Former area athletes continue to shine

Published 11:43 pm Monday, September 10, 2007

By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Several former area athletes are continuing success at the college level. Here’s a look at what they did on Saturday.
C.J. Wilson, a defensive end for the East Carolina Pirates, had three tackles against the North Carolina Tar Heels in a 34-31 win on Saturday.
For the season, Wilson, a former standout at Northside High School, has five tackles, including 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble.
The Pirates (1-1) play host to Southern Miss in their Conference USA opener at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Trimane Goddard, a strong safety for the North Carolina Tar Heels, had five tackles against the East Carolina Pirates in Saturday‘s 34-31 loss.
For the season, Goddard, a former standout at Roanoke High School, has 10 tackles and one interception.
Former Washington High School standout Jock Moore, a fullback, did not participate in the game.
The Heels (1-1) play host to Virginia at noon on Saturday.
Former Williamston High School standouts Jamaine Clemmons (defensive line) and Keonta Wallace (offensive line) did not see action in for the North Carolina State Wolfpack in Saturday’s 37-17 loss to Boston College.
The Wolfpack (0-2) plays host to Wofford at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Brad Roach, a starting quarterback at Catawba, hit 8-of-16 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns in a 46-7 win over Livingstone in the team’s home opener on Saturday. He threw scoring tosses of 54 and 36 yards, both coming in the second quarter. Roach also ran once for nine yards.
For the season, Roach, a former standout at Williamston High School, is 33-of-56 (58.9 percent) for 527 yards. He’s thrown five touchdowns and three interceptions. On the ground, Roach has run for 451 yards and one score on five carries.
The Indians (3-0) play host to Fayetteville State at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Gerald Lawrence, a linebacker and former standout at Washington High School, did not play for Elizabeth City in Saturday’s 17-8 loss to Charleston, W.V.
The Vikings (0-2) play at North Carolina Central at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Greg Palmer did not play for the Chowan Hawks in Saturday’s 33-32 loss to Saint Pauls College.
For the season, Palmer, a former standout at Northside High School, has two tackles.
The Hawks (0-3) play host to Methodist University at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Three former area athletes — Southside’s Bryan Haywood, Southside’s Davelle Whitney and Washington’s Nigel Rodgers — played for N.C. Wesleyan in Saturday’s 27-17 loss to Widener University. Haywood ran for 47 yards on 10 carries, caught one pass for nine yards and had three kickoff returns for 67 yards. Rodgers and Whitney each had five tackles apiece.
For the season, Haywood has 16 carries for 68 yards, six receptions for 37 yards and four kick returns for 91 yards. Rodgers has one fumble recovery and five tackles. Whitney has five tackles.
The Bishops (0-2) play host to Emory &Henry College at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Gina Valenti and the Lees-McRae Bobcats kicked off their cross country season on Saturday in the Spartanburg Methodist Eye Opener.
Valenti, a former standout at Washington High School, finished 18th overall out of 167 runners. She finished in in 20 minutes, 20 seconds.
Valenti, who was the third Bobcat to cross the finish line, helped her team take second in the team standings.