In Their Own Words - Voices of the PAC-6 - Jordan vs. Northern (10/4/2010)

A resurgent Northern Durham (3-4, 2-0) team played its first conference game at home in newly renovated Durham County Memorial Stadium and came away with a victory and sole possession of first place in the PAC-6 after downing Jordan (5-2, 1-1).  The following quotes are from the voices of the PAC-6 and were included in articles from the News & Observer and Durham Herald-Sun.  For more information on the game follow the links provided at the end of the post.

Northern Durham head coach Anthony Sullivan explaining a portion of the thought process behind a pivotal 4th and 1 situation late in the game.

"We put it on the kids," Sullivan said. "We called a timeout and looked in their eyes and asked them what they wanted to do.  They said 'Coach, we want this,' and I felt like it would be a disservice for us not to go for it."

Coach Sullivan commenting on the play of Knight Xavier Taylor and his game winning touchdown run.

"He's a heck of a ball player," Sullivan said. "It definitely was a great individual effort.  Those second and third efforts that he gave on that run were what he's been giving us all year."

Jordan head coach Mike Briggs commented on the use of the 'wildcat' formation with T.J. Thorpe at the reigns and his touchdown run.

"We've worked on it in practice a lot, but it's the first time we've shown it in a game."

Coach Sullivan commenting on Thorpe and his impact to the game.

"T.J.'s a premier Division I athlete.  We know going in that the game was going to be won or lost in his hands, " Sullivan said.  "We had all eyes on the field keyed on him because we knew they were smart enough to get him the ball."

Coach Briggs on the use of the 'wildcat' to move the ball as opposed to the Falcons' traditional running attack.

"We shouldn't have to rely on things like that to move the ball."

Final comments from Coach Sullivan and his Knights' team as they move forward in conference play.

"We're playing for a conference championship every game," he said. "A last place team can beat a first-place team.  There are a lot of teams that can knock off anybody in the conference." 

"Coming off an 0-11 season, we're coming out swinging."

Links to stories of Friday night's games:

News & Observer (article by Terry Hill)
The Herald-Sun (article by Steven J. Gaither)