Lumberton - Better days are ahead for the Pirates under new head coach Dennis McFatten - and that’s already begun, with a renewed belief around the program. A defense that struggled last year is less experienced this fall, and there’s doubts about the team’s quarterback play talented back Sincere Blount is a bright spot offensively.Ĩ. Douglas Byrd - The Eagles won three games last year - sweeping the three Robeson County teams they played and beating no one else - and have improved in each season under coach Maurice Huey. Purnell Swett has won more than one conference game just once since 2011, but that should change this season.ħ. Purnell Swett - The Rams seem set to take a step forward in Josh Deese’s first year as head coach, with an unproven but talented quarterback and three strong running backs on offense, and an aggressive defense. The Bears weren’t closer than a 27-point loss against any of the four teams ahead of them last year, but are talented and experienced enough to, at the very least, close that gap.Ħ. Gray’s Creek - A run-heavy team coached by Jon Sherman has its top two rushers returning, in Javon Webb and Tyler Davis, as well as three of its top four tacklers. Behind that defense, though, Cape Fear should be competitive against anyone and, even from fourth on this list, can be right in the thick of the race.ĥ. The questions come on offense, with quarterback Cole Wilson and two of the team’s top three rushers graduating running back Favour Murtala is the leading returner. Cape Fear - The defense is a known commodity for the Colts, with 10 starters back from a year ago. 500 again, and contending in the conference is certainly in play.Ĥ. South View - Last season was up and down for the Tigers, finishing fourth in the league with a losing record overall that young team is now a year older, with a strong backfield presence in running back Christian Rutledge set to lead the way and a physical defense. Four of the top six tacklers return to the Buccaneers’ defense, leaving them primed for another strong season.ģ. While the running game lacks experience after the dynamic Sincere Baines’ departure, most of a strong receiving corps is back to catch veteran quarterback Jackson Powell. Jack Britt - The Buccaneers have been the most competitive team against Seventy-First in the conference in each of the last two seasons. While everyone has the chance to improve, it’s hard to see anyone toppling the Falcons from their perch.Ģ. Seventy-First - The Falcons lost two tremendous running backs in Anthony Quinn and Jayden Shotwell - but are still loaded at the position, including returners Jason Franklin and Donovan Frederick, with a strong and experienced quarterback in Deandre Nance they’ll also continue to play grown man football up front on both sides of the ball. As a result, with everyone on more or less the same upward trajectory, it’s hard to see too much leapfrogging - or cliff diving - in the standings.ġ. I look at every team in the United-8 and see the potential for improvement, especially from second on down (not meant as a slight to Seventy-First, but improving on a regional finalist is harder than it will be for everyone else). And to remind those teams that are favorably picked here, this means nothing and you’ve still got to go out and earn it on the field.Īnd to those teams who may find their ranking here unfavorable: go out there and prove me wrong! This might be a good spot to point out that last year’s predictions were good in some areas and bad in others. In the space below, I’ll predict the order of finish in both conference in which Robeson County schools play, the United-8 Conference at the 3A/4A level and the Southeastern Athletic Conference at the 2A level. Through all of the buildup to the new season, I’m asked all the time how I think this team or that team will stack up in the standings as the season unfolds.
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