Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/900751
NOVEMBER 15 - 21, 2017 UCW 25 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM EARL VAUGHAN JR., Sports Editor. COMMENTS? EarlUCWS- ports@gmail.com. (910) 364-6638. L-R: Garren Elliott, coach Bruce McClelland, Dante Bowlding The heroics of Terry Sanford's potent passing combination of Christian Jayne to Andrew Jayne have made headlines all year for the Terry Sanford football team. But in the closing weeks of the regu- lar season, when the Bulldogs finally broke clear from the pack in the Patriot Athletic Conference and won the league's first football championship, it was defense that made the difference. In key wins over South View, Pine Forest and E.E. Smith, the Bulldog defense stood especially tall in the second half, limiting the opposition to a touchdown or less in each game. Among the biggest reasons behind that are Terry Sanford's versatile starting safeties, Garren Elliott and Dante Bowlding. First-year Terry Sanford coach Bruce McClelland said Bowlding and Elliott provided critical moving pieces in what he described as an amoeba-like defense that let Terry Sanford take advantage of matchups and frustrate opposing offenses. "They are both so physical and play with their hands so well it allowed us to shoot them down to linebacker positions,'' McClelland said. But both Bowlding and Elliott are quick to add that the reason for Terry Sanford's success involves more than game strategy. "It's not just a team, it's a brotherhood,'' Bowlding said. "If we have each other's back, we can go out and accomplish anything.'' Elliott agreed. "With the chemistry we have, it really fell into place,'' he said. "We all love each other, and we're going to play for each other.'' McClelland thinks the strong bond the team has is an extension of the relationship he enjoys with his assistant coaches, who he was on the staff with as an assistant before he was promoted to head coach. "I know the kids see the relationship the coaching staff has (with) each other,'' he said. "Everybody on this staff is knowledgeable. They take a back seat to no one and can coach with anyone. "These young men sensed that, and I think it grew with them and made them closer team- mates.'' Elliott and Bowlding also sensed the presence McClelland brings to the head coaching position, and it's a good one. "We all love Coach Mac to death,'' Elliott said. "We're going to play our hardest for him. To see him smile at how good we're doing, it's like a blessing for everybody on this whole team.'' "When we're on the field, he's always joking,'' Bowlding said. "It's always good to be out there on the field, having fun.'' Terry Sanford drew the No. 4 seed for the Eastern 3-A bracket, which likely means if the Bulldogs can keep winning they'll get at least two home games in the postseason. "Having success in the playoffs is doing the same thing we've done all year,'' McClelland said. "It helps that these guys have been in playoff runs the last two years. "We're an even-keeled group. It's just taking that same approach, not cutting a corner, mak- ing sure we're watching film and doing the same things that got us here. It's kind of like that old adage, if it's not broke, don't fix it.'' Defense rises to occasion in Bulldog title run by EARL VAUGHAN JR. Lauren McDonough Terry Sanford • Sophomore • Tennis McDonough has a grade point average of 4.0. She won her singles and doubles matches against Chapel Hill in the first round of the NCHSAA 3-A dual team tennis playoffs. She is active in Tri Chi, Friends Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Global Studies Academy. She is also a member of the Highland Presbyterian Church youth group. Bailey Haggins Gray's Creek • Senior • Soccer/cheerleading Haggins has a 3.67 grade point average. She is active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Student Government Association, Future Farmers of America, National Honor Society and travel soccer. She was Miss Gray's Creek High School in 2016 and is the current senior class president. Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop congratulates these amazing scholar athletes of the week and invites them to the Rocket Fizz Store at 1916 Skibo Rd. to receive a FREE gift recognizing their achievement! www.rocketfizz.com & PRESENT OUR WEEKLY LINE UP 6-8pm WCLN 107.3 CAPE FEAR HIGH SCHOOL COACH'S SHOW 8-9pm @ 301 Wingz, 407 Eastern Blvd Airing on WGQR 105.7FM Bill Boyette w/ Coach Jacob Thomas TERRY SANFORD HIGH SCHOOL COACH'S SHOW 8-9pm @ Spinners, 2805 Raeford Rd Airing on WCLN 107.3FM Trey Edge w/ Coach Bruce McClellan MONDAY 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 FRIDAY 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 WEDNESDAY Coaches Corner w/ Don Koonce Airing @ 6:00pm on105.7FM/107.3FM/WFNC AM640 Followed by LIVE to The Fields for the Playoff Games Cape Fear HS vs. TBA on 105.7FM Kick off @ 7:30pm Terry Sanford HS vs. TBA on 107.3FM Kick off @ 7:30pm 71st HS vs. TBA on WFNC AM640 Kick off at 7:30pm Ending with Postgame Scoreboard w/ Sonny Jones October Athlete of the Month: Christian Jayne, QB -Terry Sanford HS