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Tuesday, September 22, 2009
While West Forsyth and Reynolds continued to roll, each moving to 5-0 with victories last Friday, I am starting to wonder if high school football in Forsyth County is, as a whole, much closer to mediocre than good this season.
One football coach I respect and spoke to last week said: “It’s bad.”
This is not to throw water on West or Reynolds, two programs that are busy earning all these wins, but the truth is, everyone will know the answer to the question once the playoffs start, and in some cases, before then.
There are signs — Carver is having an unexpectedly rocky go of their nonconference schedule, and Parkland has seen much better days. Mount Tabor, which seems to be a county juggernaut most every season, even has two losses.
Mount Tabor still has a chance to join West, Reynolds, and 4-1 Glenn at the top of the Forsyth County pecking order. The Spartans got some key players back in their lineup for the first time in last week’s 34-7 win over North Forsyth — Matt Turner, Hunter Somerville, Taylor King, and Corey Parker, Jr. — and players like that can make a dramatic difference in any game.
“We can’t say we are a young team anymore, now that we are halfway through the season, but those are guys we really count on,” Coach Laymarr Marshall of Mount Tabor said.
I think people will look at North Forsyth’s 1-4 record and get the wrong idea. North is a better team than last year — maybe a step behind defensively, but much better offensively with Krishawn Coleman, a junior quarterback who is going to make a name for himself before he is finished.
North had Mount Tabor on the ropes early last week, leading 7-0 and driving in for another score. But the Vikings turned it over, one of seven turnovers they would commit, and that’s no way to beat any team, much less Mount Tabor.
I did hear one interesting thing that happened during Reynolds’ 14-7 win over hard-luck East Forsyth last week. From what I was told, a Reynolds’ defensive player took a wrist band from one of East’s offensive players, and was in possession of the band for part of the third quarter.
The wrist bands, used by some high school teams, have offensive plays and are mainly used by teams that use a No-Huddle Offense.
I have sketchy details on what transpired, but I am positive it did happen. Never heard of that before. Wonder how much it would help?
Monday, September 14, 2009
Margaret Leak, a junior runner at Mount Tabor who I profiled last week, is exactly the kind of athlete any coach would love to have. Smart, bubbly, driven, and needless to say, also talented.
During my interview with her, she reminded me of the most impressive girls cross country runner I have seen over the last 20 years — Kimberly Spano of North Mecklenburg, who graduated last spring after winning the Class 4-A state championship in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Spano’s form was unusual — she had a powerful, machine-like gait that was almost male in form. It looked unorthodox, and I remember writing that she “stomped the field,” in 2006, not only because of her 30-second margin of victory but also because, well, she appeared to stomp when she ran.
Her form made her appear larger than she really is, and frankly, I think she was intimidating to the other runners.
Leak, who finished ninth in 2007 and 19th in 2008 in the state meet, said as much about Spano.
“The one runner who I really feared, Kim Spano, is gone, so…,” Leak started.
So with Spano on to Syracuse to start her college career, some fortunate runner out there is going to win their first Class 4-A state championship when the state meets are held at Tanglewood in November.
Coach Patrick Cromwell of Mount Tabor said it’s a title that’s up for grabs.
“I think this is one of the deepest years in a long time in North Carolina,” Cromwell said. “There are lots of them. Lots of them. In Forsyth County it’s (Margaret Leak) and Kristen Henson (of Reagan) are at the elite level, but there are 20-30 girls out there on a given day can run with each other. It’s a very, very deep field.
“It’s exciting because if you finish in the top-10 this year you have accomplished a lot, I think.”
Football wise, I got to see West Forsyth and East Forsyth for the first time last Friday, and I was impressed . One thing is obvious — both are extremely well-coached.
West is 4-0, and it was easy to see why. The Titans don’t make many mistakes and they are blessed with two wonderful security blankets in wideouts Ric Thompson and Ricky Brown, a pair of tall receivers that give quarterback Patrick Midkiff the chance to throw sideline routes any time he wants with little fear of a negative play.
I was equally impressed with East. While Coach Todd Willert isn’t the kind to embrace moral victories, Willert and his staff have done a heck of a job keeping East competitive after their breakout run to the Class 4-AA semifinals last fall. East is 2-2, but could easily be 4-0 after narrowly losing to Mount Tabor and West over the past two weeks.
My hat is off to Willert and Coach Adrian Snow of West. They know what they are doing, and the players are benefitting.
Kudos to Mount Airy and Reynolds, two teams that by preseason prognostication, wouldn’t have been 4-0 if I were a betting man. Mount Airy has run a gauntlet of an early season schedule and dismantled Class 3-A Monroe Parkwood 47-22 on the road last week to move to 4-0. Reynolds move to 4-0 last Friday was equally impressive. The Demons hammered Carver 49-14, AT CARVER! It’s been a long time since Carver has been treated like that in Lash Stadium (aka, The Hive).
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Reynolds was leading Parkland 41-6 in the fourth quarter last week when a skirmish broke out at the end of a play. When the dust settled, David Hooper, a senior linebacker, found himself heading to the sideline after being ejected. Mike Propst, Reynolds head coach and himself a former linebacker, said that Hooper was ejected for throwing a punch at a Parkland player, a move that Propst verified from the game tape.
As a result, Hooper was suspended for Reynolds’ next two games (against Carver and East Forsyth) by the NCHSAA, and Propst tossed in an extra two games (against Southwest Guilford and against Davie County in Reynolds’ conference opener on Oct. 9). Hooper will be eligible to play when Reynolds takes the field against Mount Tabor on Oct. 16.
Why the hard line?
“I have never in 18 years of coaching had a kid ejected, and I had to let him know that I can’t tolerate it,” Propst said. When asked how Hooper took the news, Propst said: “He didn’t have a choice.”
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Deaton-Thompson Stadium is not exactly a model of character, but nonetheless, it serves its purpose as the football home to the football teams at Parkland and Reynolds. But the nondescript, concrete structure surely takes on a little more life when Reynolds takes the field and unleashes its speed.
Speed has been Reynolds’ calling card for what seems an eternity — which is good, because the Demons rarely have any size to speak of. But this season, it looks like Reynolds has even more speed than usual.
I haven’t seen West Forsyth, Mount Tabor, Reagan or Davie play yet, but I can tell you that none of them will have any fun chasing the Demons around this season. In fact, if the Demons tighten some things up (19 penalties for 145 yards against Parkland) I think they will be more than just a scary opponent for CPC teams to deal with — I think they will be a front runner.
Word to the wise — don’t let Jake Gainey of the Demons catch the ball in open space. Parkland let it happen last week and Gainey left a vapor trail in his wake.
After being off Monday for the holiday, it’s a short week and today’s a busy day for me. But I have already peeked at this week’s schedule and determined I am heading off to West Forsyth this Friday to see the 3-0 Titans take on East Forsyth.
There are two other really good games on the Forsyth County schedule this week — Reynolds at Carver, and Glenn at Mount Tabor. Of those three games mentioned, I don’t think a fan could go wrong.
This afternoon, I am going to Mount Tabor to talk to Margaret Leak, a standout cross country and track runner who keeps a busy schedule. Her story will be in Wednesday’s Journal.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Had a great interview this morning with Luke Wheeler, a lights-out linebacker and fullback for Mount Airy. He knocked the interview out of the park, and those in my profession love it when that happens. Luke is as smooth answering questions as he is brutal when turning a running back upside down (I have seen this happen, by the way).
On the way back to my car, I ran into Tommy Morrison, an employee of Mount Airy City Schools and the voice of the Granite Bears on WPAQ 740. Tommy not only broadcasts the games, but I am also sure you would be hard pressed to find a bigger fan of the program out there.
We had a good talk about our families — Tommy was excited that he finally had both of his kids in elementary school and was no longer forking over cash every week for day care. But what we mostly talked about was Mount Airy’s 28-21 win at Thomasville last Friday, a game that could carry a lot of significance for the Bears as the season rolls on. As for Thomasville, I bet the loss will likely bring some focus to a young and talented team.
Coach Kelly Holder of Mount Airy can slide some tricks and gadgets into his game plan if need be — he is a master of getting every ounce out of his quarterbacks — but that wasn’t the case last week. Tommy said that the Bears simply plowed between the tackles all night and let Andy Temoney, the Bears shifty running back whose time in the limelight has finally come, do his thing. Temoney had a big night behind a rapidly improving, and brand new, offensive line. And the Bears are 2-0 with 18 straight wins. Could this be another state championship season?
Wheeler is probably never going to be a college linebacker. He’s just not big enough at 5-10, 185 pounds. But he is already mentally preparing himself for a move to safety next fall, when he HAS to be playing for some college program at some level. Luke Wheeler can play. I’ve never seen a high-school team he wouldn’t play for, and be a standout.
And a bit of his story will be in the newspaper tomorrow.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
What a weird start to the high-school football season — at least from where I have been sitting.
First, I witness a 30-minute lightning delay, the first I have ever been a part of while covering a football game, at the Glenn-North Davidson game on Aug. 21. Last Friday, it was another first for me. Showed up at Mount Tabor at 6:30 in a pretty steady rain and sure enough, the game was postponed until Saturday. Never have made it to a game and seen it called before the first play.
Never saw a single player in pads either, just some old friends in the pressbox — Rick Anderson, who was my JV baseball coach at Mount Tabor in 1985 (and is now the varsity girls basketball coach) and Dick Jamback, the former boys basketball coach (and now JV girls basketball coach) who has retired from teaching, but will never retire from being one of the most enjoyable characters around.
So instead of watching a game, I headed into the office to handle the other area games being called in.
And so it was no football for me last week. I was already booked on Saturday with my wife Kristin’s high-school reunion (thanks to the good folks from Davie High for a good time — especially for allowing my wife to win the cash raffle!).
Couple of quick thoughts — how about Mount Airy winning at Thomasville? Yes, both teams are vastly different than last season, but still! Granite Bears with an 18-game winning streak and counting. And also, how about the solid play of 2-0 West Forsyth, as well as the Reynolds getting at 2-0 in explosive fashion.
Wondering if there will be a dominant team to come out of Forsyth County this season? Looks like it will take a while to determine, but Carver, East Forsyth, Reynolds and West, congrats. You guys are 2-0.
On a sad note, my profession — and society in general — lost a truly great man on Sunday morning when Tom Berry, longtime reporter for the High Point Enterprise, died after suffering for more than a year with cancer. Tom was one of the nicest men you could meet and was a pro at his job. He leaves behind a wife and three daughters and a whole lot of sad people. He will be greatly missed.
By Mason Linker at 09:56 AM
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Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Reagan’s 3-2 win over Mount Tabor in the championship match of the WSFCS volleyball tournament on Tuesday meant more than just the fleeting celebration of a city-county championship.
What the win could foster should mean much more, Coach George Folger of Reagan said.
“There’s no question this will give our kids a lot of confidence,” he said.
Mount Tabor was the runner-up in the Class 4-A playoffs last season and was undefeated until losing the state championship match.
“They lost a lot of key players from last year but they are still a very good team,” Folger said. “A lot of our kids and their kids play club volleyball together and they are good friends off the court. It was a good intense match and both teams showed great sportsmanship.”
The teams alternated winning the first four games and the fifth game was tight most of the way through. Reagan eventually made the plays to win the final game 15-12.
“It was 11-11 and their middle power-tipped the ball down and Sarah Fitzgerald dove and had a one-arm dig,” Folger said. “She got back up and our setter (Mollie Southard) set her the ball and she got up and put it down. It swung the momentum a little. It looked like they had the point won and we made it. We went up 13-11 and were able to finish it off.”
The Raiders and Spartans are in the same conference now — the Central Piedmont 4-A — so they will play at least twice more.
“We have seen Mount Tabor play at a couple of scrimmages which was helpful for them to see that yes, they are beatable this year,” Folger said. “We weren’t sure we could beat them, but we thought we could compete with them and give them a tough match.
“The thing is, this was only the first one. We will play them twice more, maybe three times, and they are good enough to win the rest of them.”
It was like the middle of summer this morning at 8 o’clock when I arrived at West Forsyth ahead of the arrival of most students — you could feel the rising sun heating up the empty parking lot when I climbed out of my car to meet Ric Thompson, a senior wide receiver, for a story I am writing for Thursday’s paper. I wanted to catch up with him before school started
But before I could sit down with Thompson, I was given the grand tour of West Forsyth’s new weight room and football locker room — a project that started last spring and is now complete, much to the pride of Adrian Snow, the Titans’ loquacious football coach.
For starters, the head football coach’s office at West Forsyth was originally about the size of a broom closet on steroids, and probably more cluttered. Now, it’s about three times bigger and with a shiny, new look, complete with a large glass window that affords almost a full view of the weight room.
The locker room is even more impressive. I will refrain from going over all the details — wouldn’t want to be accused of recruiting for Snow — but I would think that outside coaches who see it would be Titan-green with envy.
By Mason Linker at 11:32 AM
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Monday, August 24, 2009
Marty Stanley, the athletics director at Glenn, has shaved a lot of pounds. Don’t know what kind of diet he is on, but I am willing to wager that corndogs aren’t a part of it.
Is that a good way to start the Journal’s first blog dedicated to high school sports?
Sometimes when I meet people and they find out what I do, they ask me how many football games I will see on a Friday night.
The answer is always ONE. I cover one game a night from start to finish, keep a full play-by-play and game stats. It’s the only way to get full coverage of a game, but it also makes for some tough decisions. Lots of games to choose from.
Nobody has ever asked me if I have a blog. If it ever happens, I suppose the answer will be yes as of this posting.
The first tough decision of the season came last week for me. Should I go to Carver and watch what I knew would be an entertaining game against Greensboro Dudley? I decided against it — my reasoning is that Carver might have the best team in Forsyth County this season, and I know I am going to see more of it.
Instead, I decided to make the trip to Kernersville and watch North Davidson play at Glenn. I wanted to see if Glenn was going to put last season behind it and I believe it has. As high school season-openers go, this game was squeaky clean. A combined eight penalties between the teams and only two turnovers — one of which came in the waning minutes when QB Brennen Dodd of North was trying to make a last-gasp play on fourth down and was intercepted.
Glenn won 19-14, and the player that made that sealing interception, junior Josh Hawkins, is probably going to see his name in the newspaper quite a bit over the next two seasons. Hawkins, a safety, also scored all three of Glenn’s touchdowns while coming in at running back. He is listed at 6-0, 160 pounds, but he keeps his pads low and appears to run much heavier than that.
Glenn finished 4-7 in 2008, the only losing season in Coach Dickie Cline’s 30-plus seasons as a head coach. Having talked to Cline several times since the end of last season, and judging by the look on his face after the game, I bet that’s the best he has felt in a year. Back in the I-Formation on offense, Glenn looks like an offensive-line driven team, the way Cline likes it. That line was impressive, too.
One more thing about the Glenn-North Davidson game. With 3:10 left, an official noticed a flash of lightning in the distance — and it was way, way, way in the distance. So the game was suspended for 30 minutes. The threat seemed so miniscule that most of the North Davidson fans remained seated on the aluminum bleachers on the visitor’s side.
The resulting delay left me about 20 minutes to write my game story for our first edition paper. But it was hard to complain. There’s no sense in fooling around with lightning, no matter how far away it is. The officials made the right call.
As for Carver, the Yellowjackets lost 28-20 to Dudley. That tells me that Carver’s first season as a Class 2-A team will be one that lasts for quite a while. Maybe even into December.
I would like to say that I will see most teams in our coverage area play over the course of the season, but it’s simply not possible. For the first four or five weeks of the season, I try to see as many Forsyth County teams as possible. Beyond that, I stick to the better teams and better rivalry games once conference play starts.
This Friday, the game many fans wanted to see last season will take place. But it will be a year too late. The game is Mount Airy at Thomasville.
Mount Airy might never field a team like the 2008 version which went 16-0 and won the Class 1-A state championship. That team was so fast and so well-schooled that the question was raised on Internet message boards and beyond — could the Bears have played with Thomasville?
The answer will never be known. Rest assured Mount Airy is going to have a strong team this season, but as good as last year? Highly, highly doubtful. Too many key parts are gone.
On the other hand, Thomasville, which went 16-0 and won the Class 1-AA state title in 2008, tends to play like that every year. The Bulldogs have moved up to Class 2-A, where more domination is expected. If there is one small-school program in the state that can compete with the big boys year in and year out, its Thomasville hands down.
No matter the result, two of the classiest programs around will be at Cushwa Stadium for this game. Hopefully it will be a good one.
I haven’t decided which game to cover this Friday. Based on last week’s scores, I would say one game that leaps to the forefront is West Forsyth at Glenn. West Forsyth won at Asheville Reynolds last Friday, and that always means something. Have a feeling this will be a good one, but I won’t be making a trip to Glenn two weeks in a row in August. Need to see different teams.
ALSO
Had a lot of fun last week talking with two really good kids, Blair Jeralds, a super soccer player from West Forsyth, and big Terrence “J.T.” Surratt of Parkland, a defensive end who has committed to South Carolina. Pretty sure J.T. is the only football player in Forsyth County with a Division I commitment at this point, and he not only played the part when I saw him in action last season, but he also looks the part.
Found the news curious that less than a month after the NCHSAA announced the cross country championships would be leaving Tanglewood Park for Cary, that XC is coming back to Tanglewood on Nov. 7 because of a scheduling conflict.
Amazing that the NCHSAA has to deal with these setbacks, but it appears the folks in Raleigh that won the four-year bid for cross-country didn’t check the WakeMed Park schedule very closely. One would think the ACC Women’s Soccer Championships (Nov. 5, 7 and 9) would be hard to miss, and parking for that event will wipe out a portion of the park’s cross country course.
And thus, my first-ever blog post comes to a close. I will have more later in the week.
Please feel free to comment, make suggestions, or ask questions. I will try to check daily.
By Mason Linker at 01:59 PM
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