Union Pines Looking to Halt Losing Skid

As of Friday, October 8, 2010

The Union Pines football team hosts the Western Harnett Eagles tonight in a Cape Fear Valley Conference gridiron contest.

Both the Vikings and the Eagles enter the games winless in league action with records of 0-2 in the CFVC.

Union Pines is currently on a three-game losing skid that has seen the Vikings get outscored by a total of 126-20.

Last week in their 48-13 loss to Gray's Creek (5-2, 2-0 CFV), the Vikes struggled mightily to make tackles and could only muster 11 yards on 24 rushing attempts in the game.

Vike senior captain signal caller Taylor O'Neil did shine in the conference bout, passing for 179 yards and two touchdowns.

Junior scat back Parris Manning also had a huge game against Gray's Creek in a break -out performance, totaling 157 all-purpose yards, including a 50-yard kickoff return and four receptions.

Meanwhile, Western Harnett enters tonight's match-up winless on the season at 0-6 overall.

The Eagles came up on the short side of a 51-48 shootout to Southern Lee (1-6, 1-1 CFV) last week in Lillington.

With the loss, Western Harnett's current losing streak stretched to nine games, while Southern Lee's 25-game losing streak came to an end.

The Vikings and Western Harnett have played one common opponent. Pinecrest defeated the Eagles 31-0 in week five, while the Patriots topped Union Pines 69-14 in week two of the season.

Union Pines' two wins this year have both come at home against 1A schools.

The Vikes defeated Red Springs (0-5) by a score of 27-7 in the opening week of the season, and topped North Moore (0-6) by a tally of 34-12.

Viking head football coach Ryan Riggan was unable to be reached for comment.

In other CFVC league action this week Douglas Byrd (5-2, 0-2) travels to Westover (2-4, 1-0), Southern Lee hosts Gray's Creek, while Overhills (2-5, 2-0) has a bye.

The kickoff for tonight's game between Union Pines and Western Harnett is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Wilhoit Stadium in Cameron.

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HeelsHoopFan 2 years, 7 months ago

I believe there comes a time when any high school football program that is struggling must turn to the future; UP falls into that category. This senior class must be sacrificed to make the program stronger next year and future years to come.

It's time to bring up the promising players on JV and the underclassmen of the varsity to the starting lineups. This is not a poor reflection on the coaches or players, it just makes good sense. The underclassmen have to experience"live fire" that can not be replicated in the summer or in practice. I am respectful of this senior class and I am not suggesting throwing in the towel, rather I am calling on them and the coaching staff to look toward the future and play more underclassmen in meaningful ball games. All of the under classmen have been coached by the same coaches who have instructed the senior class.

I am not saying leave out the seniors, just focus on the under classmen. The players know the score and the only way you are going to get more competitive is by making sure the under classmen are ready to play next year this year. And that calls for sacrifice, you are already ineligible for post season, so look to the future. This Senior class still has the rest of the year to look forward to in other sports, so let the winning tradition in football begin with the building blocks and sacrifices of the Class of 2010.

Don't forget the Oline, it all starts there.

Best of luck and Godspeed to the Vikings.

RD28327 2 years, 7 months ago

Will UP continue it's losing skid? Or, could the Vikings end its losing streak and cause Western Harnett to continue their losing spell? The Eagles' losing skid presently stands at eight games, and their last win was a 34-32 win versus Overhills in the next to the last game of the season last year.

This game is really striking me odd as I have heard mixed opinions on who will win this game. Even my ol' buddy, Earl Vaughan favors the Vikes.

But, the Vikes still have a very ineffective offensive line and an almost non-existent running game. If the Vikes are to win, the passing game will not do it alone. UP will need some production from the running game as well as help from special teams. Also, the Viking defense better be ready to stop the run. The Eagles will run all sorts of misdirection plays, so the defense better be awake. In other words, these Eagles don't fly too much.

But in the end, I think Western Harnett will get it's first 'W' of the season tonight. Gonna call this one in favor of Western Harnett. The Eagles will roll past UP 28-14.