FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Aycock entertains D.H. Conley

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on October 6, 2016 10:23 AM

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By RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newsargus.com

PIKEVILLE -- Anyone got a calculator handy?

Statisticians from Charles B. Aycock and D.H. Conley may need the extra help when the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference rivals clash tonight at Hardy Talton Stadium.

Conley averages 43.2 points an outing and is led by junior Holton Ahlers -- a Division I recruit who is the state's third-best passer with 2,005 yards and 23 touchdowns this season.

Ahlers re-wrote the DHC and N.C. High School Athletic Association football record books during a 77-67 loss to J.H. Rose just two weeks ago.

"He's a darn good football player, good athlete and well coached," CBA head coach Steve Brooks said of Ahlers. "They've got a lot of play makers on offense and I think we've just got to do a good job containing them, keeping them in front of us and not giving up the big play.

"We've got to force them to drive the football down the field, bend our backs but not let them break when they get inside the red zone. He's so dangerous with his feet and his arm, but in the red zone he's even more dangerous."

Aycock's offense is pretty stout, too.

The Golden Falcons score at a 41.8-point clip in their dual-threat offense with second-year varsity field general Jake Flowers and ground-chewing running back Caleb Gough. Flowers has completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for 1,070 yards and 16 TDs. Gough has rambled for 926 yards and seven TDs on 130 carries.

A mature offensive unit up front has provided consistent run-blocking all season for CBA. The quintet was thrown into the fire as sophomores and pushed through injuries all season.

Brooks said Gough is toting the rock with more confidence.

"He's playing with a huge chip on his shoulder," Brooks said. "(He's) kind of been disrespected and so have our offensive linemen all year long. I think that's kind of been their mantra.

"We're going to show you we can run the football."

Aycock's battle with Conley kicks off the "meat grinding" part of its schedule. Within a four-week period, the Golden Falcons (5-1 overall, 1-0 ECC) play 4-A members South Central, New Bern and J.H. Rose in successive fashion.

Brooks expects the physical play to roughen -- and toughen -- up his team. And he hopes the group doesn't wear down mentally.

"I think our kids have done a great job of playing week to week, not looking ahead, not dealing with a bunch of distractions," Brooks said. "We're not letting the noise affect us that's all around us."