Prep notebook: James Kenan JV players see quality playing time

By Staff Reports
Published in Sports on November 5, 2012 1:48 PM

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WARSAW -- Sophomore.

Sophomore.

Sophomore.

See a pattern here?

Several underclassmen saw quality playing time and helped develop a little more depth during James Kenan's opening-round shutout win over East Montgomery in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A (large-school) football playoffs.

"One time on on offense it was pretty much sophomores," grinned JK head coach Ken Avent Jr. "It was pretty much JVs from about the second quarter on. They got in some work tonight and that was good for them."

Kenan's JV team finished the year 10-0.

Big shoes to fill

CALYPSO -- Nine seniors played their final game in North Duplin's season-ending, 28-21 loss to Princeton in the NCHSAA Class 1-A (small-school) football playoffs was the final game for nine seniors.

Tyler Royal, Julio Mora, Mitchell Thigpen, Lee Rouse, Larry White, Jacob Warren, Chris Swinson, Kody Kennedy and Cody Worrells played a vital role in 23 wins and four consecutive trips to the playoffs. Royal finished the season with 2,046 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns.

"They are the heart and soul of this team," North Duplin head coach Hugh Martin said. "Those kids have been with me in the weight room since they were eighth graders. They've done everything in the world to try to give us a chance to advance in the playoffs.

"They all wanted it so bad and they have worked so hard. It is going to be a huge loss for us."

Defense travels

Goldsboro High School played possibly its best defensive game of the season on Friday night in a 40-0 win over Dixon.

The Cougars will need that same type of defensive effort in their upcoming game at Northampton County if they want to advance to the third round of the NCHSAA 1-AA (large-school) playoffs.

"Our guys did a good job of swarming to the football," Goldsboro head coach Eric Reid said. "This time of year, when the weather starts to get cold, you have to be able to shut teams down and play with the lead."

Goldsboro held Dixon to just 158 total yards in the game and 58 of those came on the Bulldogs' first six plays from scrimmage. The Cougars also intercepted two passes and recorded a pair of sacks.