2016 Pigskin Preview

Transcription

2016 Pigskin Preview
PIGSKIN
w
e
i
v
e
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Lumberton
Fairmont
Purnell Swett
Red Springs
RICHMOND
SCOTLAND
South Robeson
St. Pauls
East
Bladen
West
Bladen
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2016 PIGSKIN PREVIEW
E2 August, 2016
The Robesonian, Richmond County Daily Journal
Bladen Journal, Laurinburg Exchange
Raiders moving on from ‘them’
Castellano
focused on going
1-0 every day
By Leon Hargrove Jr.
lhargrove@civitasmedia.com
ROCKINGHAM —
Potential.
That’s the one word
that head coach Mike
Castellano used when
describing the 2016
Richmond Senior football team.
“We have a lot of
talented guys,” Castellano explained. “Some
are young and some are
seniors with not a lot
of experience. Some
are juniors that kind of
came out of the woodworks and really bought
in to improving.
“If we can get everybody on the same page,
executing to the best of
their abilities, believing
they have that ability…
and understanding what
their job and assignment is, I think we
could have a pretty good
football team.”
Coming into his second year with the program, Castellano doesn’t
want to spend too much
time thinking about
what happened last year
or what that team could
have done differently.
He and his staff are
focusing on what they
can do each day to make
this year’s team better.
“I was listening to a
(college) coach speak
the other morning
ESPN and he would not
let the team talk about
the year before’s bowl
game,” Castellano said.
“He said, ‘That wasn’t
we, that was them.’ And
for us, that’s the case.
That was them.”
Last year’s squad
finished 11-3 overall,
4-1 in the conference,
advanced to the third
round of the state playoffs and saw 13 players
named to the All-SEC
team.
Last year’s squad
saw Quientel Goodwin
rush for 1,156 yards
and eight touchdowns,
Lavell Ellerbe score
16 touchdowns on 67
catches and Devon Hunt
total 154 tackles and
recover four fumbles.
But that was them.
This year’s squad is
taking it one day at a
time. It isn’t worried
about expectations and
Leon Hargrove Jr. | Daily Journal
Richmond Senior’s offensive skill players and coaches at the team’s picture day Tuesday, Aug. 9.
continues to put an
emphasis on getting better every time it steps
on the field.
The Raiders will look
to senior quarterback
Leon Zeigler, who
finished his junior campaign with 2,665 passing yards and passing
35 touchdowns, to lead
their offensive attack.
“Leon is one of our
biggest assets,” said
offensive coordinator
Steve Burdeau. “I think
once the summer began,
he really realized that he
was the guy that a lot of
people were looking to.
He’s one that the spotlight is going to be on a
lot of the time.”
Protecting Zeigler will
be a talented offensive
line that features senior
Antoine Shaw and
juniors Chris Coulthard
and Daryn Mason.
“The offensive line
sets the motor for
the offense,” Burdeau
explained. “If they’re
giving half effort, the
rest of the team is going
to see that. They really
set our tempo.”
On the defensive side
of the ball, Castellano is
looking for a dedicated
group that “cherishes
and embraces” every
opportunity.
“Sometimes I think
some people who play
defense, or even coach
defense, are scared or
get angry when they
have to go on the field,”
Castellano explained.
“We told our kids to
really try and embrace
the concept, like, we get
to go play defense. They
have to play against us.”
Key returners for the
Raiders’ defense are
senior defensive back
Steven Jones and senior
defensive linemen Carl
Isaac and Robert David
— three of Richmond’s
first-team All-SEC selections last season. Deandre Streeter will also be
a big part of their game
plan, as the senior outside linebacker finished
his junior season with
90 total tackles and 8
sacks.
Andrae Jacobs, who is
also entering his second
year with the program,
is in charge of the Raiders’ special teams unit.
“We’re blessed to
have a head coach who
sees the value in special
teams,” Jacobs said. “On
the practice schedule
everyday, we’re doing at
least 30 to 40 minutes
of special teams. You
don’t do that in a lot of
places — especially in
high school.”
In his first year as the
Leon Hargrove Jr. | Daily Journal
Richmond Senior’s Leon Zeigler finishes a run after the whistle is blown during practice on Monday,
Aug. 8.
special teams coordinator, Jacobs saw the
special teams unit score
a total of seven touchdowns (a conference
best) and convert on
three two-point conversions.
“We want to be as
aggressive as we can to
try and get the edge on
the other team,” Jacobs
said. “It’s that third
phase of the game that
is often overlooked. And
we try to do our best
job not to let it be over-
looked here.”
Richmond is preparing for a schedule that
includes Dudley, Butler
and conference foe Scotland — the No. 2., No. 3
and No. 4 teams, respectively, in the CarolinaPreps.com 4A Top-25
Power Rankings.
“The good thing about
having a schedule like
that, which very well
could be the toughest
in the state, you don’t
look at it as a tough
schedule. We get the
opportunity to play
great teams,” Castellano
said. “I want to know
how our kids compete
against them…I want
to know if we can find
a way to be competitive and be successful
against teams that have
a chance to play or win
state titles.”
Reach sports editor Leon
Hargrove Jr. at 910-817-2673
and follow the sports section on
Twitter @RCDailySports.
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The Robesonian, Richmond County Daily Journal
Bladen Journal, Laurinburg Exchange
2016 PIGSKIN PREVIEW
STAR PLAYERS
2016 RICHMOND
FOOTBALL ROSTER
Leon Zeigler — Senior, QB
Damontre Bennett — Senior, RB
Dante Miller — Junior, RB
Antoine Shaw — Senior, OL
Steven Jones — Senior, DB
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Cymontre Bennett — Senior, WR
Delon Wall — Junior, LB
Juwan McNeal — Senior, DB
NEW COACHES
Chris Campolieta — Campolieta’s
a recent graduate of Guilford College,
where he played defensive back for
the Quakers football team. In his four
years, Campolieta played in 37 games
and totaled 25 tackles. He is the
junior varsity football team’s wide
receiver coach and helps out with
special teams.
Justin Jackson — A former Richmond Raider, Wake Forest Demon
Deacon and NFL player, Jackson is
in charge of the junior varsity team’s
outside linebacking core and will also
work with the special teams unit.
Mike McClure — McClure played
at Coastal Carolina with Coach
Andrae Jacobs and was named second team All-Big South in 2012.
He will be working with the junior
varsity inside linebackers and special
teams unit.
Covi Mitchell — A New York
native, Mitchell is the Ninth-Grade
Academy’s offensive line coach. He
played football at Greensboro college.
Jason Willix — The Ninth-Grade
Academy’s running backs coach
played his football at Stetson University.
Shaun Willix — Willix was named
the quarterbacks coach at the NinthGrade Academy. He spent some time
playing semi-pro football overseas.
Antoine Shaw
Cymontre Bennett
Damontre Bennett
Dante Miller
Delon Wall
Juwan McNeal
Leon Zeigler
Steven Jones
NOTES
- Richmond was voted No. 2 in the
conference, behind Scotland, in both
the preseason media and coaches
polls.
- This year will mark the fourth
year in a row that Richmond will
open its season against Rocky River.
The Raiders won the first three
matchups.
- Quarterback Leon Zeigler broke
six school records last season (completions in a season, passing yards
in a season, passing yards in a game,
touchdowns in a season, touchdowns
in a game and passing percentage in
game).
- Of the 171 passes that were completed last year, only 17 were caught
by a player on this year’s team.
- Antoine Shaw verbally committed
to UNC-Charlotte in late July
- Steven Jones picked up scholarship offers from Appalachian State,
Charleston Southern and Western
Carolina over the summer
August, 2016 E3
GOOD LUCK!
2016 RICHMOND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Aug. 19 — at Rocky River, 7 p.m.
Aug. 26 — ANSON, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 — at Douglas Byrd, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 9 — BUTLER, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 — SOUTH VIEW, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 — DUDLEY, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 — HOKE, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 14 — at Purnell Swett, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 — at Lumberton, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 28 — PINECREST, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 4 — SCOTLAND, 7:30 p.m.
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1. Jayvon Boyer RB, WR Sr. 5-9 165
2 Steven Jones CB, WR Sr. 5-10 185
3 Jaleen Baldwin WR Jr. 5-8 165
4 Jamel Baldwin CB, SS, FS Jr. 5-11 190
5 Kaleb Douglas QB Jr.
6 Damontre Bennett RB, WR Sr. 5-10 182
7 Shyhiem Wall CB Sr.
11 Malik Bailey WR Sr. 5-9
12 Leon Zeigler QB, WR Sr. 6-1 185
13 Awshawuan Collins RB, SB Sr. 5-6 154
14 Cymontre Bennett WR Sr. 6-0 165
15 Bryan Marsh WR Sr.
16 Greg Barnes FS, SS Sr. 5-10
17 Tony Mcrae WR Jr. 5-8 151
18 Dashaun Wallace WR Jr. 6-1 170
19 Zach Branch WR Sr. 5-10 157
20 Alex Alvarado K, P Sr. 5-10 145
21 Dante Miller RB Jr. 5-10 185
22 Ja’dyn Mcneil OLB Jr. 6-0 215
23 Jeremy Wall RB Jr. 5-6 150
24 Delon Wall MLB Jr. 6-2 225
26 Jerren Stuart SS Jr.
28 Yusef Gibson FS, SS Sr. 5-10 164
29 Juwan Mcneal SS, FS Sr.
30 Jaquan Everett SS Jr. 5-9 160
32 Brian Little CB Sr. 5-9 160
34 Marquis Simmons MLB Jr. 5-10 188
35 Andre Ellerbe OLB Jr. 6-2 201
38 Tyler Cook CB Jr. 5-9 170
40 Garrett Williams MLB Jr. 5-8 170
42 Savion Streeter OLB Jr. 5-10 211
46 Dejuan Graham OLB Jr. 5-5 145
47 Tyrese Clark MLB Jr.
50 Austin Watson G Jr. 5-9 215
51 Tyler Leviner NG, DT Jr. 5-11
52 Carl Isaac DE, OLB Sr. 6-3 250
53 Deandre Streeter OLB Sr. 6-0 195
55 Daryn Mason T, G Jr. 6-2 240
57 Antoine Tyrese shaw T, TE Sr. 6-4 220
58 AJ Martin G Sr. 5-10 205
59 Darius Covington DE, DT Sr. 6-0 201
65 Steven Blyther NG, DT Jr. 6-2 245
76 Chase Coulthard G Jr. 6-3 240
83 Shane Summey WR Jr. 5-10 150
85 Cody Scott WR Jr. 6-1 145
86 Stephon Butler WR Jr.
91 Jalen Bethea DE Sr. 5-11 208
92 Jamal Rush DE, DT Sr.
96 Yancy Bowman DT Sr. 6-3 245
97 Robert David DT Sr. 6-1 280
98 James Jasper DE Jr. 6-1 195
99 Eli Russell DE So. 6-0 195
99 Deoliver Smith OLB Sr. 6-4 210
102 Jordyn Wall WR So. 5-8 143
105 Taveon Ellerbe WR So.
108 Joerail White MLB, QB Fr. 5-11 208
118 Tommy Shelton SS Jr. 5-6 129
119 Jada Edwards QB So.
150 Trevor Whittington MLB So.
153 Dres Tillman DT Jr.
158 Nate Hudson OLB So.
168 Darius Andrade T Jr.
191 Isaiah Ratliff DE So.
192 Shakim Sinclair DT Jr. 5-7 225
And
our
2016-2017
Student
athletes
The Robesonian, Richmond County Daily Journal
Bladen Journal, Laurinburg Exchange
2016 PIGSKIN PREVIEW
E4 August, 2016
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2016 ACC FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
BOSTON COLLEGE
LOUISVILLE
SYRACUSE
CLEMSON
MIAMI
VIRGINIA
DUKE
NORTH CAROLINA
VIRGINIA TECH
Sep. 3 — Georgia, 5:30 p.m.
Sep. 10 — at Illinois, 7:30 p.m.
Sep. 17 — James Madison, 3:30 p.m.
Sep. 24 — Pittsburgh, TBA
Oct. 1 — at Florida St., TBA
Oct. 8 — Virginia Tech, TBA
Oct. 15 — at Miami, TBA
Oct. 22 — at Virginia, TBA
Nov. 5 — Georgia Tech, TBA
Nov. 10 — at Duke, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 19 — The Citadel, TBA
Nov. 25 — NC State, TBA
Sep. 3 — Liberty, 12:30 p.m.
Sep. 10 — at Tennessee, 8 p.m.
Sep. 17 — Boston College, 3:30 p.m.
Sep. 24 — East Carolina, TBA
Oct. 8 — at North Carolina, TBA
Oct. 15 — at Syracuse, TBA
Oct. 20 — Miami, 7 p.m.
Oct. 27 — at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Nov. 5 — at Duke, TBA
Nov. 12 — Georgia Tech, TBA
Nov. 19 — at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m.
Nov. 26 — Virginia, TBA
NC STATE
WAKE FOREST
Sep. 3 — Georgia Tech, 7:30 a.m.
Sep. 10 — at UMass, Noon
Sep. 17 — at Virginia Tech, 3:30 p.m.
Sep. 24 — Wagner, TBA
Oct. 1 — Buffalo, TBA
Oct. 7 — Clemson, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 22 — Syracuse, TBA
Oct. 29 — at NC State, TBA
Nov. 5 — Louisville, TBA
Nov. 11 — at Florida St., 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 19 — UConn, TBA
Nov. 26 — at Wake Forest, TBA
Sep. 3 — at Auburn, 9 p.m.
Sep. 10 — Troy, 12:30 p.m.
Sep. 17 — SC State, Noon
Sep. 22 — at Georgia Tech, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 1 — Louisville, TBA
Oct. 7 — at Boston College, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 15 — NC State, TBA
Oct. 29 — at Florida St., TBA
Nov. 5 — Syracuse, TBA
Nov. 12 — Pittsburgh, TBA
Nov. 19 — at Wake Forest, TBA
Nov. 26 — South Carolina, TBA
Sep. 3 — N.C. Central, 6 p.m.
Sep. 10 — Wake Forest, 3:30 p.m.
Sep. 17 — at Northwestern, 8 p.m.
Sep. 24 — at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 1 — Virginia, TBA
Oct. 8 — Army, TBA
Oct. 14 — at Louisville, 7 p.m.
Oct. 29 — at Georgia Tech, TBA
Nov. 5 — Virginia Tech, TBA
Nov. 10 — North Carolina, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 19 — at Pittsburgh, TBA
Nov. 26 — at Miami, TBA
FLORIDA ST.
Sep. 5 — Mississippi, 8 p.m.
Sep. 10 — Charleston Southern, 12:30
p.m.
Sep. 17 — at Louisville, Noon
Sep. 24 — at South Florida, TBA
Oct. 1 — North Carolina, TBA
Oct. 8 — at Miami, TBA
Oct. 15 — Wake Forest, TBA
Oct. 29 — Clemson, TBA
Nov. 5 — at NC State, TBA
Nov. 11 — Boston College, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 19 — at Syracuse, TBA
Nov. 26 — Florida, TBA
GEORGIA TECH
Sep. 3 — Boston College, 7:30 a.m.
Sep. 10 — Mercer, 3 p.m.
Sep. 17 — Vanderbilt, 12:30 p.m.
Sep. 22 — Clemson, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 1 — Miami, TBA
Oct. 8 — at Pittsburgh, TBA
Oct. 15 — Georgia Southern, TBA
Oct. 29 — Duke, TBA
Nov. 5 — at North Carolina, TBA
Nov. 12 — at Virginia Tech, TBA
Nov. 19 — Virginia, TBA
Nov. 26 — at Georgia, TBA
Sep. 1 — Charlotte, 7 p.m.
Sep. 9 — at Syracuse, 8 p.m.
Sep. 17 — Florida St., Noon
Sep. 24 — at Marshall, 8 p.m.
Oct. 1 — at Clemson, TBA
Oct. 14 — Duke, 7 p.m.
Oct. 22 — NC State, TBA
Oct. 29 — at Virginia, TBA
Nov. 5 — at Boston College, TBA
Nov. 12 — Wake Forest, TBA
Nov. 17 — at Houston, 8 p.m.
Nov. 26 — Kentucky, TBA
Sep. 3 — Florida A&M, 6 p.m.
Sep. 10 — FAU, 6 p.m.
Sep. 17 — at Appalachian St., Noon
Oct. 1 — at Georgia Tech, TBA
Oct. 8 — Florida St., TBA
Oct. 15 — North Carolina, TBA
Oct. 20 — at Virginia Tech, 7 p.m.
Oct. 29 — at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m.
Nov. 5 — Pittsburgh, TBA
Nov. 12 — at Virginia, TBA
Nov. 19 — at NC State, TBA
Nov. 26 — Duke, TBA
Sep. 1 — William & Mary, 7:30 p.m.
Sep. 10 — at East Carolina, Noon
Sep. 17 — Old Dominion, 6 p.m.
Oct. 1 — Wake Forest, TBA
Oct. 8 — Notre Dame, TBA
Oct. 15 — at Clemson, TBA
Oct. 22 — at Louisville, TBA
Oct. 29 — Boston College, TBA
Nov. 5 — Florida St., TBA
Nov. 12 — at Syracuse, TBA
Nov. 19 — Miami, TBA
Nov. 25 — at North Carolina, TBA
PITTSBURGH
Sep. 3 — Villanova, 1:30 p.m.
Sep. 10 — Penn St., Noon
Sep. 17 — at Oklahoma St., 3:30 p.m.
Sep. 24 — at North Carolina, TBA
Oct. 1 — Marshall, TBA
Oct. 8 — Georgia Tech, TBA
Oct. 15 — at Virginia, TBA
Oct. 27 — Virginia Tech, 7 p.m.
Nov. 5 — at Miami, TBA
Nov. 12 — at Clemson, TBA
Nov. 19 — Duke, TBA
Nov. 26 — Syracuse, TBA
Sep. 2 — Colgate, 7 p.m.
Sep. 9 — Louisville, 8 p.m.
Sep. 17 — South Florida, 3:30 p.m.
Sep. 24 — at UConn, TBA
Oct. 1 — Notre Dame, TBA
Oct. 8 — at Wake Forest, TBA
Oct. 15 — Virginia Tech, TBA
Oct. 22 — at Boston College, TBA
Nov. 5 — at Clemson, TBA
Nov. 12 — NC State, TBA
Nov. 19 — Florida St., TBA
Nov. 26 — at Pittsburgh, TBA
Sep. 3 — Richmond, 3:30 p.m.
Sep. 10 — at Oregon, 10:30 p.m.
Sep. 17 — at UConn, 1:30 p.m.
Sep. 24 — Cent. Michigan, TBA
Oct. 1 — at Duke, TBA
Oct. 15 — Pittsburgh, TBA
Oct. 22 — North Carolina, TBA
Oct. 29 — Louisville, TBA
Nov. 5 — at Wake Forest, TBA
Nov. 12 — Miami, TBA
Nov. 19 — at Georgia Tech, TBA
Nov. 26 — at Virginia Tech, TBA
Sep. 1 — Tulane, 7 p.m.
Sep. 10 — at Duke, 3:30 p.m.
Sep. 17 — Delaware, 6:30 p.m.
Sep. 24 — at Indiana TBA
Oct. 1 — at NC State, TBA
Oct. 8 — Syracuse, TBA
Oct. 15 — at Florida St., TBA
Oct. 29 — Army, TBA
Nov. 5 — Virginia, TBA
Nov. 12 — at Louisville, TBA
Nov. 19 — Clemson, TBA
Nov. 26 — Boston College, TBA
The Robesonian, Richmond County Daily Journal
Bladen Journal, Laurinburg Exchange
2016 PIGSKIN PREVIEW
August, 2016 E5
Serving Scotland, Robeson, and Marlboro Counties since 2001
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2016 PIGSKIN PREVIEW
E6 August, 2016
The Robesonian, Richmond County Daily Journal
Bladen Journal, Laurinburg Exchange
It’s state title or bust for Scotland
By Amber Hatten
ahatten@civitasmedia.com
LAURINBURG —
Scotland High School
football coach Richard
Bailey knows that if the
Fighting Scots don’t
bring home a 4A state
championship this year
it will be a disappointment.
“For most teams that
would be great,” he said.
“We’ve won the conference championship
five years in a row, so
obviously expectations
are high going into this
season. We want to win
a state championship,
that’s pretty much our
goal every year. Another
conference championship is something we
want to obtain that as
well, but state championships are what we’re
really after.”
The Scots were eyeing
a perfect season in 2015
with a 12-0 overall and
5-0 in the Southeastern
Conference to secure
their fifth straight conference title, when North
Davidson entered Pate
Stadium in the second
round of the North Carolina High School Athletic
Association 4A playoffs.
With 1:33 left in the
game Bailey made the
decision on fourth-and-2
at the North Davidson
48-yard line to give then
sophomore running back
Zamir White the ball.
White was stuffed to
give the Knights the ball
at midfield. Three plays
later North Davidson
found the end zone to
take a four-point lead,
46-42.
At the time the the
Associated Press had the
Scots were ranked No. 1
in the state and all signs
seemed to point to a
state title — but injuries
plagued the Scots and
had a significant impact
on that game.
This season, Bailey is
just hoping to first make
it through the preseason
without injury, then try
to survive a rigorous
SEC schedule with his
team intact.
“We were ranked No.
1 in the state at the
point we lost last year to
North Davidson,” Bailey
said. “They are a very
good football team, but
we were a little beat up
and unfortunately lost a
shoot out at our place.”
While the Scots lost
several key players to
graduation — Jonathan
Smith, Timon McMil-
Amber Hatten|Laubinburg Exchange
The 2016 Scotland High School Senior football players are as followed, back row, from left, Karfa Kaba, Barry Campbell, Grant Ciarrocca,
Jonathan Carmicheal, Dakota Yarborough, Montrell Diggs, Redric McLean, Qjuamek McDaniel, Amir McNeil, Nautica McCallum, Alston
Smith, Octavis McLaurin and Donta Green. Front row, from left, Sergio Gibson, Markel White, Preante Walker, Tyleke Campbell, Brian
Williams, Chris Gibson and Niga Hailey.
lian, Mazani Stubbs,
Dashaun Ferguson, Willie Douglas, Randy Leak
— the cupboard is far
from empty. The Scots
return the SEC Offensive
Player of the Year in rising junior Zamir White
in the backfield along
with All-SEC selections
Redric McLean, Niga
Hailey, Donta Green,
Octavis McLaurin. Bailey also earned his fourth
consecutive SEC Coach
of the Year nod.
McLaurin will most
likely anchor the defensive line after recording
25 tackles, five for a loss,
one sack and one forced
fumble. Green returns
in the secondary for the
Scots after having 39
stops, three for a loss,
one interceptions, four
defended passes and one
forced fumble.
Scotland senior Sergio Gibson will start
under center this season
after being the back-up
In the off season, Bailey and the Scots have
been working on their
speed on the defensive
side, both on the line
and in the secondary,
after getting burned by
the spread offense last
year.
“I like this year’s
team,” he said. “I think
we’re a little faster. Last
year we had problem
playing spread teams
that threw the ball a
lot and we had trouble
containing fast, athletic
quarterbacks. But this
year we’re going to be a
lot faster. All four of our
linebackers run under
4.9. Our defensive lineman are 4.9 runners
or better. We also have
good size up front.”
quarterback to Dashaun
Ferguson in 2015. Gibson quarterbacked three
games last season for
the Scots after an injury
sidelined Ferguson.
Gibson threw for 318
yards with five touchdowns and one interception in his three starts.
As the preseason has
progressed Bailey has
seen Gibson’s confidence
rise, as he gets more
and more reps with his
receivers.
“Serg did start three
games for us last year
and won those three
games,” said Bailey.
“He’ll be better this year
than in the three games
he played last year. We’re
excited and think he’s
going to be a good player
Scotland senior Sergio Gibson will start under center this season
after playing back-up to Dashaun Ferguson in 2015. Gibson
quarterbacked three games last season and threw 318 yards for
five touchdowns and one interception.
Scotland High School
Fighting Scots
&
Scotland Junior Zamir White returns as the Scots No. 1 running
back. Last season, White rushed for 2,145 yards on 260 carries
for 41 touchdowns, averaging 8.3 yards per carry. The 6-foot 200pound junior also four receptions for 50 yards and two touchdowns.
for us. He’s got a little
swagger about him. He
feels like he can be successful.”
Traditionally the Scots
are a run heavy team —
and why wouldn’t they
be with White in the
backfield — but Bailey
said they have focused
on making the limited
number of passes they
do execute in a game
worth something.
One of Gibson’s main
targets this year will
be fellow senior Barry
Campbell, who will be
a bit of an unknown to
start the season, played
behind former wide outs
Douglas and Leak.
“Barry is someone not
many people have heard
about because he played
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behind some good players last year, but I think
he’ll have a breakout
year for us,” said Bailey.
Last season, the 6-foot
3-inch Campbell had
seven catches for 53
yards and one touchdown. He also averaged
12.4 yards on the nine
kick returns he fielded
for 62 yards.
McLean will return for
the Scots at the tight-end
position where he had
four catches for 54 yards.
The rising senior will
also continue to open
holes and be a blocker
for White.
The Scots return
Hailey on the offensive
line, but do lose J’Quan
Breeden and McMillian. Despite the losses,
Bailey has confidence in
his big men up front and
their ability to protect
Gibson and make holes
for White.
It’s no surprise to anyone that the Scots offense
will once again revolve
around White, who had a
sophomore season most
players only dream of.
“We have probably the
best running back in the
United States in Zamir
White who rushed for
over 2,000 and 43 touchdowns last year,” said
Bailey.
That isn’t a coach
trying to oversell his
running back either,
the numbers speak
for themselves. White
rushed for 2,145 yards
on 260 carries for 41
touchdowns. The 6-foot
200-pound junior also
has good hands with four
receptions for 50 yards
and two touchdowns.
He averaged 8.3 yards
per carry which resulted
in 11 games where he
rushed for more than 100
yards.
White’s best came was
against Independence
last August, where he
rushed for 302 yards
and six touchdowns.
All of those staggering
numbers has resulted in
ESPN ranking White as
the top running back in
the country for the Class
of 2018 — the country.
He is being courted by
some of the best football
programs in the SEC, Big
10 and the ACC — with
more suitors to come if
White has another season
like 2015.
But one man doesn’t
get a football team a state
title, it takes all of the
players doing their part,
which Bailey is aware of
and is confident he and
Scots have all the right
pieces to have a championship team.
“I think we’re wellrounded and have all the
pieces we need to be a
very good football team,”
he said. “Anything short
of winning a state championship is somewhat of
a disappointment. We
haven’t done it. To me
winning a conference
championship is the first
step and an undefeated
season would be huge,
but ultimately we want
to win a state championship. If not there is going
to be a level of disappointment in Scotland
County.”
Amber Hatten can be reached at
910-506-3170.
The Robesonian, Richmond County Daily Journal
Bladen Journal, Laurinburg Exchange
2016 PIGSKIN PREVIEW
Scotland’s dynamic duo
By Amber Hatten
ahatten@civitasmedia.com
SCOTLAND — Contrary to popular belief the Fighting Scots will
have more than one play in their
offensive playbook this season.
Hand off to Zamir White will
still be a key part of their game
plan, but Scotland head coach
Richard Bailey said White won’t
get as many carries this season as
he did in 2015.
“You won’t see Zamir get 35
touches this year,” said Bailey.
“Of course that’s on a game-bygame basis because we’ll still do
what it takes to win.”
Bailey laid out the Fighting
Scots offensive plans on the first
episode of this season’s Coach
Richard Bailey Show on WLNC
Radio earlier this week. This season, he said the Scots have depth
not only at the running back position, but also wide receiver and
quarterback.
White will be the featured back
— after having a standout sophomore year where he rushed for
2,159 yards and 41 touchdowns
which resulted in a staggering 20
college scholarship offers. Among
them were defending national
champion Alabama, national runner-up Clemson, Florida State,
Georgia, LSU, Nebraska, North
Carolina and Ohio State.
When asked which schools
were pursuing him the hard-
Photos by Amber Hatten|Laurinburg Exchange
Zamir White
est, White said, the “Tar Heels,
(N.C.) State, Florida, Ohio State,
‘Bama, Clemson and Georgia, big
time.”
The rising junior will still take
the brunt of the carries, between
15 and 20 according to Bailey,
with Syheim McQueen and Khalil
Smith taking the other 20 or so
carries.
Bailey said the Scots will also
try and air the ball out a little bit
more this season with starting
quarterback Sergio Gibson, but
won’t stray from their run-oriented style of play too much.
“Everyone is going to key in on
Zamir or they have zero chance
of beating us,” said Bailey, “so
when we run play-action our people are wide open — at least they
have been in our scrimmages.”
Gibson has taken every quar-
Sergio Gibson
terback rep for the Scots during
their spring and summer practices and scrimmages, which
according to Bailey has helped
his confidence immensely.
“Sergio keeps getting better
and we have a lot of confidence
in him,” said Bailey. “He has a
winning personality, he wants to
be great. He’s a team oriented
guy and will do anything you
ask of him. I’m excited that he’s
proved himself to be our quarterback. I would just assume win a
state championship with him as
my quarterback as anyone else.”
The Scots won the three games
Gibson started last season and
threw for 318 yards with five
touchdowns and one interception.
Amber Hatten can be reached at 910-506-3170.
2016 SCOTLAND HIGH SCHOOL
FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Aug. 19 — at South View, 7 p.m.
Aug. 26 —INDEPENDENCE, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 — MARLBORO COUNTY, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 9 — at Jack Britt, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 — NEW HANOVER, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 — GLENN, 7:30 p.m.
U
C
!
E
s
o
G rate
Pi
Oct. 7 — PURNELL SWETT, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 14 — at Pinecrest, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 — at Hoke, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 28 — LUMBERTON, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 4 — at Richmond, 7:30 p.m.
August, 2016 E7
2016 SCOTLAND
HIGH SCHOOL
FIGHTING SCOTS
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Player
Javon Ratliffe
Marquis Wilson
Khalil Smith
Syheim McQueen
Barry Campbell
Jamari Wall
Tylek Campbell
Chris Williams
Sergio Gibson
Laron Quick
Redric McLean
Ian Spangler
Trey Dixon
Davon Ratliffe
Alston Smith
Lawrence Jackson
Manuel Smith
Amir McNeil
Isaiah McQueen
Donta Green
Tyrek Waters
Markel White
Christian Gibson
Tony Smith
Zamir White
Kalish McNair
Keante McNair
Josh Barton
Michael Bennett
Nautica McCallum
Karfa Kaba
Dakota Yarborough
Johnathan Carmichael
Octavis McLaurin
Tyrone Davis
Deante Singletary
Isaiah McPhatter
Qjuamek McDaniels
Hunter Sheppard
Niga Hailey
Tim Williams
Darrian Reeves
Garrett Beech
Tyler Smith
Montrell Diggs
Anthony Butler
Omega McRae
Bryan Williams
Grant Ciarrocca
Tavis Harrington
2016 EAST CAROLINA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sep. 3 — W. Carolina, 6 p.m.
Sep. 10 — NC State, Noon
Sep. 17 — at South Carolina, 4 p.m.
Sep. 24 — at Virginia Tech, TBA
Oct. 1 — UCF, TBA
Oct. 8 — at South Florida, TBA
Oct. 13 — Navy, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 22 — at Cincinnati, TBA
Oct. 29 — UConn, TBA
Nov. 5 — at Tulsa, TBA
Nov. 12 — SMU, TBA
Nov. 26 — at Temple, TBA
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2016 PIGSKIN PREVIEW
E8 August, 2016
The Robesonian, Richmond County Daily Journal
Bladen Journal, Laurinburg Exchange
“I wouldn’t have wanted
to go anywhere else.”
Everybody kept telling me to go to the doctor, but I wouldn’t go. I was
a die-hard. Finally, I went, and my daughter asked, “How bad is it?” The
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I went to Gibson, and I’m happy I did. Everybody out there just makes you
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My family was a big support. Having Gibson here in Lumberton made it
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Lumberton | 910.67 1.5730
A MEDICAL ONCOLOGY AFFILIATE
OF DUKE MEDICINE
Watch my story at iwonagainstcancer.com