THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 25, 1994 TAG: 9409220190
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 32 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
MANTEO HEAD COACH Moncie ``Punk'' Daniels has said that 1994 is his last season at the helm of the Redskins football program. He made that decision before the Redskins began their rollercoaster ride so far this year. The first four weeks might have made any coach retire.
Manteo, win or lose, has not had a close game. The team has had other disturbances. Mattamuskeet, the Redskins' first opponent, decided not to play, giving Manteo a first-week, last-minute scrimmage against Creswell. The team's starting quarterback, Matt Midgette, went down with what could be a season-ending injury during week three. In that game, the Redskins got blown out by 1A Chocowinity 41-0.
``It's been a rollercoaster and we've been on both ends of the spectrum,'' Daniels said while studying game films of his next opponent. ``I think we'll see things level off.''
Last Friday, Manteo creamed Columbia 54-0. The Redskins led 33-0 at the half, and Daniels pulled most of his starters in the second half. Manteo relied on two touchdowns by Larry Tolley and Danny Davis to lead them to victory. Davis touched the ball just five times but still rushed for 103 yards.
However, questions still remain about the rest of the season. After crushing smaller schools like Gates County, Columbia and Creswell, the Redskins did not face 2A competition in the first four weeks. Midgette, who separated his shoulder on a pass play, may miss the rest of the season if he needs surgery. If not, he could be back. Junior quarterback Patrick McNeeley started the Columbia game, but Daniels said Lee Martin, last year's backup who converted to wide receiver, was expected to start this past Friday.
To add another question mark, the Northeastern Conference is shaping up to be a lot like last year's tight race. In 1993, Manteo missed winning the conference outright by a two-point conversion. Instead, the Redskins lost to Plymouth in overtime 28-27 and went home missing the playoffs. Manteo's rollercoaster ride could continue right into the conference season. The Redskins open against the conference's acknowledged weak team, Roanoke Rapids, on Oct. 7.
Things get presumably tougher each week with Currituck, Southeast Halifax, Edenton and Plymouth following in that order. by CNB