The same could be said of this 2015 Murphy team. Murphy had a lot of injuries this year and even though the Dogs didn't lose anyone anywhere near as talented as Cox this season, nobody knows what this season would have been like had Posey and Davis been able to play.
Yes, but as you said those injuries do not compare (in terms of importance) to losing a Gaige Cox. With the way he was playing his senior year, Cox was going to be the best RB to suit up at Murphy in a singular season since Jake Smith. Gaige would have eclipsed 2,000 yards easily. IMHO last year's team only loses one game (the one to Franklin) if Cox, Roberts and Kent play the whole season.
Robbinsville fans will disagree with me of course and that's fine, but with the way Murphy was playing with Cox on the field I say they beat the Knights with him in the game. Robbinsville had a great defense last season, not good, great. But it was not any better than Franklin's defense and Cox had 145 yards rushing on just 17 carries against the 2AA western finalist Panthers. The rest of the 'Dogs backs ran for just 68 yards on 17 carries. Robbinsville was able to pretty much shut down Murphy's running game without Cox, McRae was not ready to play against that level of team as freshman and the style of runner McRae and Johnson were meant that they would need room to get yards, Cox was able to generate yards on his own.
As for 2015, even with Posey and Davis I believe Murphy still would have lost to both Robbinsville and Franklin. In my opinion the only game that injuries potentially changed the outcome of was the Swain game. With Posey being by far Murphy's best corner, I don't believe that long pass for a TD to Cody ever happens (it was a blown coverage). And with Stafford blocking the edge on offense and clogging things up on defense, along with Davis' gamebreaking speed at wingback, those 3 would have helped a lot in that game. But with Swain missing key players of their own in Sitton and Miller, you can't really play the injury card.
The only team(s) before 2014 that I can
personally recall being hit that hard or harder by injuries were the '00 and '01 Murphy teams. Murphy was undefeated and rolling along in 2000 before being dealt three season ending knee injuries to key starters all within just a week or two, that among a couple of other injuries to starters. And of course the SMC team with the most overall attrition (injuries, transfers, otherwise) since the turn of the century, and arguably the most talented team the Dogs have had going into a football season since the early to mid '90s: the 2001 Murphy team. '01 would have given Albemarle more of a game than anyone in 1A that season if Kent and Colbert don't get hurt, McKeon doesn't quit and Allen, Hetzel don't transfer. And even with all that, they still somehow managed to make to the 3rd round and have a double digit win season.
