WALLACE – Rodrigo Diaz admits being a bit too much of a know-it-all his first season as coach of the Wallace-Rose Hill soccer program that had won three 1A state championship. He also recognized resistance from parents following that success, though he had to win in the 2A classification. Five seasons into the job, Diaz […]
WHITEVILLE – The defending 2A state football titlist played like champions until the end. “It went quick,” said East Duplin head coach Battle Holley, whose Panthers won the school’s first state football championship in 2022. “We had a great season and you and everyone else never expected us to be 9-1 coming into the playoffs […]
WALLACE – Coach Kevin Motsinger warned his team about slow starts the entire second half of the season. It cost Wallace-Rose Hill big time during a 58-44 loss to Hertford County in the second round of the 2A playoffs Friday night. Things couldn’t have been any better for the Bears or worse for the Bulldogs […]
Every ending is a new beginning. I can relate to senior football players at three schools who ended their gridiron prep careers. Yet I’m a bit more like a coach, like Kevin Motsinger, Battle Holley or Hugh Martin – whose schools ended their season in the second round of the playoffs last Friday, but returned […]
CALYPSO – The clock ran out — literally and figuratively — on North Duplin’s season last Friday at H.E. Grubbs Field. The Rebels were driving the ball to the end zone during a 26-21 second-round playoff loss to No. 9 Southeast Halifax when the final seconds ticked off. ND made it to the 23-yard line […]
SHELBY – Southwestern Randolph won twice last week in the Class 2-A state playoffs for boys’ soccer. A 4-2 victory at fifth-seeded Shelby last Thursday sent Southwestern Randolph (21-3-1) to the third round for the first time in six years. Fernando Hernandez had a goal and two assists in the Shelby game. David Lopez Dominguez, […]