Four County 2A/1A 2016

[Darkhorse#34]

One month closer wonder what everyone is thinking about for the upcoming season......will the big 3 Wallace,East Bladen, and Clinton continue to dominate the conference??? Union,Pender,Trask which team is more likely to climb out of the basement???......Anything y'all wanna talk about lets get something started

 

[Darkhorse#34]

For Clinton:

Only lost 10 seniors 5 of which were starters or had significant playing time

Offense returns 8 starters
Players to watch on offense:
RB Ryheem Skinner Sr
RB Tyion Wright Sr
QB Kris Williams Jr
WR Jeremiah Pope Sr
OL Frank Nelson Sr
C Gage Jackson Jr
Promising newcomer- sophmore FB Jaylen Smith only made a few appearances on offense last season as a freshmen, mainly played defense during the playoff run last season kid is a bowling ball type runner like a Mike Tolbert he has the genes to be great his father Ralph Smith starred for Clinton in the mid 90's with Rayquan Faison gone he will be the man pounding it up the middle with Skinner and Wright working the edges defenses will have their hands full

Defense returns 7 starters
Top returners
DE Prentice Murphy Sr
LB/NT AJ Williamson Jr
DB Tyion Wright Sr
LB Isaiah Page Sr
DT Devonte Smith Sr
DT Frank Nelson Sr

Promising Newcomer sophmore LB Shameek Darby....watch him in a couple JV games last year very quick to the ball good tackler good motor not sure if he will play LB on varsity but just my guess think this young man could be a really good player for us...
Another promising newcomer on defense: Junior DB Khari Williams with a crowded and experienced backfield I think Lewis will use him mainly on defense very good athlete started RB/DB on JV past year could help fill a hole in our secondary left by the departures of Albert Deaver and Jaylen Best

Special Teams will be solid return our kicker/Punter junior Chandler Perry and also have Junior Hampton Brock who can punt as well.....Tyion Wright and Jeremiah Pope handle return duties

 

[Darkhorse04]

For Clinton:

Only lost 10 seniors 5 of which were starters or had significant playing time

Offense returns 8 starters
Players to watch on offense:
RB Ryheem Skinner Sr
RB Tyion Wright Sr
QB Kris Williams Jr
WR Jeremiah Pope Sr
OL Frank Nelson Sr
C Gage Jackson Jr
Promising newcomer- sophmore FB Jaylen Smith only made a few appearances on offense last season as a freshmen, mainly played defense during the playoff run last season kid is a bowling ball type runner like a Mike Tolbert he has the genes to be great his father Ralph Smith starred for Clinton in the mid 90's with Rayquan Faison gone he will be the man pounding it up the middle with Skinner and Wright working the edges defenses will have their hands full

Defense returns 7 starters
Top returners
DE Prentice Murphy Sr
LB/NT AJ Williamson Jr
DB Tyion Wright Sr
LB Isaiah Page Sr
DT Devonte Smith Sr
DT Frank Nelson Sr

Promising Newcomer sophmore LB Shameek Darby....watch him in a couple JV games last year very quick to the ball good tackler good motor not sure if he will play LB on varsity but just my guess think this young man could be a really good player for us...
Another promising newcomer on defense: Junior DB Khari Williams with a crowded and experienced backfield I think Lewis will use him mainly on defense very good athlete started RB/DB on JV past year could help fill a hole in our secondary left by the departures of Albert Deaver and Jaylen Best

Special Teams will be solid return our kicker/Punter junior Chandler Perry and also have Junior Hampton Brock who can punt as well.....Tyion Wright and Jeremiah Pope handle return duties

You forgot Dre Oates (RB), didn't play much towards the end of the year but was Rayquans primary Backup for first half of the season. Oh and I think Pope is on the fence whether to play or not. Basketball is his first love and lining up to block 90% of the time isn't all that exciting for him, but who knows, I hope he plays, because when we do pass it, no DB's we encounter can match up with his size and athleticism.

 

[Darkhorse#34]

Man I hope Pope plays he is a big asset in the secondary as well.......didn't really forget about Oates I'll talk more about that when I predict the depth chart later on this summer

 

[FOOTBALLFANTIC]

I see we have Northside at home, followed by Hoggard at home. A tough two weeks right out the gate.

 

[Darkhorse#34]

I see we have Northside at home, followed by Hoggard at home. A tough two weeks right out the gate.

Where did you see the schedule???.....so did we drop the Smithfield-selma game and add North side Jax??? Or did we swap SWO for Northside Jax???

 

[FOOTBALLFANTIC]

Where did you see the schedule???.....so did we drop the Smithfield-selma game and add North side Jax??? Or did we swap SWO for Northside Jax???

I saw it on Maxpreps....Northside 9/9 and Hoggard 9/16, only those two games though.

 

[Darkhorse#34]

Ok I like they added Northside Jax....last year playing against a down SWO team and a very weak Smithfield-Selma team hurt us going into the Hoggard game.

 

[FOOTBALLFANTIC]

Ok I like they added Northside Jax....last year playing against a down SWO team and a very weak Smithfield-Selma team hurt us going into the Hoggard game.

I agree. I think they should try to schedule at least one or two 4A teams every year, if possible. I know some 4A schools are a bit apprehensive about scheduling to play smaller schools, but Clinton is anything but an ordinary 2A school. They can constantly compete and defeat larger schools.

 

[Darkhorse#34]

The big boys in Cumberland county still won't schedule us......been waiting years for a Clinton vs Jack Brit,South View,71st,Cape Fear etc game.....atleast the Wilmington 4A schools give us a chance

 

[FOOTBALLFANTIC]

The big boys in Cumberland county still won't schedule us......been waiting years for a Clinton vs Jack Brit,South View,71st,Cape Fear etc game.....atleast the Wilmington 4A schools give us a chance

Yes, we have a long history of playing Wilmington area schools. Cape Fear is the only Cumberland County team to play us in the past as I recall. Gray's Creek was in our conference until they moved up to 3A. Having lived up in the Triangle for the past 20-plus years, I would love the boys to play some of the Wake County teams as well.

 

[Darkhorse#34]

True true.....so I'm guessing our non games this upcoming year are SWO,Northside, and Hoggard....all those games should be home games aswell.....wished we would pick up a endowment game....hate waiting that extra week while everyone else is playing

 

[Darkhorse#34]

Clinton's Tyion Wright and Dre Oates attended the Blue Grey Combine last month both did well Tyion did so well he received a invite to the upcoming Redzone Prospects camp......still have not heard anything about Skinner's recruitment

 

[FOOTBALLFANTIC]

Clinton's Tyion Wright and Dre Oates attended the Blue Grey Combine last month both did well Tyion did so well he received a invite to the upcoming Redzone Prospects camp......still have not heard anything about Skinner's recruitment

One would assume that would be the non-conference schedule, unless something changes. As for the endowment game, we all know Coach Lewis never believed in those games, however I do agree with you in wishing that they would play an extra game. As for Mr. Skinner, how are his grades? Has he taken the SAT/ACT? I am also surprised that he hasn't been recruited more.

 

[Darkhorse#34]

Not sure about his test scores or grades but from what I see and hear about him does not seem like the type to slack off in the classroom.........this is my rant on recruiting....it sucks that a lot of small town small school talent gets overlooked just because....I scratch my head and wonder why some RB from a 4A school in Charlotte who rushed for maybe just over 1,000 yards and a handful of TDs can get all the attention in the world but a kid like Skinner putting up big numbers at a small school can be so undervalued.... People are quick to bring up the whole going against 4A competition BS but never mentioned that hey that kid is also running behind a 4A sized OL with maybe one or two D1 OL in more diverse offenses that run and pass so the defenses can't key on what your doing.....Skinner put up huge numbers running behind a inexperienced line where he actually weighed more than his center and guard in a offense where the defense knows what your about to do RUN RUN RUN and Ryheem still put up amazing numbers........its sad and its fraustrating....every once in awhile recruiters/scouts actually pay attention to the talent on the field and not the size of the school or level of competition for example(Johnny Fraiser,Todd Gurley,Johnny Glaspie)..........I wish I can go back and look at some of the top rated RBs from the same year Nick Cooper was a senior and compare their College stats to Cooper's.........Scouts,Coaches,recruiters need to wake up plenty of talent here in rural NC east of I-95

 

[Darkhorse04]

The Northside Game is the endowment game. Spoke with Coach Lewis last week and even asked him about the Northside game, knowing he doesn't like endowment games, he agreed he hasn't liked them in the past, but since now you can use a win to help playoff seeding and drop the possible loss if needed, there is actually some benefit from it. In the past it was the NCHSAA just making more money and one more game for your guys to get hurt for a meaningless game. I think NS Jax is 3A now also, could be wrong though.

 

[Darkhorse#34]

The Northside Game is the endowment game. Spoke with Coach Lewis last week and even asked him about the Northside game, knowing he doesn't like endowment games, he agreed he hasn't liked them in the past, but since now you can use a win to help playoff seeding and drop the possible loss if needed, there is actually some benefit from it. In the past it was the NCHSAA just making more money and one more game for your guys to get hurt for a meaningless game. I think NS Jax is 3A now also, could be wrong though.

OK so I'm guessing the non conf schedule will be
Vs Northside Jax
Vs SWO
@Smithfield-Selma
Vs Hoggard

That's not a bad schedule I like it

 

[Darkhorse#34]

Thanks for that info DH04.....yeah that's a head scratcher yeah I can understand he is a NC State fan but sometimes you gotta take what you can get.....can't hold your breath and wait for the Wolfpack to offer........right the best thing he can do is try and get into as many camps and combines as possible

 

[Darkhorse04]

Had to take that post down, had already heard that it was being taken the wrong way, to clarify, I in no was saying anything bad about Ryheem nor his recruitment let that be clear. I don't care where he goes to school, I just want him to get a shot somewhere, I believe he will. I hope this kid goes on to a great school that will give him an opportunity to show them his skills. I wish nothing but the best for him, and I'll do anything I can to help, if that is anything lol. FYI heard he was invited to a skills camp/combine in Charlotte I think this upcoming weekend or soon, hope he turns some heads up there.

 

[Darkhorse#34]

Had to take that post down, had already heard that it was being taken the wrong way, to clarify, I in no was saying anything bad about Ryheem nor his recruitment let that be clear. I don't care where he goes to school, I just want him to get a shot somewhere, I believe he will. I hope this kid goes on to a great school that will give him an opportunity to show them his skills. I wish nothing but the best for him, and I'll do anything I can to help, if that is anything lol. FYI heard he was invited to a skills camp/combine in Charlotte I think this upcoming weekend or soon, hope he turns some heads up there.

Everyone in the Dark Horse family wants the best for our kids I did not take it the wrong way but yes I hope he gets a chance to play on Saturdays no matter where its at I'll be cheering him on......Also let me take this opportunity to thank DH04 you and Ron have done a great job over the years broadcasting Clinton Football adding that mix app this year has been great thank you I know I appreciate it........you guys should be the trivia questions back

 

[Darkhorse04]

DH34 thanks for those kind words. We are constantly trying to think of ways to better the broadcast. We are not perfect, neither Ron or myself played FB at Clinton, but we love football, we love CHS, and we have maybe missed 5-10games between us in the last 10-15yrs. This year we will have the mixlr feed for every game including Jamboree.If there is Anyway we can promote CHS and the great people that coach,work, or play for CHS we try and do that. DH34, come to the booth sometime for a home game, introduce yourself, and lets talk football on the air for a halftime show, open invitation anytime. Just find us, we will be the 2 goofballs in the pressbox, Home or Away. Go Horses.

 

[FOOTBALLFANTIC]

The Northside Game is the endowment game. Spoke with Coach Lewis last week and even asked him about the Northside game, knowing he doesn't like endowment games, he agreed he hasn't liked them in the past, but since now you can use a win to help playoff seeding and drop the possible loss if needed, there is actually some benefit from it. In the past it was the NCHSAA just making more money and one more game for your guys to get hurt for a meaningless game. I think NS Jax is 3A now also, could be wrong though.

Yes, Northside will be 3A when the new realignment starts in 2017.

 

[FOOTBALLFANTIC]

Not sure about his test scores or grades but from what I see and hear about him does not seem like the type to slack off in the classroom.........this is my rant on recruiting....it sucks that a lot of small town small school talent gets overlooked just because....I scratch my head and wonder why some RB from a 4A school in Charlotte who rushed for maybe just over 1,000 yards and a handful of TDs can get all the attention in the world but a kid like Skinner putting up big numbers at a small school can be so undervalued.... People are quick to bring up the whole going against 4A competition BS but never mentioned that hey that kid is also running behind a 4A sized OL with maybe one or two D1 OL in more diverse offenses that run and pass so the defenses can't key on what your doing.....Skinner put up huge numbers running behind a inexperienced line where he actually weighed more than his center and guard in a offense where the defense knows what your about to do RUN RUN RUN and Ryheem still put up amazing numbers........its sad and its fraustrating....every once in awhile recruiters/scouts actually pay attention to the talent on the field and not the size of the school or level of competition for example(Johnny Fraiser,Todd Gurley,Johnny Glaspie)..........I wish I can go back and look at some of the top rated RBs from the same year Nick Cooper was a senior and compare their College stats to Cooper's.........Scouts,Coaches,recruiters need to wake up plenty of talent here in rural NC east of I-95

I have been living in the Triangle area since I left Clinton after high school(1993). Trust me, Ryheem can be a STARTING RB on many of the teams up here! Matter of fact, I showed a couple of videos of him to some guys this past season at one of the high schools up here and they were very impressed with him, regardless of classification. They loved his vision and combination of speed and power. Maybe this year will be his year.

 

[Darkhorse#34]

DH34's wayyy to early projected starters on offense and defense

OFFENSE
QB Kris Williams Jr
RB Ryheem Skinner Sr
RB Tyion Wright Sr
FB Jaylen Smith Soph
OT Joel Jones Sr
OG Zeth Pearson Jr
C Gage Jackson Jr
OG Frank Nelson Sr
OT Taylor Daniel Jr
TE#1 Prentice Murphy Sr
TE#2 Hampton Brock Jr
WR Jeremiah Pope

DEFENSE
DE Prentice Murpy Sr
DT Devonte Smith Sr
DT Frank Nelson Sr
DE Zion Autry Jr
LB Isiah Page Sr
LB Ryheem Skinner Sr
LB /NT A.J. Williamson Jr
CB Tyion Wright Sr
CB Khari Williams Jr
S Jeremiah Pope Sr
S Derek Bryant

Special teams
K/P Hampton Brock Jr
K/P Chandler Perry Jr

Of course this is all speculation but I came pretty close on my predictions last year besides the linemen......just hope all the guys are handling business off the field(School Work) and hitting the weights..... Looking forward to the upcoming season

 

[Darkhorse#34]

DH34 thanks for those kind words. We are constantly trying to think of ways to better the broadcast. We are not perfect, neither Ron or myself played FB at Clinton, but we love football, we love CHS, and we have maybe missed 5-10games between us in the last 10-15yrs. This year we will have the mixlr feed for every game including Jamboree.If there is Anyway we can promote CHS and the great people that coach,work, or play for CHS we try and do that. DH34, come to the booth sometime for a home game, introduce yourself, and lets talk football on the air for a halftime show, open invitation anytime. Just find us, we will be the 2 goofballs in the pressbox, Home or Away. Go Horses.

Would love to appreciate it

 

[Darkhorse#34]

May 9th Spring Football camp for Clinton

 

[FOOTBALLFANTIC]

May 9th Spring Football camp for Clinton

Do you know what time?

 

[Darkhorse#34]

Not sure the exact time I'm guessing right after school ends probably around 3 in the afternoon

 

[Darkhorse#34]

I have been living in the Triangle area since I left Clinton after high school(1993). Trust me, Ryheem can be a STARTING RB on many of the teams up here! Matter of fact, I showed a couple of videos of him to some guys this past season at one of the high schools up here and they were very impressed with him, regardless of classification. They loved his vision and combination of speed and power. Maybe this year will be his year.

Saw the results of the Nike combine Ryheem attended in Charlotte he performed well only thing that stuck out was the 40 time we all know watching him play he has great amazing game speed but for some reason scouts love to judge by how fast you run in shorts and a t shirt not a helmet and pads holding a football..... But going to that combine is the exact exposure he needs that was a big time combine "Nike The Opening" I seen it on ESPNU before

 

[Darkhorse#34]

Ryheem looks HUGE!!! Defiantly been in the weight room 5'9 202LBS with his speed he is going for at least 2,500 yards this season

 

[FOOTBALLFANTIC]

Saw the results of the Nike combine Ryheem attended in Charlotte he performed well only thing that stuck out was the 40 time we all know watching him play he has great amazing game speed but for some reason scouts love to judge by how fast you run in shorts and a t shirt not a helmet and pads holding a football..... But going to that combine is the exact exposure he needs that was a big time combine "Nike The Opening" I seen it on ESPNU before

Looking at the results, not a lot of blazing speed among the running backs as a whole. I agree with your statement...Ryheem has better game speed than 40-time. And more importantly, he can sustain that speed over the course of a game. How many of the faster backs get worn down during a game? Also at 202 lbs, he is going to wear down opposing teams. Imagine Skinner and Smith in the backfield, both over 200 lbs. Talk about a battering ram!

 

[Darkhorse#34]

Looking at the results, not a lot of blazing speed among the running backs as a whole. I agree with your statement...Ryheem has better game speed than 40-time. And more importantly, he can sustain that speed over the course of a game. How many of the faster backs get worn down during a game? Also at 202 lbs, he is going to wear down opposing teams. Imagine Skinner and Smith in the backfield, both over 200 lbs. Talk about a battering ram!

And Speedy Tyion Wright working the edges, and still have Dre Oates and Khari Williams with all those O linemen returning should be fun to watch....looking forward to checking out the Spring Practices

 

[Darkhorse04]

Heard the new Final Conference proposal is CLinton, WRH, James Kenan, East Duplin, Goldsboro, Midway, Spring Creek. All 2A teams no 1A/2A split. So if you don't finish 3rd or higher in the conference you won't go to the playoffs. It may be even that you have to finish 2nd or higher.

East Bladen, West Bladen dropped out, going to a 10 team league with S. Columbus and Whiteville I think.

Shame this isn't the conference this upcoming season since we will have Skinner, but boy just coming in 3rd in that conference in Football is gonna be tough.

 

[Darkhorse#34]

Wow that's tough Clinton JK WRH and East Duplin and only 3 get in the playoffs....Hell Goldsboro is not that bad either talk about tough

 

[FOOTBALLFANTIC]

Holy Ground Battle Batman!!! This conference is going to be a slobberknocker to say the least!!

 

[Darkhorse#34]

Are you sure only 3 teams get in the playoffs....I mean with Clinton and ED being 2AA and the other strong teams like WRH JK Goldsboro Midway being 2A I would think there would be more Wildcard births

 

[Darkhorse04]

Are you sure only 3 teams get in the playoffs....I mean with Clinton and ED being 2AA and the other strong teams like WRH JK Goldsboro Midway being 2A I would think there would be more Wildcard births

You may be right because of the 2A and 2AA divisions. But it won't be like a 1A/2A split conference where the best 2 teams in the conference could be 1A schools, but you could finish better than all the other 2A schools and be the #1 2A representative of your conference. Clinton basketball is a prime example of that. Trask (1A) won the conference, WRH (1A) won tie breaker over Clinton, so Clinton was 3rd Overall in the conference but because they were the highest 2A team in the conference they got a high seed and a home game. This won't happen I don't think in an all 2A conference. But lets say 4 teams get in, Midway and Goldsboro aren't that bad, heck Goldsboro BBall team beat Kinston this past year, so they have athletes.

 

[Darkhorse#34]

Either way that's going to be a tough conference....and I assume Clinton will add East Bladen back to its non conference schedule........How many years y'all think Lewis has left in the tank???

 

[FOOTBALLFANTIC]

I would personally add another 4A school to the schedule if possible. Maybe another Wilmington school, as they are never afraid to play Clinton.

 

[Darkhorse#34]

I would personally add another 4A school to the schedule if possible. Maybe another Wilmington school, as they are never afraid to play Clinton.

Keep SWO on the non conf schedule along with EB and like you said Hoggard, Laney,or New Hanover since the big boys in Cumberland county won't play us