Bertie also. They don't have a coach yet. Those mountain teams are so good because of the ball control offense they run and solid defenses. The issue is If they get behind usually they don't have a good passing attack to come back. Granted I haven't seen Robbinsville in 5-6 years so I'm sure that might have changed. Great programs though with much better resources in Swain, Murphy, and Robbinsville.
No more subdivisions
- Thread starter Deana_King
- Start date
The SMC has definitely had teams that could sling it but they dont have the personnel to play that way every year and even if they did have the personnel to play that way most years, they probably wouldn't.
Of the Big 3 I would say Murphy definitely has produced the most balanced offenses of the three over the last decade plus but they have had the best collection of passing QB's during that time frame as well. A couple of the better Murphy passing teams in the last decade went on to beat the likes of Albemarle on the way to a state titles and another lost a heartbreaker to Wallace Rose Hill in the state title game. Murphy can play with and beat the kind of teams you are referencing when they are loaded with talent and have the QB play to go with it.
Swain is usually run heavy but they had a great passing attack in 2012 and barely lost to a very good SW Onslow team in the state title game that year.
Robbinsville hasn't passed the ball very much under Walsh but they have had a couple QB's under him that had the ability to lead a good passing game.
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I’d agree Murphy may have more speed year end and year out. Heritage with theRobinson kid at qb would’ve won a couple of 1a west regionals and given wrh and tarboro all they wanted. They are old school ball control and hard nosed on defense. There were two years Mitchell lost to both Murphy and heritage those two teams would’ve had a slobber knocker of a game. Remember heritage gave reidsville all they wanted two years in a row
I know in 2017 heritage loss 21 -14 to reidsville, also got beat in 2018 by reidsville in a war if heritage could have hit extra points they would have won. As for tarboro if you can throw the ball ,you can beat them.
No doubt, Heritage has a really good program under Robinson and I have no doubt they will be in the elite tier of 1A football teams more often than not.
Aside from that Murphy doesnt have the same level of athlete pool coming through that they use to, so my guess is the two will become even more alike moving forward in terms of personnel until Murphy shuts down.
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Winston Salem Prep and Henderson Collegiate would've been very hard for them to beat, so many athletes and a ton of size. They will probably make more regional trips in 1A maybe even get to title game at some point if Winston Salem Prep falls off but nobody in the west will have anything for Kinston as long as they are 1A.
As far as girl's hoops are concerned they should certainly be in the very top tier with the Murphy and Mount Airy's of the world.
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Remember Bernie from the 3A semifinals vs Carver in 03, tough team. Never thought I see both schools in 1A.
I will add, I never thought I would see Carver in 1A.
All the big athletes you see at East Forsyth is what used to go at Carver during my time. Walkertown, Kernersville, Mount Tabor, and maybe WS Prep may have a few of our guys too. Times changed but they could build back up eventually. Hopefully playing in 1A will help.
Could be the best thing to happen to them. I hope they can get the football program back to a good place.
Carver has been destroyed by open enrollement in WSF schools. Those kids left for Reagen and Adkins at one time. They're pretty bad too now though. I remember seeing Murphy play in the finals against Jones a few years back and they had a great passing attack. But, I remember them for running the traditional wing t and now spread wing t like butter! They are nasty when they click. Robbinsville and Swain have been so good forever with their split veer and some spread stuff last time I played them in 14-15 if I remember correctly. Well coached teams always.
Very disappointed in the removal of the subdivisions. You take away a once in a lifetime experience for many kids and communities. The NCHSAA had it right with the byes in place in 1A and 4A only to blank it up. Typical
I will say this 2a in particular just became a gauntlet. There’s a big difference. I remember playing a whole season going 7-2 missing the playoffs. One year got in the playoffs and played monroe park wood back when they were really good. Second round your likely to get a Shelby, hibriten, or reidsville
Unless kinston returns to it's days from the late 2000s to early 2010s I don't see kinston challenging Tarboro. I hate to see Edenton go back to 2a
