Archrivals James Kenan, W-RH feel the pressure

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on December 5, 2013 1:48 PM

• Print
• Email

rhanchett@newsargus.com

WARSAW -- Big games are the foundation that legacies are built on and no sport hammers that point home quite like football.

Players like Joe Namath, Joe Montana, Emmit Smith and Jerry Rice are not remembered for what they did in the regular season. They are remembered for what they did in the postseason. Each shined under the intense pressure of Super Bowl lights.

Archrivals James Kenan and Wallace-Rose Hill have a chance to build their legacies against each other Friday night. The Bulldogs and Tigers clash at Bill Taylor Field with the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-AA eastern championship on the line.

Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

"I know that both teams are going to come out ready to play," James Kenan head coach Ken Avent Jr. said. "There is not really a whole lot of coaching that needs to be done before the game. All the players know what's on the line and they will be fired up without me even needing to say a word."

The two teams have a remarkable history, both independently and on the field together. James Kenan is making its second straight trip to the regional title game. Wallace-Rose Hill is back after a one-year absence.

James Kenan won its first state championship in 1960. The Tigers have won three state titles overall, the most recent coming in 2007.

Wallace-Rose Hill's program is equally as storied. The Bulldogs boast three state championships of their own -- a 2-A title in 1994 and back-to-back 1-A titles in 2009 and '10.

The last time the Tigers and Bulldogs met in the playoffs, James Kenan rolled to a 37-0 victory in the first round in 2008.

"As a coach, I think the easy part is when the lights come on and it's time to play," Avent Jr. said. "Getting up to that point is the tough part. Dealing with all the scenarios in your head and thinking about all the things that could happen."

Execution will be the key to earning a victory and a spot in the 1-AA state championship game in Winston-Salem on Dec. 14.

Whichever team controls the time of possession and the field position will most likely claim the win.

"The big thing for us is to hold on to the football," Avent Jr. said. "We can not afford to have turnovers and we have to sustain some drives. Wallace is too good of a team to give extra chances. Once you get this far into the playoffs everything kind of feels like a whirlwind.

"At practice we need to have our heads on straight and we need to be focused on the task at hand."