DATE: Saturday, August 16, 1997             TAG: 9708160299

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

TYPE: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW 

SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   91 lines

A TALE OF TWO RUNNING BACKS THE TALENTED ALBEMARLE AREA FOOTBALL DUO HAS MAJOR UNIVERSITIES CALLING ON THEM

The Albemarle area has seen its share of great high school running backs over the years. Two of the best will face each other Friday when Edenton-Holmes and Bertie County open the prep football season in Edenton at 7:30 p.m.

They've met only once on the football field, but the similarities between Christshawn Gilliam of Bertie and Mitchell Stanley of Edenton are striking. Both are the top running backs on their respective teams. Both are listed at 6-1, 190 pounds. Both are mentioned as pre-season all-staters in the North Carolina Prep Football News. Both are being sought by top-rated colleges. And both will have a tremendous impact on how far their teams will go this year.

In 1995, Gilliam, then a sophomore, was on top of the world. In the 3A state championship game, which Bertie won 38-34 over High Point Central, Gilliam turned the heads of scouts when he gained 176 yards on 19 carries and scored three touchdowns. He was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

``That's the best thing that's ever happened to me,'' Gilliam recalled. ``I always dreamed we would win the state championship. I was the second-string tailback. When they were keying too much on Andre Burden, coach (Roy) Bond called me in and I guess they thought I was a scrub.''

Last year, Gilliam gained over 1,700 yards and scored 21 touchdowns, two short of the school record. He could very well have shattered the team record of 1,900 yards and the touchdown record had he not missed a game and was forced to play only half of another game that was suspended by lightning.

Others have noticed the numbers and the state championship MVP. Gilliam has been contacted by Virginia, Nebraska, Tennessee, Notre Dame, East Carolina, North Carolina and Northwestern.

``All the major schools are looking at him,'' Bond said. ``He's a step above everybody. He has the ability to make people miss him. He's got a glide step like O.J. He'll make you miss him.''

Gilliam describes his as an Emmitt Smith-type running style.

``Slashing through the holes and power running. I like to go through the holes more than the end,'' Gilliam said.

Gilliam will be the key to the run-laden Bertie offense, particularly since the Falcons have just four starters returning.

The Aces will also depend heavily on Stanley, in his fourth year as a starter. In 1996, he rushed for more than 1,900 yards and had more than 2,400 all-purpose yards. Edenton's inexperience on defense this year will mean the Aces will have to score points.

``It was very obvious when we lost him last year against Roanoke. It was difficult to replace him,'' said Jay Swicegood, Edenton head coach. ``It's emotional as well as physical. I think people realize how important he is.''

Stanley also likes to take the ball up the middle. He claims to have average speed (4.51 in the 400), but, like Gilliam, he has the knack of making defenders miss him. Last year, Edenton's trap plays sprung him for many a long run and 26 touchdowns. He averaged more than nine yardsper carry. Major colleges such as North Carolina, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Nebraska, West Virginia and Virginia have been in touch with him.

All the attention is enough to swell anyone's head. But Swicegood said Stanley would rather put the team ahead of personal goals.

``He realizes how important his line is and his blocker is,'' Swicegood said. ``It's a great relationship they have. Beyond personal goals, he'd rather see us succeed as a team and do well in the playoffs. He's really been an unselfish kid when it comes to football.''

``I try to encourage the line,'' Stanley said. ``When we're in the huddle, they ask me if I'm running. They know the plays, but I guess they want to make sure they're doing the job. I'm looking to win game by game.''

Gilliam also shies away from the limelight. ``I don't feel any pressure, because I feel like everybody has a part on the team. My part is to run the ball.''

Last year, Edenton set the tone for its season by dropping the defending 3A state champs 28-12 in the first week. Stanley had 165 yards and three touchdowns in the game. The Aces went on to a 9-4 season and two rounds into the 2A playoffs. Bertie, although it didn't play the game at full strength, finished the season at 7-4, but failed to reach the 3A playoffs.

``We weren't prepared to play that game,'' Bond said.

``That was a big win for us last year,'' Stanley said. ``When we beat Bertie, we knew we could win.''

Although Friday's matchup in Edenton is a non-conference game, both teams realize the significance.

``It's really important for us to get that first win, because that determines how well your team really wants to win,'' Gilliam said. ``Last year, we went back and practiced hard and we knew right then we were determined not let anybody else beat us.''

``If we beat them, it will be nice. The boys' confidence level will go up,'' Stanley said. ``Bertie said we snuck up on them last year. They'll be ready for us this year.''

The game, no doubt, will somehow be determined by two running backs with striking similarities. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Illustration]

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