Northern Carolina 1A/2A

[formerviking10]

Does anyone follow the Northern Carolina 1A/2A Conference? Who do you think the favorites are this year? Any unsuspecting teams that might be able to make a run? Who will the most improved team be?

When I think about the conference, Bunn and South Granville are the main two teams that come to mind when I think of who has a shot to win it. From what I have heard South Granville lost a lot of talent from last year. I am confident they will rebuild and have some young talent step up. I would say that because of that Bunn should be the favorite, but they are going through their second head coaching change in as manny years. Roanoke Rapids can be in that conversation from year to year as well but I don't know what they will have returning this year.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the Vance County schools combining and still being in the conference for the 2018 season. I think the rest of the conference to be a crap shoot to see who might have a shot at being in the top half.

Anyone else have thoughts or opinions about the outlook of the 2018 season? Needless to say it should be an interesting season.

 

[tarheelg]

Yes, before the Vance County merger, I don't think many folks were expecting Northern or Southern Vance to compete for first place....Southern did improve A LOT from 2016 to 2017, but putting those two schools together could create a nightmare for a lot of opponents from a speed and athleticism standpoint...Roanoke Rapids was very young last year and should have a lot of guys coming back that picked up varsity experience for the first time last year....Bunn might be on its third head coach in three years but you know they will find a way to be in the mix, i'm not sure if JF Webb has hired a new head coach but saw on another site where the guy that has been there the last few years will not be back in the fall...South Granville definitely will miss some key starters, especially in the offensive backfield, but don't forget that at some points of the season last year, the strength of that team was the defense...now yes, the guy who played RB & DE and received honors for conference offensive player of the year AND conference defensive player of the year is on his way to Shaw, the QB who ran the offense like a well oiled machine and could also step in on defense in a pinch and make plays is on his way to the US Naval Academy, but something like 8 starters will be back on defense, and 6 of them will be in their third year starting, offensive line has to replace three starters, and the many of the other backs and receivers are also moving on, but one of the advantages of the Georgia Tech or Navy style offense seems to be that you can plug in guys who might not be veterans or look like 4 star recruits, and still make it work if they play smart, do their job, and avoid making mistakes...one might always expect growing pains early in the year for any offense, even with an experienced group coming back, but I fully expect the Vikings to be clicking by the time the middle of the conference schedule rolls around....above all, the key for all of these teams will be who can stay healthy, and/or, who has the depth to overcome adversity when injuries happen

 

[formerviking10]

It is definitely looking like there are no sure things in the top of the conference then. Who would be your sleeper pick to be in the mix?

 

[tarheelg]

No idea right now, you never know who will be eligible, healthy, or what other coaching changes could happen, not sure if Vance Co. or Webb has made a hire yet, those two hires could go a long way toward determining the complexion of this conference race

 

[formerviking10]

The Oxford Ledger had an article a while back announcing a new coach at Webb. I have heard rumors about the Vance Co. job but at this point that is all they are.

 

[The Lake Man]

With the consolidation has every school in conference pick up another non-conference foe?

 

[tarheelg]

If they can find one

 

[formerviking10]

I know it put most schools in a bind. It has to be tough to pick up another game at the point in the season when most teams are in conference play.

 

[tarheelg]

Yes, hate it for teams that might have only been playing 10 instead of 11 already....but then again if that's your situation you have double the flexibility in finding a new game

 

[KOOL123]

My understanding is that Vance County will not be eligible for the playoffs this year because of the merger and will move to 3a and a new conference next year...Most likely into the conference with Franklinton....

 

[tarheelg]

My understanding is that Vance County will not be eligible for the playoffs this year because of the merger and will move to 3a and a new conference next year...Most likely into the conference with Franklinton....

I believe that was originally going to be the case, but then a change was announced, to let them continue for one season as a 2A school in the Northern Carolina, playing all of the conference games, and counting them as conference games, which would make them eligible for the playoffs.....I could be wrong, but I heard what you said at first, and with that, heard that their games against No. Car. teams would count as non-conference, but later heard a revision that they would be allowed to stay in the 1A/2A league for one season before going off to join a 3A league in the 2019-20 school year

 

[KOOL123]

I believe that was originally going to be the case, but then a change was announced, to let them continue for one season as a 2A school in the Northern Carolina, playing all of the conference games, and counting them as conference games, which would make them eligible for the playoffs.....I could be wrong, but I heard what you said at first, and with that, heard that their games against No. Car. teams would count as non-conference, but later heard a revision that they would be allowed to stay in the 1A/2A league for one season before going off to join a 3A league in the 2019-20 school year

Okay cool...If that is the case I expect them to be right their with Bunn and South Granville...

 

[KOOL123]

The biggest problem both schools have had the last few years has been in the trenches...Vance Conty has always had the speed...The Merger will help with that...I was never in favor of having 2 High Schools to begin with...Just to small of a County and when the Cotten Mills shut down a ton of Jobs were lost...Should have just built a Bigger High School back then and stayed 4a and in the Pac 6 with the Durham Schools and Orange County Schools....