No. 1-ranked, unbeaten Tigers play host to Whiteville

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on November 29, 2013 1:51 PM

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rhanchett@newsargus.com

WARSAW -- James Kenan's defense has faced two of state's premier tailbacks -- Union's Dezmond Faison and Princeton's Johnny Frasier -- during the past two weeks.

The Tigers have performed admirably against each.

They'll have to defend three Friday evening when Whiteville visits in eastern semifinal-round play of the 2013 N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-AA playoffs.

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

"From what we have seen they have athletes in the backfield and they sustain drives consistently," James Kenan head coach Ken Avent Jr. said. "Our guys are going to have to be sound in their tackling and we are going to have to swarm to the ball."

The Wolfpack have three backs -- Nate Powell, Terrin Manning and Tyquan McDougal -- who can haul the mail in their wing-T offense. The trio combined for 324 yards in a second-round victory over Lakewood.

Powell had 137 yards on just five carries. Manning rushed for 118 yards and McDougal added 69 yards.

"(Whiteville) looks a lot like Wallace-Rose Hill in how they run their offense," Avent Jr. said. "I don't know if playing a wing-T team is to our advantage or not, but hopefully our guys will be confident in what they are doing since we have seen it a few times this season."

Ball security is the Tigers' emphasis against the Wolfpack. Kenan committed five turnovers against Princeton, and two miscues killed promising drives.

"That cannot happen this week," Avent Jr. said. "Especially because of the style of game that Whiteville wants to play. I don't expect that we will have as many possessions to make up for our mistakes."

James Kenan (12-0 overall) has play makers at every skill position. Marcelias Sutton, who has committed to N.C. State, gets most of the publicity at tailback.

However, Al Owens is power-option fullback and Ja'Quan Williams gives the team elite speed on the edge.

Quarterback Dominique Barnes has emerged as a big-play threat. He found receiver TJ Fullwood for a pair of long touchdowns. Antonio Smith, a speedster opposite Fullwood, leads the team with six receiving touchdowns on the year.

"The passing game has really given us a spark in the playoffs," Avent Jr. said. "Being able to throw the ball, especially once the ground game is established, has provided some balance and kept the opposing defenses honest.

"It's going to be cold, but both teams have to deal with that. We just have to focus that much more on holding on to the football and not beating ourselves."