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Kevin Carver
While North Buncombe is in a youth movement of sorts, Chase did impress at home by a 20-0 win in the Jamboree. Carlos Watkins came to life early with two tackles in the first three plays on defense and had six tackles overall in the scrimmage. The Trojan defense had good lateral movement as Tajae McMullens and Keith Miller led the pursuit.
On offense, the blocking up front gave Marquis Cash all the room he wanted as he dashed for a touchdown and over 100-yards last Friday.
Chase welcomes West Lincoln to town this Friday. The Rebels will show Wing-T formation, something that should be familiar to Chase since R-S Central and Shelby have done so in the past. The Trojans lost to West, 47-34 last year.
East Rutherford had everything go wrong early in their scrimmage with North Henderson last Friday, but managed a late comeback 17-7 scrimmage win. Five first quarter penalties, two fumbles and hardly any offensive blocking stewed Coach Clint Bland. In the second period, it was a completely differently Cavs squad.
Running back/wide out, T.J. Watkins showed some speed and had a touchdown run last week. Watkins has to get his touches when they host Kings Mountain on Friday. Maddox Stamey, who returns for his senior season at quarterback had a mediocre night with a touchdown pass. In hindsight, it’s all about making good decisions and getting needed protection for Stamey.
Defensively, Marcus Carson and York Clinton held solidly on the left side of the line. The duo will be key on that side of the ball, add pressure coming Ryan Riffle around the edge and it’s three solid seniors that could give the Mountaineers a rough start.
Kings Mountain is young and so far, they haven’t been able to move the ball a lot in scrimmage play, but who knows what to forecast on Friday. Kings Mountain won the last meeting 27-12 in 2008.
Over in Rutherfordton, R-S Central host McDowell, Friday. The visiting Titans ride a 26-game losing streak but puts hopes into bringing up the junior varsity team that went 6-4 a season ago. Shifty junior, Grant Robinson leads the Titans under center.
As for the Hilltoppers themselves, it was the defense of Justin Boykins and Jhari Miller that stood out in Jamboree play (13-0 win over Huss). Boykins may be one of the most underrated linebackers in Western North Carolina landing two big hits in the first series of defense and Miller came away with a good read that turned into an interception at safety.
Although Cameron Green and Dustin Atchley are relied upon, running back, Devante Austin had a touchdown apiece on long jogs in two different scrimmages last week. Central will have to be able to throw the ball by way of Taylor Ledbetter, since McDowell is likely to stack the box again this season. Central won a 38-7 meeting in 2010.
As for Thomas Jefferson football, they will travel to North Wilkes High School. The Gryphons have looked good in 7-on-7 scrimmages so far this summer and the opportunity to win presents itself in game one.
Former McDowell coach Dave Haynie leads North Wilkes again this season, who will sport a 4-4 defense. North Wilkes won just one game a year ago.
Jim Sosebee, who has plenty of experience coaching football in South Carolina seems to have a created a surge of energy as the new Gryphon coach.
There is no doubt that they feel like they can win more games this season and Thomas Jefferson’s Travis Waldroup-Rodrigues is the biggest weapon to lean on at wide receiver.
The Gryphons have more bodies this season than ever before, so defensive rotation will be key in keeping fresh legs on the field. In previous seasons, they had tired out by the fourth quarter.
Sosebee commented in earlier talks that the Gryphons needed to rush the ball better this season if they were to be successful. We will see how they start out in that category on Friday night.
