Cougars ready for Rocky Mount

From the Wilson Times

ROCKY MOUNT (3-0) at SW EDGECOMBE (1-2)

The Cougars are coming off a 28-14 loss to unbeaten Hunt last Thursday in Pinetops and their struggle to contain Warriors tailback Josh Joyner, who had 239 rushing yards and four touchdowns, might be useful experience this week.

The Gryphons, 3-0 after wins over Bertie and Hertford County and a loss to Bunn was overturned by a Wildcats forfeit for using an ineligible player, has senior Mason Hines in the backfield. Hines, the top rusher in the Big East in the 2011 regular season, has 317 yards and four TDs thus far.

But the Cougars have their own weapon out of their wishbone offense in senior halfback Gerald Hinton, who has run for 399 yards and six TDs and caught five passes for 85 yards and a pair of TDs. Still, SouthWest needs to expand its offensive options, head coach Raymond Cobb said.

“That’s exactly what we’ve talked to our team about,” Cobb said. “I think we’ve got some other capable skill players but we’ve got to have people step up and give Gerald some help.”

The potential return of backup quarterback Taquan Battle means starting QB Tyquavious Wooten might get more carries. Wooten has minus-24 yards on 13 carries, mostly sacks, and has thrown for 170 yards on 10-of-26 passing.

“He’s capable. He can make plays running and throwing,” Cobb said. “I hadn’t really turned him loose but as we go, I think he’s going to have to make plays running and throwing.”