THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 20, 1995 TAG: 9508170206
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: [High School Football section:] Kickoff '95
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER
LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
New Northampton West head coach Mike Dail swears his team will not be ``Air Dail'' like last year's Hurricanes.
Dail, a former assistant coach who has been involved in the Northampton West football program since the school's inception, has dumped the passing game that gave the Hurricanes just one win in 1994. West will go with the wishbone instead.
Although quarterback Amos Betts is back, he most likely will be handing off to fullback Darius Underdue and tailbacks Anthony Roberts and Keith Person.
``We've got no experience at running back, because we never ran the ball last year,'' Dail said.
The Hurricanes may have the blocking to pull off the new offense. The team has good size up front with Garrick Hardy at center, Derrick Garner and Ernest Barber at guard, Anthony Harding and Angelo Banks at tackle, and Trevor Vincent and Jibrell Davis at end.
Expected to start on defense are guards Chris Ponton and Garner, tackles Banks and Anthony Hardy, outside linebackers Victor Vincent and Brian Eaves, middle linebackers Jermaine Jones and Jontae Manley, corners Ralph Coleman and Desmond Lockhart, and free safety Maurice McGee.
Despite the tough finish in 1994, West is predicted by Albemarle Conference coaches to place fifth, just one position away from the playoffs.
``I really feel like the Weldon and Perquimans games will be the determining factors. We have to beat one of those schools to make the playoffs,'' Dail said. ``(Northampton) East and Williamston are going to be there.''
West has a tough non-conference schedule, including 3A Northwest Halifax and 2A Southeast Halifax, Roanoke Rapids and Currituck County.
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by CNB