Independence Schedule

[Straight Scope]

I may have missed an earlier thread, or post, on this when reading about difficult 2025 schedules, so I hope this is not a duplication.

For some reason I took a look at the Independence schedule, and I was shocked. It's as difficult as any I have seen. According to MaxPreps they play:

(H) Weddington
(A) Gaffney
(H) Hough
(H) Lake Norman
(A) Palisades
(A) West Charlotte
(H) Chambers
(H) Mallard Creek
(A) North Meck
(A) Butler

That's a serious schedule. They may be the underdog every game.

 

[beamer24]

I would think they'd be favored in a few of them games.

 

[Straight Scope]

I would think they'd be favored in a few of them games.

You're probably right. I guess I exagerated a little, but not much.

 

[Vik-Val 86]

That’s about as brutal schedule as I seen. Not many has one this tough.

 

[Chopper747]

3 games off if they're lucky...IF

 

[Straight Scope]

One huge problem they will have is replacing their 3 year starting QB. A long time ago it was always next man up, and it worked extremely well for several years. I guess everyone knows their present coach, McFadden, was one of those QB's in the middle of the string. I have no idea if they have an outstanding understudy, or possibly a transfer, ready to take over.

 

[beamer24]

Think they got a transfer

 

[Vik-Val 86]

I could see Independence beating North Meck. Palisades may not be a give me. Their open season they went 2-9, then 3-7 and last year they went 8-4. They have shown lot of improvement over time. Not sure what they bring back this year. Lake Norman could be a game they could win against. But Indy may be challenged with the good QB LN has. Possibly beat Chambers. The rest would either be close one or just simply getting beat. With a schedule like this Independence would be toughen up or beat up by the end of the season. lol. But I like the stout schedule.

 

[nepsy7]

One huge problem they will have is replacing their 3 year starting QB. A long time ago it was always next man up, and it worked extremely well for several years. I guess everyone knows their present coach, McFadden, was one of those QB's in the middle of the string. I have no idea if they have an outstanding understudy, or possibly a transfer, ready to take over.

They won't miss a beat. They replaced him with Jared Street, who has offers from Wake Forest, Elon, Coastal Carolina, App State, Mercer, etc., etc., etc. I think they upgraded.

 

[Straight Scope]

They won't miss a beat. They replaced him with Jared Street, who has offers from Wake Forest, Elon, Coastal Carolina, App State, Mercer, etc., etc., etc. I think they upgraded.

I found some video evidence to back you up, but I can't create a link. The address is not hard to input.

hudl.com/profile/18072106/jared-street

 

[InfoMan25]

They won't miss a beat. They replaced him with Jared Street, who has offers from Wake Forest, Elon, Coastal Carolina, App State, Mercer, etc., etc., etc. I think they upgraded.

Nepsy is correct. They shouldn't have many issues on offense.

 

[bigdadd11103]

They won't miss a beat. They replaced him with Jared Street, who has offers from Wake Forest, Elon, Coastal Carolina, App State, Mercer, etc., etc., etc. I think they upgraded.

100%. To me they got more athletic at QB with Street. With Coach McFadden at Indy QB will never be an issue. To me Indy has the best running back in the state. Indy will be a problem in 2026.

 

[Vik-Val 86]

Last year Indy went 10-2. They may well have a better team for this season. This is one team I want to follow. Going to be some fun games to watch.

 

[nepsy7]

Last year Indy went 10-2. They may well have a better team for this season. This is one team I want to follow. Going to be some fun games to watch.

Last year, as the competition got stiffer. They lost in the trenches. Couldn’t stop the run.

 

[bigdadd11103]

Last year Indy went 10-2. They may well have a better team for this season. This is one team I want to follow. Going to be some fun games to watch.

That power conference is gonna have some very good and fun games this fall. Cant see any team going undefeated. ACant wait for conference predictions for that one.

 

[bigdadd11103]

Last year, as the competition got stiffer. They lost in the trenches. Couldn’t stop the run.

They like all Charlotte teams had Houghitis. If Hough doesn't get a ship in the next 2-3 years they may never win. They have simply been loaded and coached very very well. That Indy Hough playoff games was an absolute mauling. As Nepsy said the line play was bad late in season.

 

[Longship233]

This schedule is like trying to outrun a cornfield in a Twisted Tea chugging contest! Independence better channel their inner Carolina toughness this season. Swapping out a 3-year starting QB is like trading in your trusty pickup for a shiny new tractor – super risky but might just get you more hay!

 

[Straight Scope]

100%. To me they got more athletic at QB with Street. With Coach McFadden at Indy QB will never be an issue. To me Indy has the best running back in the state. Indy will be a problem in 2026.

My concern was loosing their QB would allow the defense to concentrate too much on the running back. I knew nothing about Street, but it looks like he will take care of that problem and keep the offense balanced, and make the defense play the whole field.

One other thing. According to MaxPreps, Independence has 14 coaches. I don't believe they have had more than about half that many in the past. Most are volunteers, of course, and many appear to be ex players from the McFadden playing days.

 

[NCFB73]

.

 

[nepsy7]

My concern was loosing their QB would allow the defense to concentrate too much on the running back. I knew nothing about Street, but it looks like he will take care of that problem and keep the offense balanced, and make the defense play the whole field.

One other thing. According to MaxPreps, Independence has 14 coaches. I don't believe they have had more than about half that many in the past. Most are volunteers, of course, and many appear to be ex players from the McFadden playing days.

Some of those coaches listed are currently with other programs.

 

[Straight Scope]

Some of those coaches listed are currently with other programs.

I guess by now I should know that MaxPreps tries to do the impossible. So far as I know, they allow schools to post their own information, so some of it is bound to be out of date, or maybe never was true.