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It’s August...Time For High School Football

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Kevin Carver
The wait for the official season of high school sports and football in general is over.

Chase, R-S Central, Thomas Jefferson and East Rutherford have all returned to the practice field as a new season begins on the gridiron.

At Chase, there is a bit of a buzz since 10 starters on offense and nine on defense come back for the Trojans. Chase, who went just 2-9 overall and 1-6 in conference play a season ago had 40 kids show up for varsity and 30 on junior varsity. Chase football coach Daniel Bailey concurred that excitement in Harris.

“We didn’t have a typical first day of practice, it felt more like the fifth or sixth week already,” Bailey said. “We are ahead of schedule and hopefully the summer workouts will pay off this season.”

Senior Chase defensive lineman, Carlos Watkins is among one of the most highly touted recruits in the state.

Over in Rutherfordton, R-S Central continues a battle it seemed to fight all last season--youth.

Three offensive lineman return from a year ago with power backs Dustin Atchley and Cameron Greene among those that are back. Central has just 34 players on each of its JV and varsity clubs.

“We have a bunch of young kids this season and we will go out an compete every Friday night,” R-S Central coach Mike Cheek said. “Our big thing is to stay healthy since we lack a little size and depth this year.”

In Avondale, Thomas Jefferson had the most to turn out for a first day of varsity football practice in school history--35 kids in all. Maybe it’s due to the fact that Jim Sosebee has taken over the 1A football program. Sosebee takes over for the program’s gridiron founder in Tony Helton. Sosebee is all to familiar to the game of football, coaching the same thing in his native state, South Carolina during the course of his career.

“The kids, coaches and parents are all excited about this season,” Sosebee said. “Everybody has been very positive and welcoming since the first day I was named coach.”

Sophomore sensation at wide out, Travis Waldroup Rodriguez is back for the Gryphons. Mason Martin seems to be the early favorite to replace TJCA graduate, Will Beam at quarterback.

As for the county champs and the only county football team to make the postseason last year, East Rutherford counted 38 varsity players for it’s first day of practice.

In talking with coach Clint Bland, it looks as though the Cavaliers might throw a little more on offense this season with Maddox Stamey back at quarterback. Let’s be clear, the Cavs won’t abandon the run with Justin Barksdale in the backfield. Barksdale’s rushing was one of the keys for the Cavs in a upset over Starmount in the playoffs a season ago.

“So far, it has been a good, hard-working group and that is all I can ask for at the moment,” Bland said.

As for last year’s leading county rusher and East Rutherford grad, Adrian Wilkins--he will be a North Carolina Central Eagle. Wilkins, who lit up team defenses last season for 1,400-plus yards as an explosive playmaker gets a chance to show his skills on the football field once again.

Wilkins blew out an ACL last season while playing against Burns, but is back to full strength and ready to go this football season in college.

And while high school basketball is still 3-4 months away, East Rutherford Coach Brad Levine will be the coach of the West team in the 2012 North Carolina High School East-West All-Star basketball game. Levine, who guided the Cavaliers to the 2011 2A basketball title got the phone call a couple of days ago. The event takes place during July in Greensboro.



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