ROCKY MOUNT, N.C.- Rocky Mount's local tv station, WHIG-TV, began a weekly live morning sports show that will air every Tuesday Morning from 8:00 AM-8:20 on WHIG-TV. The show is presented by Don Bullock Chevrolet.
This week featured WHIG's Wayne Holloman interviewing NC Wesleyan Head Football Coach Jeff Filkovski and Assistant HC and Defensive Line Coach Quinderra Spellman. Spellman will also be inducted into the NC Wesleyan Hall of Fame this weekend as well.
Spellman was the first Bishop in history to call himself a four-time All-Conference performer, with three First Team nods. He was the 2005 USA South Defensive Rookie of the Year and a 2008 All-Region selection, Spellman was named Wesleyan's 2008 Defensive Most Valuable Player as a senior. Spellman is currently in his ninth season on the Battling Bishop coaching staff.
They discussed their coaching careers, the upcoming home-opening football game this Saturday, September 1 vs. Thomas More College (Ky.) at 12 Noon from Rocky Mount Stadium and what to look forward to for the upcoming 2018 season.
They also discuss the naming of their offensive and defensive captains for the season: Senior QB Nate Gardner and Junior Linebacker Antonio Johnson.
SEASON PREVIEW: Gardner threw for 968 yards and seven touchdowns while Johnson had 95 tackles, including 13.5 tackles for a loss and four sacks.
The Battling Bishops, who were 3-7 last season and 3-4 in the USA South last season, were selected fourth in the USA South Preseason Poll that was released earlier this month behind defending champ Huntingdon College (Ala.), as well as Maryville College (Tenn.) and Averett. The Battling Bishops also return Senior running back Adrian Minondo, who had 92 carries in 2017 for 318 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior Trey Lancaster is also leading the receiving corps for the Bishops as he had 47 catches for 766 yards and seven touchdowns last year. Coach Filkovski has described Lancaster as a "dynamic and athletic" receiver.
Junior defensive back Eddie Graham also led the defense last year with 41 tackles, including one tackle for a loss and six interceptions. NC Wesleyan averaged 27 points/game last season while averaging 157 yards on the ground and 203 yards through the air.
"I think we are all excited to get the season started. I cannot wait to see our guys play," said coach Filkovski. "I am not going to predict the number of wins and losses for the season, but I can tell you that I have high expectations for this group. We go on display this Saturday at high noon, and nothing less than our A Game will be acceptable!"
Thomas More, an independent, finished last season with an overall record of 6-4. The Saints won their last five games of the season and averaged 38.9 points per game. They are led by Junior quarterback Justin Post and Senior running backs Hjavier Pitts and Luke Zajac. Pitts carried the ball 178 times for 1,132 yards and 11 touchdowns last season while Senior Logan Winkler is the top returning receiver as he had 19 catches for 466 yards and five touchdowns. Thomas More also held its opponents to a stingy 19.5 points/game last season.
This is the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the football field.
More can be found at the Thomas More Preview here.
After the Hall of Fame game on Sept. 1, Wesleyan's home schedule will consist of hosting Youth Day on Sept. 29 vs. LaGrange College (Ga.), Scout Night on October 13 for an under the lights game vs. Averett University (Va.) and of course Homecoming on Oct. 27 vs. Methodist University as well as Senior Day on Nov. 3 when they close out their home schedule vs. Huntingdon.
Enjoy the video.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hurBy-44nyGjSUXtegkXdTYYY5y-8Kct/view