Thomasville has been competing in a 10 team 2A league with 45 kids that has produced three finals appearances and a state Champion the last four years. The Dogs lost some close games to those teams going 8-4, 8-4, 3-3 the last three seasons. The Dogs were conference Champs in 2015 beating N Rowan and Salisbury to win the league title at the 2A level. They have an excellent coaching staff and a better group of athletes than the 2015 team with more size up front. If they can play N Davidson, Ledford, Salisbury, and Oak Grove tight (beating a few of those schools along the way) then 1A will be good to them.
ER has been a really good team in 2A as well and went pretty deep this year and have a few major recruits coming back so they will be very strong as well on 1A. Athletically they will give some teams a very hard time and are well coached. Heritage is a strong program coming down and will be hard to beat as well. With the lines supposedly drawn I see the West being the strongest side, but Tarboro will remain the team to beat overall (IMO). Add in the traditionally strong 1A teams and it will be fun to watch come playoff time.