Two individuals, 1992 baseball team comprise latest MOC Athletics Hall of Fame class

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on November 16, 2012 1:48 PM

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Expect the unexpected and make adjustments is the message James Kenan head football coach Ken Avent Jr. has given his team in preparation for tonight's game against Red Springs.

The No. 2-ranked Tigers (12-0 overall) play host to the Red Devils in the third round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-AA (large-school) football playoffs. The winner advances to the eastern regional championship game.

Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at Bill Taylor Field.

"Red Springs will bring some things to the table offensively that we haven't seen all season," Avent Jr. said. "They have a quarterback that does an excellent job and they have playmakers at several different positions."

James Kenan has played stellar defense this season and has allowed just 34 points in the past six games. Four of those contests have been shutouts. The Tigers dominated Tri-County 1-A Athletic Conference opponents throughout the season and rolled to a 7-0 league record.

Those games gave the team confidence, but have not helped prepare them for Red Springs.

"Most all of the teams that we have played run some form of the Wing-T," Avent Jr. said. "Even in the non-conference teams we played (Southern Wayne, East Duplin, Jones Senior) are all running teams."

Red Springs is led by junior quarterback Blake Green, who has completed 117 passes on the season for 2,066 yards and 24 touchdowns. Zach Leach is the Red Devils' top receiver with 672 yards and nine touchdowns. Julian Brown has 653 yards and eight scores on the season.

Red Springs is averaging 40.5 points and nearly 450 yards per game on the season.

James Kenan allowed a pair of big plays in the first half last week against Union and fell behind 14-7. The Tigers cannot afford a similar start tonight.

"Obviously a team like that you do not want to get behind," Avent Jr. said. "We are not the kind of team that is going to light up the scoreboard so we have to be able to control the ball and hopefully keep their offense on the sidelines."

So far in the playoffs, Red Springs has defeated TCC members Midway and Pender.

"Watching them on tape, it hasn't been just about offense," Avent Jr. said. "They do some unconventional things on special teams and defense as well. This week of practice is all about being prepared."

Red Springs won last year's meeting, 42-28, in the second round of the playoffs.