North Carolina Football Association (NCFA)

It's been a tough year for Tom Smythe and his new team.  But Raleigh now finds themselves attop the division with their destiny in their own hands.  "We just have to win," was what Smythe said after the game.  "To win and to play better than we did this week."  It was not the kind of win that anyone likes to see from their team.  The Capitol's offense struggled the entire game and only won because of a CB Kendall Reynolds interception returned for a touchdown.  The defense played about as well as they could play and the offense about as badly as they could play.  QB Marcus Musson had a miserable game going 11/23 for 94yds with 1TD and 2Ints.  His running support wasn't much better Broderick Hunter pitched in 12yds on 13 carries.  Fans are angry at Smythe for moving Jerry Willis over to fullback and not letting him show what he can do as a multi-dimensional back that is required for Smythe's offense to work.  When asked about this Smythe said, "it's hard to know what to do with a guy like Jerry because he can do so much for us.  Yes we need a good back out of the backfield to catch passes, but the FB is so critical to protecting Marcus in this offense and Jerry has shown us that he can do that job.  We just need Marcus to make better decisions and for our receivers to run better routes."  The defense quietly shut down one of the best passers in the league and contained the 4th best running game.  Raleigh hosts Wilson in week 11 in what Smythe says is a must win game.

 

 

If Kinston has become well known for anything it is their inability to finish the season strong.  So many fans felt that QB Marion Sorenson was going to help break that old stigma, but now as they slip into second place in the division with only 2 games left hope is starting to fade.  Sorenson struggled this week against Raleigh going 14/36 for 193yds 1TD 1Int.  Despite the tough play from the Kinston defense the offense was never able to really create any effect.  Now they need to win in Charlotte next week in order to keep pace with the Capitols, then give it everything in week 12 to take to division.  "It's there for us to take," CB Terrence Love said after the game, "we're just not taking it."  Love put up a solid game coming back from injury with 3 tackles a knockdown and an interception.