Prep notebook: Brooks' 'eyes in the sky' weather the storm

By Staff Reports
Published in Sports on September 15, 2014 1:53 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Less than an hour before kickoff, Charles B. Aycock head coach Steve Brooks' dad was driving through a thunderstorm Friday evening.

It wouldn't have been a big deal if Brooks didn't need his father in the booth during the game on the other end of the headset.

"I called him and asked where he was and he said he was driving through a thunderstorm at 45 mph," Brooks said. "I said it's getting close to game time and I don't have my eyes in the sky."

Brooks' father told him to just go ahead and coach like he normally would. So, Brooks prepared to coach his team with no one in the booth.

Luckily for Brooks, his eyes in the sky showed up a few minutes before kickoff and the Golden Falcons had one of their best offensive performances of the year.

Welcome back, Tre

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Spring Creek head football coach Aaron Sanders has become pretty good at keeping secrets.

And Gator fans got a welcome surprise Friday evening.

Senior Tre Hammonds returned to the field after nine months of rehab from shoulder surgery. A three-sport letterman, Hammonds had a torn posterior labrum repaired in his right shoulder in April.

"It was good for him to see some live action and I think our boys were excited about that," Sanders said. "The normal rehab is nine months, and to be honest with you, I didn't plan on seeing him."

Hammonds dotted the "I" in the Gators' I-formation offense against Wake Christian. He rushed for 76 yards on 16 carries and also executed a fake punt that kept a third-quarter possession alive.

Sanders says he expects to put Hammonds in places where he can use his athleticism and expose weaknesses against opposing defenses.

Let them go

PIKEVILLE -- Goldsboro coach Bennett Johnson had to let some players go last week who weren't buying into his system, he said.

The departures future depleted an already-thin team.

When Ronnie Tookes and Joe Baker went down with injuries the Cougars fans held their collective breath.They couldn't afford another loss. Baker was able to return to the game, and Tookes is expected to practice today.

Give it to Gary

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Spring Creek senior Gary Williams has had his fair share of knicks and dings four weeks into regular-season play.

But the 160-pound running back keeps chugging along.

Williams emerged as the Gators' top rusher with 89 yards and a touchdown on 13 totes in a loss to Wake Christian Academy. His 32-yard scamper closed the gap to 20-6 in the third quarter.

"We've tried to find him a role on the team and hit one with outside linebacker and fullback," Sanders said. "He's got athletic ability (and) his lower body, for somebody his size, is very strong. He is explosive.

"I think he's going to benefit from having Tre in the backfield because people will dial in for Tre and that's going to open up some things for Gary."