Graduate glance -- Coates still making plays for Hutchinson

By Gabe Whisnant
Published in Sports on October 26, 2004 1:56 PM

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HUTCHINSON, KS -- As a standout quarterback and point guard at Goldsboro High, Robert Coates was known for his superior athleticism and big-play ability.

He is still all of those things as a sophomore quarterback at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, but the six-foot-one, 210-pounder has added another description to his resume -- record-breaker.

Coates now holds Blue Dragon career records for total passing yardage (3,497), touchdown passes (32), career completions (273) and career attempts (578).

He also seems to be getting stronger as the season progresses as Hutchinson marched past the Highland Scotties 65-0 in the first round of the Jayhawk Conference Playoffs on Sunday at home.

Coates was 20-for-29 in the win with a career-high 69-percent single-game completion percentage. His 277 yards through the air were a season-high, while rushing for a career-high 54 yards and accounting for five touchdowns (four passing, one rushing).

"Our offense was really outstanding, controlling the ball both in the air and on the ground," Hutchinson coach Craig Jersild said. "Robert Coates had another outstanding day."

Coates gives a lot of credit to his teammates.

"Our guys know how to get open," Coates said. "Our O-line did a great job because you can't throw the ball the way we did without those guys."

The Blue Dragons face Coffeyville in the semifinals for the second-straight season on Sunday. Hutchinson fell 27-20 to Coffeyville earlier this year.

Lawson, Pack defense look to bounce back

RALEIGH -- N.C. State's 45-31 loss to Miami was a tough defeat for any player to deal with -- especially on the defensive side of the ball.

Eastern Wayne graduate and Wolfpack junior defensive lineman Manny Lawson was part of that unit that allowed a season-high for points (45) and total yards (416).

"We went up against a great team, but we came up short," Lawson said. "We have to motivate this team to not give up and keep pressing on."

Lawson finished with one solo tackle and two assists in the loss. Also, he nearly picked off a Brock Berlin pass, then posted a tackle for a loss near the eight-minute mark of the first quarter.

Early on, Lawson and the Pack defense seemed to get a better push up front against the Hurricanes' quick offensive line. As the game continued, Berlin consistently had plenty of time to throw to a host of receivers.

"He (Berlin) played an excellent game. He dodged our pressure. He did everything a quarterback was supposed to do," Lawson said. "We tried to put pressure on him, and the offensive line did a good job of keeping us away from him.

"We tried several blitzes, but they picked it up and made us pay for it."

Late in the first quarter, Lawson got his hands on Miami's Brian Monroe's punt -- bursting through the middle of the Hurricane line. The ball caromed off of his hands and Monroe eventually netted just a 12-yard punt.

Lawson now has five punt blocks on his career and is fourth on State's all-time list in that category.

Miami return specialist Devin Hester brought back the opening kick-off 100 yards to put the 'Canes up 7-0. Lawson saw the big play by Hester as an incentive to make a big play of his own on special teams.

"If somebody on their special teams does something, I have to do something," Lawson said. "I tried to swim-move my way through there. I didn't get as much of the ball as I wanted, but I got a piece of it."

The six-foot-five, 220-pounder currently leads the Pack in quarterback sacks (six) and is second on the team in tackles for loss (10).

Williams posts another big day

ROCKY MOUNT -- N.C. Wesleyan freshman running back and Rosewood graduate Javon Williams rushed for 193 yards on 31 carries with two touchdowns in Saturday's 21-14 overtime loss at Huntingdon College (AL).

In six games, Williams has netted 759 yards on the ground and is averaging 126.5 yards rushing per contest with a team-high seven touchdowns.

Also on Saturday, James Kenan graduate and Wesleyan quarterback Cedric Townsend threw for 145 yards on 13-of-24 passing with two interceptions.