Prep notebook: Whack's work starting to pay off

By Staff Reports
Published in Sports on September 8, 2014 1:50 PM

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PRINCETON -- Adrian Whack wanted to run the football last season, but wasn't in good enough physical condition to do it.

He didn't work to get in shape during the offseason, either.

But after the first week of practice, Whack realized he would be doing his team a disservice by not increasing his work ethic and perform to the best of his abilities.

The junior linebacker has kept his nose to the grindstone since.

Whack rushed for 15 yards and two touchdowns, and caught two passes for 25 yards in the state-ranked Bulldogs' 43-14 rout of North Edgecombe. One pass was on a screen that he snatched with one hand and took 20 yards while running over several Warrior defenders.

"That's the flat honest truth right there," Princeton head coach Derrick Minor said of Whack admitting to his lack of offseason committment. "His committment to his self, to his team has completely changed. He's running hard in practice like I've never seen before.

"This year he's got that hunger now."

One-dimensional offense

DUDLEY -- A brilliant defensive-minded coach, Southern Wayne's David Lee watched county rival Goldsboro play right into his hands -- again -- Friday evening.

The Saints stiffened against the run game and forced the Cougars to throw ... and throw ... and throw. Sophomore quarterback Nashir Bowden struggled with his timing on occasion by either short-arming the ball or overthrowing receivers on sideline patterns. He was victimized by several dropped passes, too.

"To be honest with you, they had some receivers on inside routes that were a little underthrown," Lee said. "They did the find the holes, they just didn't execute."

Bowden ended the night 14 of 35 for 220 yards, including a third-quarter touchdown pass to Taylin Davis.

Goldsboro head coach Bennett Johnson attributed Southern Wayne's success to an unexpected 3-5 alignment after they had played a 4-4 scheme during their first two games. The Saints shot around the field all night and disrupted the Cougars' rushing attack after they scored on the game's first possession.

Home-field attractions

PRINCETON -- Princeton added a new flair to its pre-game ritual.

The community pitched in and bought the team a giant inflatable Bulldog tunnel for it to run out of before home games.

It was a different touch that teams from the little league to varsity level will now get to experience.

"It's a thank you from the community to us that we're very appreciative of and that everyone will get to use," head coach Derrick Minor said. "It's something for everyone to rally behind and now we have something cool to run out of."