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Friday, August 1, 2008
Pigskin Previews
Raleigh Durham, NC
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Football Teams to Beat in 2008: Southern, Wake Forest-Rolesville, Apex and Garner.
For sports fans who love high school football, the 2008 season will be fun to watch.
PAC-6
I get emails regularly from PAC-6 fans telling me that their conference doesn’t get the respect it deserves. Sometimes I agree, and if the conference doesn’t get respect this year, there is something seriously wrong.
The PAC-6 will be loaded at the top, and some of the middle-tier teams will also be capable of making some noise.
Southern Durham will be the favorite, returning almost everything from their 2007 Regional Final showing in the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s 4-A playoffs.
Don’t count out Jordan, though. The Falcons have a lot of talent. They’ve got a chance to finish among the top teams in the PAC-6, and should earn a good seed in the playoffs.
Chapel Hill and Hillside will be good as well, and Northern Durham and Person will have new coaches to lead them.
Meet the Spartans
Southern Durham is my pick to win the conference championship in 2008, and depending on where they are placed in the state tournament, they are certainly a state championship caliber team.
In 2007, the Spartans, led by head coach Adrian Jones, went all the way to the 4-A Eastern Regional final before losing to eventual state championship Hoggard. In 2008, Southern returns eight players on offense, eight players on defense, and its skill positions.
The biggest loss for Southern may lie within their kicking game, but that leaves them in a better position than many teams across the state.
Southern will bring back quarterback Allan Lea, who, by the way, will only be a junior in the fall. After passing for almost 1,700 yards last season, Lea will have plenty of targets to throw to, including senior wide receivers Nick Jones and Reese Wiggins.
And who can forget ACC target Tony Creecy?
Creecy, a wide receiver, has played varsity football at Southern since he was a freshman, and he will only be a junior in 2008. Last season, Creecy was named to the PAC-6 All-Conference team after catching 46 passes for over 600 yards.
Southern will have the running game to compliment their air attack as well. Senior running back Lamont Pettiford ran for about 500 yards in 2007, and he will have the chance to post even more in the fall.
The Falcons Look to Soar (and Speed) Over Competition
Jordan will be similar to Southern Durham as the Falcons return most of their talent from last season. The Falcons lost only three starters on offense and four on defense.
Two of the top returners: Jerrell “J.R.” Rhodes and Torrence Hunt are expected to do great things this season.
Rhodes is the all-time leading rusher at Jordan, running for almost 1,200 yards in 2007, averaging almost 100 yards rushing per game. Add on his 250 receiving yards, and it is easy to see why Jordan is glad to have him back for another season. Rhodes was also responsible for 19 touchdowns last season.
Another Jordan player getting attention is Hunt, also known as “The Combine Phenom.” Hunt consistently runs 4.3 forty-yard dashes, and the Falcon defense is better whenever he is on the field. The lightning fast defensive back recorded 71 tackles in 2007, along with five interceptions and 14 pass deflections.
Last season, the offensive line was the soft spot for the Falcons. The line hampered their abilities offensively at times, and as a result, Jordan lost some close games. The line should be better in 2008, and that will be the key.
If what you see is what you get with Jordan, the Falcons can compete for the conference title, and they could go deep in the playoffs.
Some New Faces; Some Questions
Does Person have the right person?
Rocket fans sure hope so.
Stability is what the Person program needs, and if they can maintain stability, watch out!
I’m not buying into Person just yet because I believe coaches need at least one transition year, but they may surprise me.
The Rockets are young, with a new coach, and they will have a lot to build on in coming seasons. But Person fans aren’t about to give up on the 2008 season yet. After all, the 2007 JV team was undefeated.
Person returns some key players as well, including quarterback Tony Winstead and running back Ed Alston.
Northern Durham also has a new face on the sidelines.
Former Millbrook assistant coach Anthony Sullivan took over the top spot at Northern after the school and Paul Rodio parted ways.
Sullivan knows how to win, which is obvious coming from the program that gave New Bern its toughest fight in the playoffs last season. He is taking over a program that only won three games last season, though.
Chapel Hill is supposed to be good this fall, but what happens to Jared McAdoo?
McAdoo was arrested on drug charges at a Project Graduation event after he allegedly had prescription painkillers on him.
McAdoo’s future is a big part of how the Tigers will fare.
The NCHSAA rules about student athletes and crime is specific to the type of crime, so we won’t speculate.
Food for Thought
During the last two seasons, the PAC-6 has sent one team to the 2-A State Championship game (Riverside vs. Independence 2006) and another to the 4-A Eastern Regional Final (Southern Durham vs. Hoggard, 2007)
CAP-7: GREAT EXPECTATIONS
The Cap-7 Conference was the toughest conference in the Triangle last season, sending Millbrook to the third round, and Leesville Road to the Eastern Regional Final, both losing to eventual state champion New Bern.
This year, the early favorites are the same three from the 2007 season.
Coach Earl Smith will be leading Wake Forest-Rolesville to what he hopes is another conference title and undefeated regular season, but Coach, Clarence Inscore, will be doing the same with his Millbrook squad.
To make this rivalry interesting, Inscore played under Smith when he coached at Millbrook.
Leesville Road head football coach David Green enjoyed an extremely successful season last year with two Shrine Bowl performers, quarterback Thomas Wilson and wide receiver Taylor Gentry. Both players graduated, leaving the Pride with some holes to fill. These holes extend to the defensive secondary as well. Can they rebuild quickly enough contend for the conference title again?
Wake Forest-Rolesville: A State Championship Contender?
Wake Forest-Rolesville is one of the most fun places to go to watch a high school football game, and there will probably be a lot of celebration in northern Wake County this year.
The Cougars will return senior Tim Hartman at quarterback. Hartman started last season for an undefeated Cougar squad in the regular season. Standing at 5’11, he can use that experience to lead his team deeper into the playoffs in 2008.
One of Hartman’s favorite targets will be senior wide receiver Torrey White. White is small, coming in at 5’8 and 140 pounds, but he is quick, running a 4.7 forty.
White and other wide receivers could be a key to the team this fall because of rumors flying that Coach Smith may go to a spread offense instead of his traditional Wing-T offense. We’ll find out soon if the rumors are true and what changes, if any, Coach Smith will make.
If the spread works like it is supposed to, it would help open things up, allowing Hartman to show his arm. And remember, a team that scores a lot and allows just a little will go far.
Wake Forest-Rolesville’s offensive staple last season was its running game. Some keys to that offense graduated, including running back Bob Kosanke. However, running back issues might not really be issues this fall.
Last season, the Cougars took pride in their defense, holding their opponents to less than nine points each time out. Smith’s defense pitched three shutouts, and allowed more than 14 points just two times.
Smith said his team has a “great nucleus” returning on defense. That nucleus will include last season’s Cap 7 Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Hartsfield.
Hartsfield, a linebacker, will be a junior in the fall, and he is a definite college prospect.
Coming in at 6’3 and 200 pounds, Hartsfield runs a 4.5 forty and he will be one of the keys to what needs to be a strong defense again this year.
The Cougars have a few players to replace. Defensive end, two linebacker positions, a safety and a corner all appear to be open positions this summer. On offense, Smith will have to replace a tight end and a tackle.
With 15 of 22 starters returning from an undefeated season though, the Cougars are the early favorite to win the conference.
But what about the state championship?
Those Unpredictable Wildcats
If you had asked me last August if Millbrook could contend for the Cap-7 title and go to the third round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4-A State Playoffs, I would have said no. Not after personally watching a close halftime score turn into a 28-6 loss in the season opener to Garner, then seeing a 3-0 win over Knightdale.
Shows how much I know.
The Wildcats’ biggest problem early last season was the offensive line. Coach Inscore made sure that problem was fixed.
After the first two games of the season, Millbrook got on a roll and rode it all the way to a last-second defeat in New Bern.
This year, Millbrook’s offense should be firing on all cylinders.
Quarterback Brian Kass is back; running back Kuwon Eldridge will be ready to hit the ground running, and if the offense at the end of last season is any gauge of what things will be like this fall, watch out.
Millbrook’s biggest unknown will be its defense. Millbrook will face a lot of good defensive squads both in and out of the conference, and if they don’t develop a good defense, their season could end early.
How Much Pride will Leesville Have?
Leesville Road enjoyed one heck of a ride last year.
After falling on their home field to Wake Forest-Rolesville during the last week of the season, losing the conference title, and losing the chance to go into the playoffs undefeated, the Pride rebounded, beating Wake Forest-Rolesville on their turf, knocking off South View in Hope Mills, and eventually making it to the Eastern Regional Finals.
Can they do it again?
They’ve got some work cut out for them, and the first piece of business – quarterback.
At the end of last season we knew Thomas Wilson wasn’t coming back, and it seemed to be a safe assumption that Logan Bible would be the quarterback in 2008.
Not so fast.
According to Coach Green, Bible has some serious competition at the quarterback position. Cardinal Gibbons quarterback Jake Groeschen decided to head to the public school ranks, and living in the Leesville Road district, he joined the Pride.
Groeschen, a senior, moved to Raleigh from Ohio in summer ’07, and he has some serious experience.
Last season, with the Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders, Groeschen completed 80 of 168 passes for almost 900 yards.
Groeschen isn’t the only other quarterback in the mix with Bible. Like Bible, Josh Stanley is a sophomore, and he will be able to compete for minutes in the fall too.
Leesville also faces issues with is its defense. The Pride’s defense in 2007 was very good.
Coach Green has pointed out that his team only allowed 10 points each time out last fall.
“I thought our defense was pretty good last year,” Green said.
But he admitted that there are some question marks on that side of the ball for the fall.
The secondary is where the Pride needs to replace the most talent. The line should be intact with some excellent experience from last season, although size is still going to be an issue.
Leesville will return key defensive players Zach Greene and Mark Walker. Greene, a high Division-1 college prospect, recorded 58 tackles and three interceptions playing both sides of the ball. Walker has been the leading tackler for two consecutive years.
In 2007, Walker had 126 tackles as a linebacker, and one interception.
How Tough will this Conference Be?
When Coach Green spoke to WRAL, he said that nearly every team in the conference will be better in 2008.
That ‘s a scary thought.
The Enloe Eagles could be flying under the radar. They are young, but they are fast, athletic, and very good.
Enloe will return senior quarterback Matt Jurek who threw for 800 yards last season, and the Eagles’ running game could be one of the best in the Cap-7.
Senior Aziel Faison rushed for almost 1,000 yards in less than eight games, and juniors Josh Senegal and David Highsmith were 1,500-yard rushers on a 9-1 Enloe junior varsity team.
The running game could be limited by a young and small offensive line. The trenches could show the biggest need of improvement for head coach Ronald Clark and company.
So who else?
I’ve been told on one occasion or another that every single team could be dangerous, including Broughton, Sanderson, and Wakefield.
Just remember what Coach Green said. It’s possible that six of the seven teams are going to be better than they were in 2007.
Scary.
Food for Thought
Leesville Road head football coach David Green believes Wake Forest – Rolesville has the make-up of a state championship team. The last Wake County team to win a state championship was Garner in 1987.
The Tri-8: Apex Should Take It
The Tri-Eight Conference seemed to be in Athens Drive's control last year until a late-season hiccup against Middle Creek. The conference ended up in a three-way tie between the Jaguars, the Mustangs, and Fuquay-Varina.
This year, I don't think there will be a dominant team, but my favorite to win it is Apex.
Apex returns their starting quarterback Houston Hawley, a player with three years of varsity experience. Last year, Hawley went 162 of 331 passing for 1,742 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Cougars had a 6-6 season in 2007, and that was with an injured Kevin Fogg.
Fogg, a senior, will likely prove to be one of the top five running backs in the Triangle. He should have a big year in 2008, especially in conference play because the Tri-Eight will not have the best defensive teams in the area.
This year's Apex team will probably be on the most athletic teams Coach Bob Wolfe has had some time. Wolfe, known for his running game, is expected to run a spread offense in the fall, which will help open things up. How Fogg performs in the open field in a spread offense will depend on how well the receivers play with Hawley.
All-Conference tight end Rob Fronk will return in the fall, as will wide receiver Brandon Carr, and one of those players will probably lead the Cougars in receptions.
The Cougars will have to replace several offensive linemen and defensive backs, but center Will Soares, a starter in 2007, will be back in the fall.
The Not So Usual Role Players
It has been several years since the Green Hope Falcons have had an impact in the Tri-Eight standings, but this year they could leave a mark.
The conference will be somewhat watered down this year, and if the Falcons could pull off an upset or two, they could drastically change the layout of the conference standings.
The Falcons' biggest problem over the last few years has been the inconsistencies at quarterback and wide receiver. After an impressive group of seniors led the Falcons to the Eastern Regional Final in 2004, the Falcons have not had a consistent offense.
This year, Coach Steve Katz will have two options at quarterback: senior Marcus Varsano, a team captain, or sophomore Kameron Bryant.
Katz brought Bryant up from junior varsity in his freshman year after Varsano suffered an injury. Bryant started four games and played in six.
You will also see a good bunch of wide receivers, led by last year's leading receiver Matt Burke.
Bryce Palmer will also return as a capable wide receiver, as will Aaron Womack. The Falcons also have the tight end position covered with Jake Trimble, a 6-foot-3 senior.
You'll see a much improved Green Hope team this year, capable of winning a conference games.
Green Hope almost pulled off upsets over Apex and Athens Drive late last season, and they will be even stronger and more experienced this season.
While the Falcons are faster this season than last, their biggest weakness will be their overall team speed, even though they are faster this season than last, according to Katz.
Last Year's Top Team will See Changes
While Athens Drive was the best team in the Tri-Eight Conference last season, this year, coach Jeff Smouse may have some work to do. What will the Jaguars do without quarterback Nick DeMuro and wide receiver T.J.
Kornegay?
They will replace them.
DeMuro has been one of the top quarterbacks in the Triangle for the past two years, putting up impressive numbers, but Ross Snotherly will have to fill his shoes in 2008.
Snotherly, now a senior, was behind DeMuro in 2007 and didn't see much playing time. As a sophomore, Snotherly threw 54 touchdown passes on the junior varsity team, which shows he had receivers who could catch the ball.
Three starting wide receivers return for the Jags this season, including four-year varsity starter Phillip Barren. The 5-foot-9, lightning-fast wide receiver runs a 4.33 on the forty yard dash, and last season he caught 71 passes for 1,172 yards and 12 touchdowns. Barren has been named to the All-Conference team every year he has been at Athens Drive.
The Jags also return seven players on defense, and improved during the course of the season. They should have a better defense this season, and with experience returning, I think they'll have the best defense in the Tri-Eight this year.
Others?
Watch out for Middle Creek. The Mustangs will have a big hole to fill at quarterback, and they're also going to lose other skill positions, but they showed promise last year, tying for the conference title.
Over the last few years, the big men along the line have gotten faster, stronger, and overall better. That will be a key for whoever the Mustangs put under center and whoever runs the ball.
Fuquay-Varina could be dangerous again this season, although they lost almost their entire defense and their head coach.
Ryan Habich will replace coach David Riggs, and it is unlikely we will see many changes at Fuquay, at least as far as schemes go.
The Bengals have a solid foundation on the offensive side of the ball. Fuquay returns nine starters on offense, and that will be the strong part of their game.
I'm interested to see Cary and Lee County. I've been told Cary is having a hard time getting players to come out.
Last season they were competitive with the top team in the area - Leesville Road. I think the Imps will probably use their non-conference schedule this season to prepare themselves for a dog fight in the Tri-Eight.
The Tri-Eight will be pretty evenly matched this season.
Greater Neuse will go to Garner... Again
Doesn't it always seem like Garner wins the conference championship?
Seriously.
Off of the top of my head I can't recall Garner being anywhere below first place since my freshman year in high school!
So, who do you think I'm picking to win the Greater Neuse Conference in the fall?
Absolutely. Garner.
The Trojans will be good, but they will be young, and they will have competition for the top spot this season from neighbors not too far away.
The Southeast Raleigh Bulldogs suffered a late season loss to West Johnston in 2007 which knocked them out of the No. 2 slot. The Bulldogs will look to return to the top in 2008, with some Johnston County schools in the mix too.
Garner at the Top Again
This is one young Garner team, and they will probably be the youngest team of 4-A conferences to win the conference championship in 2008.
The Trojans will get an early test this season to find out just how good they can be when the Millbrook Wildcats come to Garner to take on the Trojans.
The Trojans will be an offensive power house, with quarterback B.G. Howell hooking up with wide receiver Josh Brooks.
Last season, Brooks, then just a sophomore, received for more than 800 yards, scoring 11 touchdowns. His performance was enough to gain him All-Conference honors in the Greater Neuse River Conference.
Lightning fast wide receiver Ian Hunter will also be back. Hunter didn't put up the impressive stats that Brooks had last season, but with the agility and cutting ability that he has, Hunter should see more action this season.
The Trojans will also have a good running game to compliment the passing attack. Running back Jeremy Conyers is fast, but is he getting faster? Conyers posted a 4.4 forty time at the Shrine Bowl Combine this spring, and added to his strength and ability to shake tackles, Conyers faces what should be a good season.
Running back Jeremiah Davis will return, looking to improve on his 450-yard rushing season last year. With the departure of Darrice Payton, Davis should get more opportunities to carry the ball.
Their defense is fast too, but inexperienced. Only three starters are returning.
The defense will be led by senior linebacker Connor McLaurin who recorded 70 tackles last season and defensive lineman Chaz Damon who recorded more than 80 tackles last season.
McLaurin was named to the Greater Neuse River All-Conference Team.
Southeast Looks to Steal Title
Southeast Raleigh will have a chance to take top honors in the Greater Neuse River Conference this season, and they'll try to do it with defense.
The defensive line will be one of the best in the area, returning three of four starters, but their secondary will have to work. Juniors Kendall Moore and Chisom Anen will be key linebackers.
Six starters return on the defensive side of the ball, and for the secondary, it will be important to get depth and game experience quickly.
Offensively, Southeast Raleigh should be set.
The Bulldogs return starting quarterback Gabe Henderson, a quick quarterback capable of throwing bombs. Last season, Henderson threw for more than 1,000 yards, and I expect him to do the same in 2008.
Something to watch for offensively: The line will have to replace three starters, and that means Henderson may have added pressure. The 6-foot-1 quarterback is quick in the pocket, but if the line can't protect him, he may have a hard time, especially with the larger, more experienced lines.
Food for thought
Garner returns just three offensive starters and three defensive starters. Considering their youth, this could be the season for someone else to knock them off.
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