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East Rowan football preview

BY RONNIE GALLAGHER
SALISBURY POST

Adam Horton and Eddie Guessford were not in pads. The two monsters of Mustang Country had been four-year leaders for the school and now, graduation had taken them away.

But it only seemed strange for a moment. It didn’t take long to realize there is still plenty of leadership out on the field.

Fifth-year coach Jeff Safrit, who resurrected the program into an annual playoff participant, returns 22 ~ count ‘em, 22 ~ seniors. And there is not one of them who thinks the program is going to dip because of the departure of last year’s super class.

``Our practices through the first few days have gone, if not the best, then, they’re right they’re at the top as far as attitude,’’ said Safrit.

And just think. East’s 6-1, 250-pound senior behemoth Danny Misenheimer, the all-everything brute, isn’t even in camp. He’s in Ohio with a North Carolina all-star wrestling team.

Safrit pointed to seniors Henry Faavesi and Thomas Hendrickson as taking over the leadership roles.

``I’ve never had the role of being the leader,’’ said Hendrickson, the blonde flash, who was a 1,000-yard rusher last year. ``But I like it.’’

Faavesi is being counted on heavily. He is a 6-4, 260-pound rock.

``Henry’s a three-year starter and him and Danny will be the anchors of the offensive line,’’ Safrit said. ``He’ll play on the other side of the ball too.’’

Hendrickson said he has noticed there is no Horton and Guessford anymore.

``It’s different without Adam and Eddie,’’ he said. ``They were real good leaders.’’

Will Hendrickson try to emulate either one?

``I`m just who I am and that’s how it is,’’ Hendrickson said firmly.

TOM TERRIFIC: And who Thomas is, is a kid who can definitely make defenses miss. The quick tailback finished 1998 in grand style, finishing with 142 yards rushing on 23 carries in East’s 49-28 loss to Burlington Williams in the opening round of the state playoffs. His eagerness to begin play shows.

``I’m really, really looking forward to it,’’ said Hendrickson ``I love football. This is my life.’’

He has certainly set some high standards for himself and his team.

``I’m hoping to do better,’’ he said, naming a Shrine Bowl berth as an individual goal and a trip to the title game in Chapel Hill as a team goal.

CHANGES: Safrit says he will alternate his backs, which include Issac Washington. ``They’re all going to play defense too,’’ he said.

Jason Powlas is back at fullback. The burly senior was the perfect compliment to Hendrickson last season, running for 900 yards. 

BLAZING BRENT: Hendrickson isn’t the only senior oozing with confidence. Before hitting the field for practice Wednesday, speedy receiver Brent Lambert yelled, ``I’m going to lead the county in receiving!’’ 

PROUD PEACOCK: NBC had its Peacock and now Safrit has his.

After 20 years in the sport at North Rowan, Leland Peacock didn’t coach last season. But he is back as Safrit’s defensive coordinator, replacing Michael Johns, who accepted the head post at Mount Pleasant.

``He’s our third defensive coordinator in three years so I hope the kids adjust,’’ said Safrit. ``He’ll do a good job. He’s very knowledgeable.’’

``So far I love it,’’ said Peacock. ``I don’t know all of the names yet but they’ve been real receptive. I’ve seen things that look good.’’

And it obviously doesn’t matter whether it’s North or East Rowan. Plain and simple, Leland Peacock is a coach who loves what he does.

``It’s football,’’ Peacock said. ``It smells like football. It tastes like football. It feels like football.’

RESPECT: North Rowan always battles East for county supremacy and the respect between the programs seems to grow with each encounter. This year, by the way, they play at North on Aug. 27.

Safrit noted that he and Cavalier coach Roger Secreast are alike in one way. Neither have a set summer regimen.

``Roger and I are the same in that our summer practices are informal, contrary to what some Legion people think,’’ he said.

Comparing speed, Safrit added, ``Roger can tell you beforehand what he has with the speed. We’ve got Hendrickson, Lambert ... and Adam Trexler runs fairly well. But we’re not blessed with two handfuls of guys who can run 4.6 40s.’’

THEN AGAIN ... But Safrit also knows he has three straight playoff appearances to fall back on, speed or no speed.

And you can’t argue with that, can you?

That’s probably why he has 44 players on varsity, 10 more than last year.

``The first year we made it, we probably (surprised people),’’ Safrit said. ``But the last two years, we’ve been expected to finish up there. It says a lot for how hard the kids have worked. We work hard in the weight room and utilize the speed we have.’’

This year, the N.C. Prep Football News ranked East third in the South Piedmont Conference.

``We’re right behind Kannapolis and Concord, just like always,’’ sighed Safrit.

DON’T I KNOW YOU? Some of the East seniors may have been doing a double-take when C.J. Johnston joined the staff as an assistant. He just graduated from West Rowan a couple of years ago.

``He was one of those big, strong linemen West had,’’ Safrit said. ``He works at the school and we thought, he’s young, but if he’s going to be here, let’s get him in.’’

``It’s a lot different,’’ admitted Johnston, once a mainstay on the West line. ``I’m giving orders rather than taking them.’’

Veteran line coach Darrell Misenheimer and Peacock, have taken him under their wings.

``He’ll be a good one,’’ Misenheimer said. ``He’s doing the best thing he can ~ starting young.’’

But being young provides a problem. ``Sometimes, I want to put on the pads and get out there with them,’’ Johnston chuckled.

DON’T I KNOW YOU, TOO? Hey, isn’t that Cal Hayes, the baseball player out there playing football?

No, Safrit says. That’s Cal Hayes, the football player.

``He’s pretty good in football too,’’ said Safrit, also Hayes’ coach on the diamond. ``He’ll be a big-play guy. Cal also really turned into a good defensive back the last half of last season.’’

Hayes is so familiar to Rowan County sports fans, it feels like he has been playing forever. But he is only a sophomore.

TRANSFER: Johnston isn’t the only former Falcon on the team. Raymondo Brady has transferred to East from West. He is playing quarterback.

Last year’s backup Drew Davis, a sophomore, is currently in Memphis playing in the national AAU 15&under baseball tournament. So Safrit is also working Caleb Kirk at the position.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO: East has two players from last year continuing their careers. Horton is at Appalachian State and Nick Vincent is at Greensboro College.

They aren’t the only two important cogs missing. Besides losing both of his linebackers (Horton and Guessford), Safrit also lost his quarterback (Josh Brady), defensive lineman (Tony Washington) and tight end (Zack Thompson).

That’s what someone might have thought when driving up to the field Wednesday and seeing a police officer overlooking practice.

Calm down. That’s just film man, Craig Hicks, a 1979 graduate of East.

Hicks spends his days on campus in a uniform ~ as the resource officer. On Friday nights, he turns into the man on top of the pressbox filming the game. And he likes to watch practice, uniform or not.

``I’ve been filming for four years,’’ Hicks said. ``I enjoy it.’’

Sometimes, he wonders why he doesn’t go bonkers seeing the game through the eye of the camera.

``I have to watch what I say sometimes so the kids won’t hear it on film,’’ Hicks laughed.

Hicks did say filming the football games has its advantages.

``I find it helps me in my job as resource officer,’’ he said. ``I’m not out to be a bully cop. I’ve never yet shown partiality to any athlete. But the guys get to see me in a different light.’’

FOR THE RECORD: And finally, how about a hand for assistant Ed Bowles? He is in his 33rd year of coaching football.

When asked if he wanted to say something about Bowles, Safrit joked, ``No, he’ll sue me if I say something he doesn’t like!’’