackers DeBrian and DeBrian’t Everett, along with the defensive front of Griggs, Derek Everett and Rakeem Speller, anchor a stout defensvie unit that allowed only 55 yards to the Panthers in the opening round of the state playoffs.
“We feel like we’ve got a pretty good team,” said DeBrian Everett after the win over Northside. “We’re really starting to come together and we believe we can go far in the playoffs.”
Standing in the way this week for No. 3 seed Williamston (7-5) is No. 11 seed Northampton-West (6-6), which took out No. 6 seed Cape Hatteras, 36-8 last Friday.
“Their record doesn’t indicate how good they are,” McGill said. “They’re going to provide a good challenge for our football team. This is the playoffs, we’re going to have to bring our ‘A’ game if we want to keep winning.”
No. 5 Plymouth (9-3) at No. 4 Weldon (10-1)
The Plymouth Vikings face a stiff test later today when they hit the road to take on the Weldon Chargers in the second round of the NCHSAA Class 1A East state playoffs.
Last week, the defending state champion Vikings squeaked out a 14-6 win over Northampton-East, while the Chargers rolled over Mattamuskeet, 55-0.
“We played a real good opponent in week one, and we were fortunate enough to win,” Plymouth coach Robert Cody said. “We’ve got another tough opponent this week in Weldon.
“I believe it’s going to come down to turnovers and the punting game,” Cody said. “Whoever can hold onto the football, and win the field position battle, will likely come out on top.”
The Chargers feature a potent offensive attack, while Plymouth’s strength is its defensive play. The Vikings have held their opponent to eight points or less in seven of their 12 games this season.
“We’re expecting a great defensive battle,” Cody said. “Offensively, we got to play ball control and keep their offense off the field.”
Last week, the Vikings rushed for more than 200 yards on the ground behind running backs Anthony Sealy, Dylan Watts and Elmer Cooper.
Cody said that for his team to win this week, they’ll need to better that performance.
“If we can get 300 yards on the ground, and play the kind of defense we did last week, then we’ll do well,” Cody said. “This is going to be a heck of a challenge for our football team. Weldon is very good team.”
No. 10 Perquimans (7-5) at No. 2 Creswell (9-1)
Crewsell enters tonight’s contest against Perquimans as the higher seed, but coach Wayne Rodgers knows his team has a difficult draw this week.
“Perquimans is very potent and strong on both sides of the football,” Rodgers said. “Last year, they beat us pretty good in the first round, so we know what they are capable of.”
Creswell advanced to the second round with a 27-8 win over Rosewood last Friday, while Perquimans scored five defensive touchdowns in a 51-0 drubbing of Roanoke.
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