NECP completes first varsity season with tough loss
By FOSTER LANDER ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
TARBORO – North East Carolina Prep had seen stronger opposition this season than Fayetteville Village Christian, but it wasn’t apparent on Saturday.
The Huskies made mental errors, struggled to block for running back Tyrese Gilliam, and committed untimely penalties.
Worse yet, two North East Carolina Prep players – Josh Adcock and Javari Brooks – were taken to nearby hospitals by Edgecombe County paramedics after injuries in the second half of a 41-6 loss.
The Huskies were outscored, 27-0, after halftime, and finished their first season of varsity football with a 3-6 record.
North East Carolina Prep coach Mike Mabry said Brooks’ injury was not serious but did not have an update on Adcock, who reported lower back pain and some tingling in his legs to trainers and paramedics.
“I enjoyed every minute of this season and am really proud of this group,” Mabry said. “I think these guys learned a lot about themselves this year and what it means to have a team be a family. We’re going to keep getting better from here.”
The Huskies got 112 rushing yards from Gilliam, but the sophomore got 87 of those yards on one run, North East Carolina Prep’s lone score of the afternoon.
Other than that one sprint, where Gilliam broke through the line easily and picked his feet up just in time to avoid a Village Christian defender clipping at his heels, the Huskies’ offensive line struggled to consistently block.
“We didn’t win the line of scrimmage (Saturday), and we weren’t able to get out and block on the second level,” Mabry said. “Tyrese doesn’t need much to get him free, but we weren’t able to give him that.”
North East Carolina Prep managed just three first downs for the entire game, and its inability to prolong drives took its toll on the Huskies’ defense after halftime.
Village Christian, leading 14-6 at the break, went for and recovered an onside kick on the opening kickoff of the second half. Adcock was injured on the play when he stooped low to pick the ball up and was hit hard.
Trentan Walker picked up 39 yards on a catch-and-run from Caleb Russell on 4th-and-9 from the Huskies’ 44, and Dorian Clark bullied his way in from 5 yards out on the next play.
North East Carolina Prep went three-and-out on its ensuing drive, before Brooks tried an fake punt on 4th-and-10, a play that Huskies coaches didn’t call.
Clark caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Russell over two Huskies defenders on the next snap, and North East Carolina Prep could never mount a response.
“We’ve got to get in the weight room, and we will,” Gilliam said. “There are a lot of guys out here who got better this year. Now we have to go and get a lot better before next season.”
Fayetteville Village Christian 41
North East Carolina Prep 6
VC 6 8 14 13 – 41
NEP 0 6 0 0 – 6
First Quarter
VC – Kai Wharton 5 pass from Caleb Russell (run failed), 5:42
Second Quarter
NEP – Tyrese Gilliam 87 run (run failed), 11:38
VC – Dorian Clark 1 run (pass good), 6:37
Third Quarter
VC – Clark 5 run (run failed), 7:52
VC – Clark 18 pass from Russell (run good), 3:27
Fourth Quarter
FVC – Jacob Eubanks 20 pass from Russell (pass failed), 9:11
FVC – Zack Jenkins 55 pass from Russell (Eubanks kick), 1:05
FVCNECP
12 First downs..................3
26–153 Rushes-yards....21–164
191 Passing yards.............39
10–22–0 Passes.............5–8–0
344 Total offense..........203
0–0 Fumbles-Lost.........2–0
3–15 Penalties-Yards.....5–35
Individual Statistics
Rushing – FVC: Dorian Clark 10–61; Caleb Russell 5–27; Ethan Acevedo 2–15; Kai Wharton 2–5; Tyler Bineham 2–0. NECP: Tyrese Gilliam 12–112; Elijah Everette 7–50; Cam’ron Pippen 1–2; Ty’Trez Higgs 1–0.
Passing – FVC: Russell 10–22–4, 191. NECP: Everette 5–8–0, 39.
Receiving – FVC: Zack Jenkins 1–55; Trentan Walker 1–39; Clark 2–33; Jacob Eubanks 1–20; Andrew Biddix 2–15; Acevedo 1–13; Jarrett Eubanks 1–9; Wharton 1–5. NECP: Higgs 2–20; Tkyree Bridgers 1–15; Gilliam 2–7.
By FOSTER LANDER ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
TARBORO – North East Carolina Prep had seen stronger opposition this season than Fayetteville Village Christian, but it wasn’t apparent on Saturday.
The Huskies made mental errors, struggled to block for running back Tyrese Gilliam, and committed untimely penalties.
Worse yet, two North East Carolina Prep players – Josh Adcock and Javari Brooks – were taken to nearby hospitals by Edgecombe County paramedics after injuries in the second half of a 41-6 loss.
The Huskies were outscored, 27-0, after halftime, and finished their first season of varsity football with a 3-6 record.
North East Carolina Prep coach Mike Mabry said Brooks’ injury was not serious but did not have an update on Adcock, who reported lower back pain and some tingling in his legs to trainers and paramedics.
“I enjoyed every minute of this season and am really proud of this group,” Mabry said. “I think these guys learned a lot about themselves this year and what it means to have a team be a family. We’re going to keep getting better from here.”
The Huskies got 112 rushing yards from Gilliam, but the sophomore got 87 of those yards on one run, North East Carolina Prep’s lone score of the afternoon.
Other than that one sprint, where Gilliam broke through the line easily and picked his feet up just in time to avoid a Village Christian defender clipping at his heels, the Huskies’ offensive line struggled to consistently block.
“We didn’t win the line of scrimmage (Saturday), and we weren’t able to get out and block on the second level,” Mabry said. “Tyrese doesn’t need much to get him free, but we weren’t able to give him that.”
North East Carolina Prep managed just three first downs for the entire game, and its inability to prolong drives took its toll on the Huskies’ defense after halftime.
Village Christian, leading 14-6 at the break, went for and recovered an onside kick on the opening kickoff of the second half. Adcock was injured on the play when he stooped low to pick the ball up and was hit hard.
Trentan Walker picked up 39 yards on a catch-and-run from Caleb Russell on 4th-and-9 from the Huskies’ 44, and Dorian Clark bullied his way in from 5 yards out on the next play.
North East Carolina Prep went three-and-out on its ensuing drive, before Brooks tried an fake punt on 4th-and-10, a play that Huskies coaches didn’t call.
Clark caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Russell over two Huskies defenders on the next snap, and North East Carolina Prep could never mount a response.
“We’ve got to get in the weight room, and we will,” Gilliam said. “There are a lot of guys out here who got better this year. Now we have to go and get a lot better before next season.”
Fayetteville Village Christian 41
North East Carolina Prep 6
VC 6 8 14 13 – 41
NEP 0 6 0 0 – 6
First Quarter
VC – Kai Wharton 5 pass from Caleb Russell (run failed), 5:42
Second Quarter
NEP – Tyrese Gilliam 87 run (run failed), 11:38
VC – Dorian Clark 1 run (pass good), 6:37
Third Quarter
VC – Clark 5 run (run failed), 7:52
VC – Clark 18 pass from Russell (run good), 3:27
Fourth Quarter
FVC – Jacob Eubanks 20 pass from Russell (pass failed), 9:11
FVC – Zack Jenkins 55 pass from Russell (Eubanks kick), 1:05
FVCNECP
12 First downs..................3
26–153 Rushes-yards....21–164
191 Passing yards.............39
10–22–0 Passes.............5–8–0
344 Total offense..........203
0–0 Fumbles-Lost.........2–0
3–15 Penalties-Yards.....5–35
Individual Statistics
Rushing – FVC: Dorian Clark 10–61; Caleb Russell 5–27; Ethan Acevedo 2–15; Kai Wharton 2–5; Tyler Bineham 2–0. NECP: Tyrese Gilliam 12–112; Elijah Everette 7–50; Cam’ron Pippen 1–2; Ty’Trez Higgs 1–0.
Passing – FVC: Russell 10–22–4, 191. NECP: Everette 5–8–0, 39.
Receiving – FVC: Zack Jenkins 1–55; Trentan Walker 1–39; Clark 2–33; Jacob Eubanks 1–20; Andrew Biddix 2–15; Acevedo 1–13; Jarrett Eubanks 1–9; Wharton 1–5. NECP: Higgs 2–20; Tkyree Bridgers 1–15; Gilliam 2–7.
