2
The Daily Dispatch
Football
Southern Vance
Friday, August 23, 2013
Aug. 23 NORTHEASTERN Aug. 30 @ Cedar Ridge Sept. 13 NORTHERN VANCE Sept. 20 @ Northern Nash Sept. 27 LOUISBURG Oct. 4 @ Ben L. Smith Oct. 11 @ Bunn * Oct. 18 SOUTH GRANVILLE * Oct. 25 WARREN COUNTY * Nov. 1 ROANOKE RAPIDS * Nov. 8 @ Franklinton * * 2-A Northern Carolina Conference games
7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
RAIDERS Head coach: Lewis Young, second season. Last year: Southern was 5-6, finished 1-4 (fifth) in 3-A Carolina Conference; lost in first round of 3-A state playoffs 30-12 to South Johnston. Leading offensive returners: Ty-Traveon Roberts (senior quarterback), Shawn Henderson (senior receiver), Jaquez Bullock (senior lineman), Qualik Shearin (junior running back). Leading defensive returners: Bullock (senior lineman), Roberts, (senior safety), Deon Smith (senior back), Sheldon Smith (junior linebacker). Flying under the radar: DeAndre Jefferson (senior receiver). Coach Young on Sheldon Smith: “He’s one of those headhunters. He loves contact. That’s the kind of guy we love.”
MARK DOLEJS/Dispatch Staff
Southern Vance senior Shawn Henderson emerged as a dangerous playmaker last season. He’ll catch passes from quarterback Ty-Traveon Roberts.
Athletic Raiders reload at skill positions By KELLEN HOLTZMAN
defense to be strong and the offense to be balanced although Southern Vance was the only he said an emphasis will be area team to clinch a state playoff placed on the run game. Bullock and senior classmate berth last season. Ty-Traveon Roberts, the starting The Raiders lost their startquarterback, will play vital roles ing quarterback, running back on each side of the ball. and top receiver from the 2012 Bullock digs in at left tackle squad, but return four alland guard offensively. The 6-footconference play8, 320-pounder was also one of ers in lineman the team’s top tacklers on the Jaquez Bullock, defensive front last season. receiver Shawn “He’s a monster on the offenHenderson, sive line,” said Young. “To have a defensive back Deon Smith, and guy like that to come off of, he’s going to make a big difference.” Sheldon Smith, Southern lost one offensive an all-conference Lewis lineman from last season. Bullall-purpose defenYoung ock and center Anthony Massive selection. senburg anchor the new crop, Lewis Young is entering his blocking for Roberts, who took second season as head coach plenty of snaps last season as as the Raiders make the drop to De’Vante Henderson struggled the N.C. High School Athletic with injuries. Association 2-A ranks and back “The sky is the limit with to their old Northern Carolina him,” Young said of Roberts. Conference stomping ground. “He’s such a great athlete. Ty“I think this conference is much tougher,” said Young. “The Traveon is one of the better athletes to ever come through last conference was mainly trySouthern Vance. Offense and ing to get by Cardinal Gibbons. You had Orange and Chapel Hill defense, special teams, he’s going to be exceptional.” that were always pretty good. Lightning-quick backs have Now, you’ve got Bunn, Franklinbeen the norm for Southern in ton, Roanoke Rapids. South Granville. You’ve got some really recent years. The Raiders have good teams. And Warren County reloaded with junior Qualik Shearin, a backup to Chris Henderson has always been a rivalry game. in 2012. It’s going to make every game “He’s fast,” Young said of the really tough.” shifty Shearin. “He has a lot of Young expects the Raider DISPATCH STAFF
cuts. He’s a real good scat back. He’s shown a lot of potential in practice.” Shawn Henderson is fast too. The wideout steadily improved as the 2012 season wore on, finishing with five touchdowns and close to 500 receiving yards. “I’m expecting a great year out of Shawn,” said Young. “He’s doing things in practice that has all the coaches’ mouths dropping. We’ll just be amazed at the plays he’s making.” Young also likes what he sees in athletic senior DeAndre Jefferson, a 6-foot-2 wideout who missed much of last season with an injury. He and Shawn Henderson are joined in the receiving corps by classmate Jeremiah Williams. Bullock and junior Maurice Howard form the middle of the defensive line with Isaiah Leveille and Juwan Harris on either end. Young said junior linebacker Sheldon Smith was the team’s defensive MVP last season. He’ll play on one side of senior Stanton Fields. The other linebacker spot as well as a couple of secondary spots are up for grabs. Roberts lines up at free safety while Deon Smith also returns in the backfield. Contact the writer at kholtzman@hendersondispatch. com.
MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch Staff
Jaquez Bullock, a 6-foot-8, 320-pound senior, anchors the offensive and defense lines for Southern Vance, the only area team to clinch a state playoff berth last season.
FALL SPORTS PREVIEW Sports Editor Kellen Holtzman Design John Shelton Ad Director Deborah Tuck Circulation A.J. Woodell Editor Alan Wooten Publisher James Edwards Cover photography The cover photo, by Mark Dolejs of The Dispatch, features Northern’s Devin Anderson, Southern’s Ty-Traveon Roberts, Warren County’s Dennis Waddell, and Webb’s Tobiah Lewis. The Dispatch extends its appreciation to the athletics directors and staff of the area high schools for participating in this year’s Fall Sports Preview.
EARL KING / Dispatch Staff
Members of the Southern Vance football team are (front, from left) Lewis Young Jr., Ty-Traveon Roberts, DeAndre Jefferson, Shawn Henderson, James Gibbs, Qualik Shearin, William Henderson, Jerry Throckmorton, Aaron Palmer, Jeremiah Williams, Leronta Durham, (second row, from left) head coach Lewis Young, Tiquay Harrington, Deon Smith, Mark Baldwin, Sheldon Smith, Marquis Crudup, Kareem Davis, Juwan Harris, Emmanuel Simril, Keavondre Moore, assistant coach Alphonso Collins, (third row, from left) manager Ricardo Lewis, Isaiah Leveille, Anthony Massenburg Jr., Ark-quan McCord, David Lewis, Maurice Howard, Quindarius Dunston, Jaquez Bullock, Tracy Davis, assistant coach Joseph Sharrow, (fourth row, from left) assistant coach Walter Young, Donald Hunt, Jeremiah McMillian, Kendell Baskett, Marlin Hicks, Corey Twitty, Romelleo Thompson, Jagger Quiney , Eric Venable, Charlie Kersey.