FOOTBALL CAPSULE: J.H. Rose @ Eastern Wayne

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on November 10, 2016 2:46 PM

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J.H. ROSE (5-4, 4-1 ECC)

at EASTERN WAYNE (4-5, 2-3)

Last time out: Eastern Wayne lost 57-26 to C.B. Aycock; J.H. Rose lost 49-44 to New Bern.

Last meeting: 2015, J.H. Rose won 47-27.

Notable: The Warriors average an ECC-low 16 points a game. QB Zeke Best threw for a career-high 242 yards against CBA, has thrown for 891 yards and eight touchdowns this season. Matt Askew is the top rusher with 483 yards and two TDs. If the Rampants win, they earn a share of the regular-season league title with New Bern.

Coach, what were the "small things" you discussed with your team after the (CBA) loss? "We're killing ourselves on possessions. They know the assignment," head coach Leander Oates said. "They're second-guessing themselves and second-guessing their opponent. It's a matter of staying with the fundamentals, and stay with what we've been teaching. If we can do the right things against Rose, then good things can happen. We had opportunities on the field (against CBA)."

You've been asking your athletes to step up and make plays all season. What has happened to them? "I've told them (all year) they have got to show up," Oates said. "I don't know what they're waiting on. I tell them why wait until after (the game) and talk about all the good things you could have done after you watch film. I'm floating with five seniors. My expectations have been for these juniors to show up and be the kind of players I know they can be."

How is Matt doing, coach? "Percentage-wise, it's hard to say and it's game to game. He's been suffering (all season) and said it was something he was experiencing in Texas," Oates said. "I feel for the kid. I love the kid's work ethic and want him to be healthy for the long term. When he tells me he wants to do it, I'm going to give him the opportunity to do it because I know it's his last go around. If I could have the rest of them have a heart like him ... share it with the rest of the seniors and make them understand the want that you've got to have, we'll be fine."

Coach, it's senior night. "That's one thing I emphasized (about CBA). The advantage was they were at home and wanted to finish strong," Oates said. "Their guys wanted it and believe me our guys wanted it. We just failed to finish the job. Greenville Rose has a bigger line, more fundamental and they've got a (running) back (Dontavies Harris) that's awesome. We've just got to bring it. We see it as just a home game and we've got to get a win."