THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 20, 1995 TAG: 9508170218
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: [High School Football section:] Kickoff '95
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
For the last two years, Bertie County has finished 7-3 and failed to make the postseason.
A 4-3 record in the highly competitive Big Eight Conference is just not good enough for the 3A playoffs. Bertie head coach Roy Bond hopes this is the year his team wins the conference and moves on to the postseason.
The Falcons placed in a tie for third last year with Wilson Beddingfield. But Beddingfield beat Bertie during the regular season, earning the playoff berth.
Although picked by the Big Eight coaches to place fifth, the Falcons have many key players coming back from last year's squad.
Leading the Bertie offense will be last year's starting quarterback, Shawn Ricks. Running backs Marvin Rankins and Creshawn Gilliam will also see the ball in Bertie's option offense. Andre Burd, an ineligible player last year, will also see time at tailback.
Two-way starters Robert Williams (guard/defensive line) and James Bell (offensive line) will be relied on heavily. Wayne Wiggins is the tight end, and Kyle Woldford is the center. Gerard Bond and Jason White are also offensive linemen.
The Falcons will open with a tough non-conference schedule. After an open week the first week of the season, Bertie travels to 4A Northeastern, then hosts 4A Jacksonville Byrd, which went three rounds into the playoffs and was 12-1 last year. The Falcons then travel to 2A Southeast Halifax, always a very competitive team.
Bond knows there are no easy games in the Big Eight Conference.
``Hertford County is always tough for Bertie because of the rivalry,'' he said. ``Tarboro is picked to finish first; Beddingfield second. But there are no pushovers in our league. I still think we can win the conference this year.''
KEYWORDS: SUPPLEMENT SPECIAL SECTION
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