Head Knocking Starts Friday

This Friday night opens the high school football season and it is time for the annual here is what I think rankings of the Big East football teams:  Most of the preseason poles have Hunt winning but after that  Nash Central and Fike I have seen picked second through fifth.  One says second the next says fifth.

1.  Hunt:  When you have been at one school as long as Randy Raper has been west of Wilson you know he has established the way he wants to do things.  I can assure you Raper has proven over the umpteen years he has been with the Warriors that he has figured out how this high school stuff works.  His average team will win eight games and if like last year he is above average he just might go undefeated until the East Final.  This year probably one of those eight win years which will probably be good enough to finish first in the Big East. Big East Record 5-0

2. Nash Central:  Gone is Jalen Hendricks and who do you put at quarterback to replace him ?  Just maybe the best athlete in the conference.  You have a running back at quarterback there is no doubt I would run the option.  Nash Central has the best defense in the league.  I suspect they will begrudge giving up points. It it weren't for clock mismanagement last year Nash Central could have played in the East Finals instead of Hunt.  Look for the Bulldogs to win seven or eight during regular season.  Big East record 4-1

3. Fike:  The end of last season the Golden Demons were coming on strong  and I suspect that will carry over this year.  That being said 2-3 in the conference in what is proving to be the toughest football league in  in the east will be about what I am looking at Fike.  Look for Fike to snare seven wins during the regular season.

4.  Northern Nash:  There is no doubt that four through six could change places very easily.  The Knights will have a solid defense  but their biggest question is  can they score enough points to win.  Last year they held Tarboro in check but couldn't score enough to win.  If they have that same problem this season they could fall below fourth.  Conference record  2-3

5.  Southern Nash:  I thought the Firebirds didn't get very far with the backfield they had last year  and the entire running brigade is gone due to graduation.  Rebuilding time in southern Nash County.  I see a total of four wins for the Firebirds including a 1-4 Big East Record.

6. Rocky Mount:  Jason Battle has his work cut out to bring life back to the best football program in the Twin Counties during the first decade of the 21st century.  Wins are not always the indicator whether the program is heading in the right direction.  This team needs to win early and stay healthy.  I can see four wins  and one of those this year will be a conference win.  1-4 in Big East.

We will get our first taste of what might come to pass as Friday night as almost everybody hits the playing field.  Rocky Mount's Tom Suiter will once again anchor the WRAL-TV's football Friday for the 32nd year.