Ledford at Oak Grove

[BlackKnightNut]

ND and Ledford have always had issues with teams that can pass, run the option effectively, and great team speed. OG has inherited that. I don't think it's an insult to analyze an undefeated team and point out the way they can be beat. Teams can always get better, no matter their record through self analysis.

ND and Ledford both had all time teams last year. Ledford had their best ever in my opinion and ND had one of their best. Before the state title game I said Shelby would give North problems because they had better athletes across the field than anyone ND had played. ND got exposed by that athleticism, and Ledford would have been exposed the same way, perhaps worse because of their lack of offense.

OG has a great team, the coaching staff has done a tremendous job getting the program going in only its third year, second on varsity. The fact they are undefeated proves that. They are going to win the conference this year either outright or shared, and I think it will be outright and undefeated.

With that said, they still have deficiencies that can be exposed by particular teams. The CCC is a better conference overall than it used to be, especially the top 5 overall. But there are teams from better conferences overall top to bottom that they will eventually have to go through in the playoffs.

I am pulling for OG to go as far as possible. I don't think they will win state but it is possible they could get there if the 2AA East is as weak as it was last year. Southwest Edgecombe, who ND exposed last year, is supposedly much better this year. Their style of play could give OG problems the same way East Duplins did 2 years ago with ND. And OGs lack of a kicking game is definitely something that cannot be overlooked.

This is all just my opinion and my opinion matters very little in the grand scheme of things. Lord knows I've been wrong before and I will be wrong again. But I'm still going to have fun analyzing and thinking of possible scenarios and matchups while pulling for the CCC to do as well as possible. I just don't like buying into hype too much, no matter what a teams record is.

Sorry for the long post, just had a lot to say lol.

 

[ocdavis31]

Thomasville has only beaten one team with a winning record, and they’re 5-4. Also lost to Montgomery Central, and they’re 3-6.
We’re playing better, and I’d like to think my Dogs have a chance. But OG should be at least a 2 td favorite in this one.

 

[M193_55g]

I don’t think they have a problem with speed. I think may be the opposite. Lackey’s quickness causes everybody problems. Lackey was walked down by OG defenders on 3 long runs. Great game. They have been played Salisbury and Lackey with speed It seems everybody keeps coming up with reasons why OG will lose. Give them their due. 8-0. When you are down 14-7 facing adversity for the first time all season, and you proceed to drive and score the tying touchdown converting two 4 th downs, it is something special. Thomasville is on a roll. They have beaten a ND team that lost their QB and isn’t anywhere near as good without him. I guess they have beaten everybody’s murderer’s row, South Rowan, East Davidson, and West Davidson the last 3 weeks. This may not be as close as everybody thinks. Thomasville has athletes though, and a good coach. Athletes always have a chance.

I think most here are giving OG their due. There are a few who are obviously butthurt over OG looking at a possible undefeated regular season in their first year as a full school, but I think most are tipping their hats to them. What Holcomb, the staff and the players have done is extremely impressive, and you will always have some who try to discredit success.

As far as the playoffs, the position of the east / west split will probably determine how far they go. As Nut and PrepFan have said, going east would give them a chance to go pretty deep, but going west would probably give them a tough matchup as early as round 2.

I'm excited to see what the next few years bring. I think they are a top 20 2A school now. I think with a few more pieces they could step it up even higher the next couple of years, and then it is probably on to 3A at the next re-alignment with the growth of the school.

 

[BlackKnightNut]

Montgomery Central is having growing pains this year as a first year program for various reasons. They did not have the benefit of starting with a JV program with just underclassmen and had to throw a bunch of players together who used to be rivals and are learning a new system.

MC will get much better over the next few years. Montgomery County does not hurt for athletes. And we all know the story on the Browns. Just give it time.

 

[44bones]

I have read most of the post here and have to say I’m disappointed in almost every one of them. Most posters say negative comments about Oak Grove and how they lack here and lack there and the pass game sucks and the kicker is abysmal...last time I checked 2 of the Oak Grove scores last night were passes and most big first downs were off of pass plays and the kicker made ALL PAT’s to actually win this thing! Also, let me point out that OG is 9-0 and have beat the 3 bullies in this conference...how about some props for these boys and wish them well going forward...I believe they’ve earned it...don’t you!? Go OG!!!

 

[44bones]

BlackNightNut...thanks for your comments above...very positive and giving OG their due. Wish I had found you last night to say hello. But it was a little packed on the OG side.

 

[BlackKnightNut]

OG definitely won with the pass when they had to. The OG qb is a pretty good player, he threw two interceptions but I think it was more about Ledford playing great defense than him throwing directly to the opposition. OG defense gave up some big plays but overall they played very well, they just had trouble containing Lackey. Nobody else on Ledfords team was a threat.

I will say the backup QB for Ledford threw some pretty good balls when he came in the game even if it was blatantly obvious who he was going to throw to lol. I believe I read he is a freshman? If so he might be pretty good the next few years; I can't remember the last time Ledford had a very efficient qb in the passing game.

 

[GoNtheDistance]

I don’t think they have a problem with speed. I think may be the opposite. Lackey’s quickness causes everybody problems. Lackey was walked down by OG defenders on 3 long runs. Great game. They have been played Salisbury and Lackey with speed It seems everybody keeps coming up with reasons why OG will lose. Give them their due. 8-0. When you are down 14-7 facing adversity for the first time all season, and you proceed to drive and score the tying touchdown converting two 4 th downs, it is something special. Thomasville is on a roll. They have beaten a ND team that lost their QB and isn’t anywhere near as good without him. I guess they have beaten everybody’s murderer’s row, South Rowan, East Davidson, and West Davidson the last 3 weeks. This may not be as close as everybody thinks. Thomasville has athletes though, and a good coach. Athletes always have a chance.

you actually proved my point. Think about all those bursts where Lackey ran for 30-40-50 yards and for ran down. Against a team with real speed, every one of those are touchdowns. That will happen in the playoffs against the really good teams.

again I think it’s phenomenal that OG is having this much success in varsity year 2. Nobody can take that way. I’m simply evaluating them from the perspective of them being 9-0 vs other good teams I’ve seen with similar records and they would honestly get handled.

 

[BlackKnightNut]

I agree if we're talking about teams in the West and particularly the southwest... However I don't see many teams in the East that are going to give them big problems. Maybe Randleman if they go back up to 2AA this year. Southwest Edgecombe as well. I thought maybe Hertford County but they lost a headscratcher to Currituck last night. Maybe because it was a rivalry? I dunno... What teams do you think will them problems GND?

you actually proved my point. Think about all those bursts where Lackey ran for 30-40-50 yards and for ran down. Against a team with real speed, every one of those are touchdowns. That will happen in the playoffs against the really good teams.

again I think it’s phenomenal that OG is having this much success in varsity year 2. Nobody can take that way. I’m simply evaluating them from the perspective of them being 9-0 vs other good teams I’ve seen with similar records and they would honestly get handled.

 

[BlackKnightNut]

Oh, I forgot one more observation. Ledford, OG and ND fans are all eerily similar. OG students and Ledford students were loud the whole game. The majority of the other people sat on their hands like a bunch of wine and cheesers until the game was in its dire moments, or unless a big play happened.

It was a big crowd but I was a bit disappointed by the overall atmosphere considering how big a game this was. Also Ledford fans whine about the refs and coaching just like ND fans. I noticed this when I went to the Ledford side to see my nephew. OG fans weren't as bad about that, at least the ones I was around.

 

[M193_55g]

I have read most of the post here and have to say I’m disappointed in almost every one of them. Most posters say negative comments about Oak Grove and how they lack here and lack there and the pass game sucks and the kicker is abysmal...last time I checked 2 of the Oak Grove scores last night were passes and most big first downs were off of pass plays and the kicker made ALL PAT’s to actually win this thing! Also, let me point out that OG is 9-0 and have beat the 3 bullies in this conference...how about some props for these boys and wish them well going forward...I believe they’ve earned it...don’t you!? Go OG!!!

Please don't lump me into that. I was one of the very few that picked OG to contend for the CCC before the season started. I will point out weaknesses from time to time, but I won't take glee in it. I'm a big Mark Holcomb fan, and would love to see them win a state championship this year. I don't think it makes me a bad fan to say they don't have all of the pieces for that.

 

[PrepFanNC]

Oh, I forgot one more observation. Ledford, OG and ND fans are all eerily similar. OG students and Ledford students were loud the whole game. The majority of the other people sat on their hands like a bunch of wine and cheesers until the game was in its dire moments, or unless a big play happened.

It was a big crowd but I was a bit disappointed by the overall atmosphere considering how big a game this was. Also Ledford fans whine about the refs and coaching just like ND fans. I noticed this when I went to the Ledford side to see my nephew. OG fans weren't as bad about that, at least the ones I was around.

I thought the Ledford students skunked the
OG student section. I was getting a little tired of all the bleacher coaches on the OG side lamenting the running game. I mean, that game could have gone either way last night. I do like the way the coaches seemed to be keeping it light on the OG side. It would have been very easy to tense up toward the end of that game.

 

[M193_55g]

I thought the Ledford students skunked the
OG student section. I was getting a little tired of all the bleacher coaches on the OG side lamenting the running game. I mean, that game could have gone either way last night. I do like the way the coaches seemed to be keeping it light on the OG side. It would have been very easy to tense up toward the end of that game.

I agree. The poise that the OG staff showed translated to the players. No panic, just execution.

 

[BlackKnightNut]

Only thing I would say about the students is that all student sections chant "you can't do that" and "we can't hear you." I've heard both so many times, can we get a little original?

Ledford did chant "beat OG" which was basic but I guess gave a little variety.

 

[M193_55g]

Only thing I would say about the students is that all student sections chant "you can't do that" and "we can't hear you." I've heard both so many times, can we get a little original?

Ledford did chant "beat OG" which was basic but I guess gave a little variety.

How about 'I believe......We can win!'. It was really good the first time I heard it. LOL.
Really no big deal though. It's good to see kids at a ball game and not getting into trouble somewhere.

 

[PrepFanNC]

Please don't lump me into that. I was one of the very few that picked OG to contend for the CCC before the season started. I will point out weaknesses from time to time, but I won't take glee in it. I'm a big Mark Holcomb fan, and would love to see them win a state championship this year. I don't think it makes me a bad fan to say they don't have all of the pieces for that.

I think that gaps in a high school team’s personnel is pretty common. It’s how a coach deals with those gaps that matter. The beginning of the year had OG running two point conversions and 15 yard pooch kicks. They now have a coach helping them exclusively. That is noticing a weakness and addressing it. Has anyone seen a gap in an NFL team lately? Well if they have gaps and can buy whatever talent that they want, then gaps in a high school team with a talent pool of 950 kids is quite excusable.

 

[BlackKnightNut]

Is it Coach Thomas? He made so many good kickers at ND over the years, but I heard he had moved to Texas.

 

[PrepFanNC]

I will say that the “daddy’s money” chant that the last few opponents student sections have used is getting a little tired. Especially from Ledford. Um. those were your students just a couple of short years ago.

 

[BlackKnightNut]

I will say that the “daddy’s money” chant that the last few opponents student sections have used is getting a little tired. Especially from Ledford. Um. those were your students just a couple of short years ago.

Pfffttt... I just spit up my water a little. When I was coaching in Davidson County all the other schools complained about North and Ledford having more money and that was why they hated them. So for Ledford or North to say that to OG is hypocritical to say the least lmao.

 

[SCRballer]

I will say that the “daddy’s money” chant that the last few opponents student sections have used is getting a little tired. Especially from Ledford. Um. those were your students just a couple of short years ago.

Yeah gets a bit old for me as well!!! Jealousy makes people say dumb things!

 

[PrepFanNC]

Yeah gets a bit old for me as well!!! Jealousy makes people say dumb things!

I actually had a county commissioner once (a CDHS graduate) say to me that building a nice new modern school wasn’t fair to the rest of the county. He was in favor of 10 or 12 Quonset Huts with a Pod for a lunchroom. Well, he never said that publicly because he would have been laughed off the planet... but that’s the kind of stuff I’ve heard since this whole ball started rolling back in 2012, when the middle school opened.

 

[BlackKnightNut]

Well if they wanted to be fair they would refurbish ALL these 1950s schools... But they don't want to hear that lol!

 

[PrepFanNC]

Well if they wanted to be fair they would refurbish ALL these 1950s schools... But they don't want to hear that lol!

I am convinced that when they built ND’s new gym back in 1990, they chose not to add air conditioning to appease the other schools, who would have complained heavily.

 

[PrepFanNC]

In other news.... we’re 6 days away from the Ledford vs East Davidson game...

The score is already 49-0 and Walker Lackey has rushed for 600 yards during the pregame.

Y’all... I wouldn’t want to be East Davidson on Friday night. The Panthers have some frustrations to get rid of.

 

[BlackKnightNut]

Related to the SD point, if people want to talk about ADMs at face value then ED has no excuse for being this bad. Nevermind the demographics and transfers... Central is getting better but their program was in shambles and it had nothing to do with numbers.

 

[44bones]

Please don't lump me into that. I was one of the very few that picked OG to contend for the CCC before the season started. I will point out weaknesses from time to time, but I won't take glee in it. I'm a big Mark Holcomb fan, and would love to see them win a state championship this year. I don't think it makes me a bad fan to say they don't have all of the pieces for that.

actually wasn’t really paying attention to who was saying what, just the posts themselves. Not upset with anyone, as this is opinion based anyways. Just happy for the Oak Grove team and coaches and wish them the best going forward. Not sure if or when this has happened in the state of NC that a school this young has done so well so quick. I enjoy this forum, but I find myself doing less work everyday and more time spent reading about HS football!

 

[Murpheel54]

Is it Coach Thomas? He made so many good kickers at ND over the years, but I heard he had moved to Texas.

No - Shawn Williams - Bryce’s twin brother who kicked for Mark at North and at ECU ahead of his brother (who went to Marshall and then transferred so he was behind Shawn at ECU). The improvement over the last month on the basics is amazing and I told him so last night. He’s also interested in working with younger kickers in preparation for the future.

 

[BlackKnightNut]

Nice. Shawn laid one of the biggest hits I've ever seen by a kicker on a kickoff tackle one time. Definitely a great player, as well as his brother.

 

[PrepFanNC]

actually wasn’t really paying attention to who was saying what, just the posts themselves. Not upset with anyone, as this is opinion based anyways. Just happy for the Oak Grove team and coaches and wish them the best going forward. Not sure if or when this has happened in the state of NC that a school this young has done so well so quick. I enjoy this forum, but I find myself doing less work everyday and more time spent reading about HS football!

The only team that I can pull from my memory that went from being brand new to a contender is Northern Guilford... Who in their first year (2008) was 12-1 and went on to having very excellent seasons (10+ wins) until their first losing season in 2015.

Now, I don’t particularly want OG to be mentioned in the same breath as Northern Guilford. I’m certain that school was winning with players who came from all over the county. It is rare to see a school, in football, be this successful so quickly.

Oak Grove has been very fortunate this year to have some very good teams... Those first couple of years were really hard though. A lot of sophomores and freshmen getting beat on by the other schools in the conference in nearly all sports.

Right now, Oak Grove’s volleyball, tennis, cross country (m&w), golf and soccer are all headed into the postseason with some momentum. It is an exciting place to be right now for sure!

 

[BlackKnightNut]

Northern Guilford was very controversial as they had to forfeit in basketball and I think some other sports. Made people kind of narrow their eyes at the name Johnny Roscoe too... I don't know if the football team cheated or not but I know many thought they were.

 

[M193_55g]

No - Shawn Williams - Bryce’s twin brother who kicked for Mark at North and at ECU ahead of his brother (who went to Marshall and then transferred so he was behind Shawn at ECU). The improvement over the last month on the basics is amazing and I told him so last night. He’s also interested in working with younger kickers in preparation for the future.

That's great to hear. Shawn was a heck of a kicker. The improvement is noticeable.

 

[crazyduke3]

No - Shawn Williams - Bryce’s twin brother who kicked for Mark at North and at ECU ahead of his brother (who went to Marshall and then transferred so he was behind Shawn at ECU). The improvement over the last month on the basics is amazing and I told him so last night. He’s also interested in working with younger kickers in preparation for the future.

Shawn was a very good kicker