TARBORO —
PINETOPS – After losing two consecutive conference games, the SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars battled back and played like they did in the beginning of Eastern Plains Conference action this year in what could be head coach Raymond Cobb's last home game coaching as the Cougars head coach. Cobb is retiring at the end of the season after 25 years of being a head coach in Edgecombe County.
With it being senior night, the Cougars responded in a big way for their coach and seniors by blowing out the Greene Central Rams 52-6.
Cobb and his Cougars gathered in the end zone after the game with all the fans listening to his post game speech as he told his team, "This was fun" speaking about the victory. He said he had envisioned them playing like that all season.
SouthWest finishes the season with a 5-5 overall record and are 4-2 in the conference. The Cougars will finish in at least third place in the conference.
"I am very proud of our team for responding the way they did after losing two games in a row," Cobb said. "Everyone played well for us and I was glad that I could get some of the other guys in there and get some playing time for those who haven't played much for us this season."
The only touchdown the Cougars defense allowed was after the opening kickoff when the ball went backwards and gave the Rams good field position. The Rams put a five play, 36 yard drive together and capped it off with an Akeem Bynum one yard touchdown run. Other then that drive by the Rams, the Cougars played solid defense the rest of the game.
"That opening drive for them didn't help out any with that kick we had to begin the game," Cobb said. "They scored on that first possession and boy did our team respond in a big way after that."
The Cougars rushed for 383 yards and threw for 80 for a combined 463 yards, but their defense held the Rams to only 232 yards of offense, which Cobb said was great because the Rams had been averaging over 330 yards a gain offensively.
Cobb was especially pleased with his second group of running backs, because he said they will be the ones that will be depended on next year.
Cougars senior running back Gerald Hinton ignited the offensive spark for SouthWest on their first possession. Facing a second and nine from the Rams 34-yard line, Hinton took the hand off from quarterback Quay Wooten and darted to the left side of the Cougars offensive line where they had a big hole opened for Hinton, but he cut it back to the right and sprinted 34-yards for the TD. He added the two-point conversion to give the Cougars an 8-6 lead.
On the Cougars second possession, Hinton responded for the Cougars again. This time from the Rams 31-yard line for his second TD run and the Cougars led 16-6.
In the second quarter, SouthWest blew the game wide open when they scored 20 unanswered points. Fullback Devontrell Hyman added two scores from three and seven yards, but the biggest play of the quarter came when Wooten hooked up with Anthony Coley on a 55-yard TD pass that Coley leaped above two Ram defenders and caught. SouthWest led 36-6 at halftime.
Hinton added his third TD of the game on a 2-yard run in the third and then in the fourth quarter, backup QB Taquan Battle punched it in from 13-yards out.
Hinton led the Cougars offensively this season. He finished the regular season with 175 carries for 1,399 yards and scored 20 TDs. This was the second year that
Fullbacks Devonte Williams and Hyman combined for 680 yards and five TDs this season.
Wooten added a spark at the QB spot throwing for 461 yards and 4 TDs while throwing three interceptions. He also rushed for seven TDs.
Now that the Cougars regular season is over with, they have to sit and wait to see who they will play in the first round of the NCHSAA state playoffs.
Cobb and his Cougars won't be just sitting and waiting though, because he said they are going to work on themselves this week. He is giving his team Monday off, but they will get back to work Tuesday and go three straight days and work on all three phases of the game.
"We are going to work on us this week," Cobb said. "We are going to try and get better at certain phases of our game and prepare for the playoffs."
Cobb is bringing up 12 players from the JV team that he said could possibly help them out on special teams in the playoffs.
Sports
Related Photos
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SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars running back Gerald Hinton tries to dive for extra yards Friday night against the Greene Central Rams. Hinton ran for 170 yards on 16 touches and scored three times.
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Cougars head coach Raymond Cobb (left) talks to defensive coach Tommy Tolson during the third quarter Friday night in Pinetops.
Cougars blow out Rams 52-6 in EPC finale
- Sports
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Six Tarboro girls to compete in track finals
Motivation is a big part of the Tarboro Viking girl's track team's success this season. They enjoy working hard during practice for their coach Rickie Dozier and get fulfillment when they compete in events. Friday will be no different for the six girls that are headed to Greensboro to compete in the NCHSAA 2-A state championship meet at North Carolina A&T State University. They will compete in three relay events and the long jump.
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BIG FISH
Camden Grant and her boyfriend Ricky Davis, Jr. caught a 10 pound carp at a state wildlife pond Wednesday morning off of Highway 33 just outside of Tarboro. Grant said she caught the fish on a piece of shrimp around 10:30 a.m.
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Vikings ousted from playoffs by Jaguars
CARRBORO – After defeating the No. 1 seed in the playoffs Friday, the Tarboro Vikings forgot one thing, they had to hit the ball again Tuesday against the Carrboro Jaguars or their season would be over.
Tarboro failed to be productive at the plate and were eliminated from the NCHSAA 2-A playoffs after losing 8-0 in the second round. Tarboro never gave in after getting down early, but they just couldn't catch a break offensively and get anything going after trailing by five runs after the second inning. -
Cougars finish 7th in state golf match
The SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars went through the regionals and won by four strokes. They just couldn't get it going in the state golf championships Monday or Tuesday at Longleaf Golf and Country Club in Southern Pines. The Cougars finished seventh as a team after shooting 658 over the two day period.
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Vikings advance to second round after defeating Bunn
BUNN – The Tarboro Vikings brought their "A" game and some lively bats with them Friday night when they defeated the Bunn Wildcats 7-5 in the first round of the 2-A NCHSAA state baseball playoffs. The last time the Vikings won a playoff game it was at the same location five years ago.
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Bess hired as new Vikings basketball coach
The Tarboro Vikings have made a coaching change in boy's basketball. They hired Reggie Bess as the new Vikings skipper April 26. Bess is a former Viking basketball star who played for Tarboro in 1995-96. He was part of a team that went to the Eastern Regional finals in 95.
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Tarboro native inducted into Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame
Tarboro native and Tarboro High graduate Martin "Glenn" Sasser was inducted into The Greater Wilimington Sports Hall of Fame Sunday.
Sasser was named to the All-Conference and All-State teams during his high school career. He was also selected to play in the Shrine Bowl game in 1960 and then played in the East-West game in 1961. -
16 under softball tryouts
The Tarboro Parks and Recreation Department and Edgecombe County Girls Softball League will be holding tryouts for 16-under girls fast-pitch softball. The tryouts will takes place Monday and wednesday from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Indian Lake Sports Complex on field three.
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Lady Vikings ousted from playoffs by Pirates
WENDELL – After beating teams handily all season, the Tarboro Lady Vikings had the rolls reversed against them Wednesday in the first round of the 2-A NCHSAA state playoffs. The Corinth Holders Lady Pirates controlled the ball the entire match and had a fast paced offense that seemed to be unstoppable. They knocked the Vikings out of the playoffs by beating them 9-0 in only 43 minutes of action.
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AAU BASKETBALL
The East Coast Celtics 15-under AAU basketball team went undefeated in USBA Spring Shootout tournament in Durham April 5-7. The Celtics went 5-0 and this was the third tournament they won. They play May 17-19 in Fayetteville. The Celtics are a combination of players from Tarboro, Rocky Mount and Wilson. They will have a car wash in June in Tarboro and location is to be determined. Senior citizens 60-years of age or older will get their cars washed for free. If you are interested contact Coach Ryan Jones at 252-907-2893.
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