Vikings Entertain Cavs Tonight

As of Friday, October 14, 2011

Union Pines entertains Southern Lee in conference football action tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Cameron.

The Vikes’ last home game of the season will also be senior night at Woodrow Wilhoit Stadium.

Starting at 7 p.m. all Union Pines seniors on the football team, cheerleading squad, band and ROTC will be recognized at the 50-yard line.

The evening is also Union Pines’ annual youth sports night. Local area football players and cheerleaders from Crain’s Creek and New Century middle schools, along with the Optimist tackle football leagues, will receive free admission by wearing their current jerseys. Preceding the pomp, circumstance and celebrations, the Vikings and visiting Cavs will get down to the business of competing in a late-season Cape Fear Valley Conference (CFVC) pigskin clash.

The Vikings enter the tilt riding a four-game losing streak and an 11-game league skid. At 2-6 on the season and 0-4 in CFVC play, Union Pines has been outscored 181-48 in its four conference contests this season.

Union Pines head coach Ryan Riggan feels his team is coming into tonight’s game after a “pretty good week of practice.”

“We have a lot going on in terms of trying to make sure our offense is more patient and helping to eliminate some mistakes. Defensively it went pretty good as well. We have emphasized that we have to play exactly where we are supposed to this week as Southern Lee has some really explosive players. We need to keep them in front of us.”

Last week, the Viking defense gave up 399 rushing yards to Westover (2-6, 1-2 CFVC) in a 40-14 conference loss in Fayetteville. Meanwhile, Union Pines offense had only one scoring drive on the night, with its other touchdown coming on a kickoff return.

“Our focus this week has been going things to keep from shooting ourselves in the foot,” said Riggan. “We have worked on not jumping when we change counts and just getting back to focusing on staying in front of the chains. Defensively we have focused on tackling and making sure we know where the right place is and get there as fast as we can.

“Southern Lee is an extremely fast team on offense, with multiple skill players that can really hurt you and can take advantage of any missed assignments. Defensively, they are all over the place, flying around and making plays. This is a very good football team and we need to play well from start to finish against them.”

Southern Lee comes into tonight’s tilt with an overall record of 5-3, and a CFVC mark of 2-2. Last week, they stormed back from a large deficit only to just miss a comeback bid, falling 35-33 to Overhills (2-5, 2-1).

Overhills topped Union Pines in both team’s conference opener this season by a score of 50-22. The Cavs bested Western Harnett 31-12, three weeks ago, for their last league win, as they enter tonight as losers in their previous two CFVC outings.

Conversely, Union Pines lost to Western Harnett by a score of 42-12. Southern Lee’s other CFVC win came via a 28-14 road win against Westover.

Last season Union Pines lost to the Cavs 50-36, as junior running back Ace Chalmers amassed 292 total yards from scrimmage against the Vikings, including 233 rushing yards on 19 carries with three touchdown runs.

Riggan admitted Chalmers will be a main priority for the Union Pines’ defense tonight, but not the unit’s sole focus.

“Southern Lee has a lot of skill guys who can really go,” Riggan said, “But we have to know where Chalmers is at all times. Even still, each of our guys also have to play their responsibility or players for the Cavs can hurt you quick.

“Our keys to success in this game will be to limit Southern Lee’s big plays and control the clock and tempo of the game. We want them to work at our pace and not get caught up like last season and work at theirs. For our seniors: I want them to go out with a bang and leave it all out there on the field.”

“We have to work together and play hard and with high intensity and effort. If we can do those things, we can be successful.”

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RD28327 1 year, 7 months ago

Looks like Southern Lee is going to turn up the AC (Ace Chalmers) and put the Vikings in a deep freeze. Southern Lee 42 Union Pines 14.

RD28327 1 year, 7 months ago

In JV football action, Southern Lee shut out Union Pines 50-0.

bjohnson0413 1 year, 7 months ago

Why do you even go to the games? You act like you're cheering them on and then come and write this rubbish on thepilot.com. I'll be there tonight just like every night cheering on the team. Unlike you, who will sit in the stands with your little umbrella yelling at them at every mistake. Get a life.

RD28327 1 year, 7 months ago

And I guess you have an answer for all the Vikings' losing woes???

sd27325 1 year, 7 months ago

He may not have an answer, but I do. It's your mouth with all that yelling you do. Instead of going on here and blasting these kids, applaud them for trying. It's not the kids fault there in the wrong conference and have a coach who was given a job on who he knows and not what he knows. In my opinion, you shouldn't be allowed to coach HS sports if you haven't played at the next level yourself. Union Pines is as much at fault. It seems they have a philosophy that if you can breath than you can coach. For example, look at the rival high school they make an effort to find the very best for there coaching positions even if it means looking outside of the county. So why don't you sit down and shut up for a change. If you really won't to help since you seem to know so much about football, make suggestions on how to help instead of getting on this blog and tearing down kids. Another suggestion for you. Why don't you suit up and stand in the middle of the field and let those kids come out you fool speed ahead and maybe that will get them motivated.
LETS BUILD UP NOT TEAR DOWN. As a parent of one of those kids I am just thankful that he has been able to walk off the field each Friday night without an injury. Lets remember what's important. And like the other writer said earlier, GET A LIFE.

MUCH RESPECT FOR OUR PLAYERS

UP PARENT

gardak 1 year, 7 months ago

Typical Union Pines parent response. RD comes on here and does nothing but predict the scores. Where do you see where he blasts the coaches or the players?? The conference they play in is the problem?? PLEASE!!! You may not remember but before realignment they played the likes of Ragsdale, Eastern Randolph, SE Guilford, Asheboro, SW Randolph every year. Oh yeah then they realigned and played with the Triton's, South Johnstons's and Harnett Central's of the world. Now the conference consists of what could be called a bunch of "cupcakes". So you think they have it bad now??? Oh my you should have been a parent when they played all these other teams. Losing 50-0 was a good night back then. Another typical Union Pines comment about the coaches. Its always the coaches fault. The biggest difference in coaching between the 2 schools is that Pinecrest always their coaches learn on the job. How long should a coach be given until he is replaced? Give Ryan a chance. The seniors that are there now where there before he became coach. Any coach should be given a minimum of 4 years so that he gets the chance to have "his" players in the program. Union Pines has had some very good coaches that were let go because of losing or left because they were tired of the bull from the parents and administration. Union Pines will never attract a good coach because the reputation they have of "moving" coaches along to quick.

The players do the best they can, it's not there or the coaches fault that they are not as good as all the daddies out there want to be. RD keep up the prognastications, I enjoy reading them. PS I agree with your prediction for tonights game :)

RD28327 1 year, 7 months ago

Players win games, coaches lose them. Any questions?

RD28327 1 year, 7 months ago

And to bjohnson0413 and sd27325, what makes you so qualified to determine that I need a life? Your PhD degrees in psychology from Wal-Mart???

bjohnson0413 1 year, 7 months ago

Gardak- I didn't say anything about our coaches...and to say UP has had a decent coach in the past 10 years would be a lie...Ryan and Callahan are finally a good pair that are still learning, too. RD- To come on here every week and predict that UP is going to get run over by a train is horrible. You're an old man. Find a hobby. These boys come on here and see this stuff. They don't need to be hit with that before a game. They already feel the pressure because they don't win but for someone to come on here and say how the other team is going to put our boys in a "deep freeze" and then go to the games and yell at them? Why don't you just sit on the other side and cheer for whomever we are playing? At least you wouldn't seem like the hypocrit you are. The players are so discouraged by you. They realize their mistakes. They don't need some random person sitting at the games yelling at them. They need supporters and you are far from it. One doesn't need a PhD to think you need a life. They just need to see you at a game with your umbrella and cell phone hearing you yell to a group of boys already down on themselves. No use in kicking them while they are already down.

RD28327 1 year, 7 months ago

Hey, I just predict the games. I can't help it if I'm right most of the time. By the way, this is my hobby! LOL But, I am waiting to see the players and coaches PROVE ME WRONG! They just gotta go out there and JUST DO IT!!!