In The Huddle

Sure, I know it’s technically a little late (the actual mid-point of the season was last week) but here are my midseason thoughts.

Thus far the best team in the area is Eastern Alamance. What makes the whole thing scary is that I’m not sure they’ve maxed out on their potential yet. With the help of an improving line, Lamar Ivey is getting more dangerous at quarterback each week, opening up things for the Eagles’ array of offensive weapons.

Also, wasn’t the Eastern Alamance defense supposed to take a hit after losing so many stars the past few years? I guess not.

If the Eagles can keep up the momentum in a brutal Mid-State 3-A Conference, look out.

Despite earlier reports, Western Alamance is still Western Alamance. With a little help from the NCHSAA in the form of a forfeit, the Warriors bounced back from an 0-2 start to find themselves at 6-1. With the offensive show they’re putting on as of late, they’re reminding Warrior Nation of the good ‘ol days of … 2007.

While Western Alamance is a nice story, Greensboro Dudley, Behemoth No. 1 in Class 3-A, could stand in the Warriors’ way for a conference title. Also Rocky Mount, Behemoth No. 2 in Class 3-A and a familiar Western Alamance playoff victim the past few years, could stand in the way when it comes to defending — or pursuing — their second-straight state title.

But Western Alamance has defied odds before, so who’s to say?

Southern Alamance started out this season as the feel-good story of 2008. Now the Patriots look like they may end up serving as an example of how unfair life on the prep gridiron can be.

After starting 2-0, the Patriots saw their win total erased after they discovered an ineligible player. That player never stepped foot on the field, mind you.

Anyway, throw in a five-game road swing and a two-game losing streak and all of the sudden, Southern Alamance’s playoff hopes in a tough league are rocky.

But remember, this is a program that lost a coach two years ago this month and bounced back. Don’t count these guys out.

So, if Eastern Guilford gets past Winston-Salem Atkins this week and goes into its uber-game with Reidsville undefeated, do you think traffic on Highway 61 will be thick?

The Holt brothers might have to jet in for that one.

Cummings (2-4), Graham (2-4) and Williams (3-3) had non-conference seasons they’d like to forget. The Red Devils and Cavaliers jump into a Mid-State 2-A Conference without a long list of powerhouses. Williams jumps into a Mid-State 3-A Conference that is almost nothing but powerhouses.

We’ll find out a lot about these three teams in the coming weeks.

When I spoke with Eastern Randolph coach Burton Cates prior to the season, he told me of how much redistricting and youth will hinder his team this year. I thought that, like most coaches, he was just being humble and keeping another strong Wildcats’ group under wraps until opening night.

I guess he wasn’t exaggerating. Eastern Randolph, a team that has traditionally delivered lumps to everyone around is taking them this year. Seeing the Wildcats near the bottom of the Mid-Piedmont standings just doesn’t look right.

But I recommend getting your licks in now against this squad. Next season, you might not have a chance.

Ok, yeah, it’s been a while since I posted last. How long has it been? Well, the last time I posted, Williams didn’t have a football coach, North Carolina’s men’s basketball team looked like it was on its way to a title (Kansas is overrated, right?) and nobody, save a few swimming wonks, knew who Michael Phelps was.

Since then, some things happened. Including last Friday night.

Eastern Alamance beat Western Alamance for the first time since the Clinton administration. Southern Alamance shook off the ghosts of last year’s struggles while Cummings found plenty to work on. New coaches at Bartlett Yancey and Williams had tough openers while Eastern Guilford and Graham found plenty to get excited about.

We found out a lot last week. I’m thinking we should find out more Friday night.

Here are a few of my thoughts on this week’s games. As always, take them with a grain of salt. Or better yet, a whole bag.

WESTERN ALAMANCE AT SOUTHERN ALAMANCE

Boy, this game got a lot more interesting. This time last week, Southern Alamance was the team coming off of a snakebitten 2-7-1 season while Western Alamance sported a big, shiny 16-0 record during its 2007 state title campaign.

After Eastern Alamance made some plays late and downed the Warriors and the Patriots ambushed Cummings, all of the sudden, this game looks like a much more even fight.

Either way, it’ll be David Vaughn Night at Walter Hanford Stadium, so Patriots Pride should be running wild, which should be a fun thing to see.

CARRBORO AT CUMMINGS and EASTERN RANDOLPH AT NORTHERN GUILFORD

You know how on ESPN College Gameday, they always throw those cute little titles on each week’s games. You know, like “Woodshed Saturday,” or “Border War Saturday.” I’m calling these two games, “Get Right Friday.”

Eastern Randolph fell to Monroe Sun Valley while Cummings fell to Southern Alamance. Both teams face very young programs at second-year schools this week, meaning barring some Virginia vs. Chaminade meltdown (mixing sports here), these teams should score wins.

Northern Guilford is in its first year of varsity football while Cummings thrashed Carrboro 89-0 last season. I’m thinking we’ll see a return to form from these perennial heavyweights.

GRAHAM AT JORDAN-MATTHEWS

Graham has to feel good about last week’s convincing victory against Carrboro. However, if history is a guide, it shouldn’t get carried away. Last season, Graham beat Carrboro 47-0 and followed it up with a 50-6 home loss to Jordan-Matthews.

The Red Devils will have another tough assignment when they pay a visit to the Jets’ home field. If Graham can come away with a victory, which is certainly a possibility, it should bode very, very well.

WILLIAMS AT HIGH POINT CENTRAL

Williams dropped its opener last week and faces another tricky game this week. Win or lose, this Bulldogs team will be pain for opponents come playoff time. Mark it down.

CEDAR RIDGE AT BARTLETT YANCEY

After a loss to Orange in week 1, the Buccaneers get the more experienced of the two Hillsborough teams. Bartlett Yancey will have its work cut out for it, but any sign of progress would be welcome as the Buccaneers schedule get a lot tougher from here on out.

As a football coach Story was always a contradiction.

His teams were grounded in fundamentals and scored hundred of victories with a trademark simple attack. However, the Bulldogs constantly kept opponents off balance with unorthodox, some may call them trick, plays.

Story’s demeanor was always that of a kindly grandfather. But if anyone crossed the veteran coach, his players or his program, they’d get a firsthand look at the fire-and-brimstone temper that fueled countless pregame and halftime speeches.

But one thing that was a constant was his love of his school.

After 25 years as head coach, as well as four years as a player and a year as an assistant coach, Story simply was Williams football, though he would never admit as much. That’s saying a lot considering coaches like Stan Huffman, C.A. Frye, Jerome Evans and Pete Stout did plenty to weave the tapestry of the football tradition at the school.

It’s no coincidence that when references to the “Williams Bulldogs” are found in letters to the editor or other reader feedback we get, they are almost always follow by “coached by Sam Story.”

Sure, the Bulldogs will win more titles. They’ll have other successful coaches. But there will
never be another Sam Story.
While his success on the field has been impressive, the close-knit environment he helped create, is what defines the program. Just go down on the field after a home game. With the turnout of fans, former players, families and other well-wishers, there’s no hiding the love that ties the Bulldogs’ football program together.

Something tells me that’s just the way he drew it up.

Here are a few of my thoughts about Western Alamance’s first state football title…

-Was there any doubt who the best team in Class 3-A was this year? In case you spent the last few weeks in a cave, here are a few things to think about.

At 16-0, Western Alamance was the only undefeated team in the classification. The Warriors were ranked atop the Associated Press Class 3-A poll all season. Second-ranked Rocky Mount, which received a handful of No. 1 votes, got bounced by the Warriors in the playoffs.

Western Alamance defeated Greensboro Dudley, the Class 3-AA champ, on its home field during the regular season.

Yep, the Warriors were by far the class of Class 3-A in 2007.

-One of the things that made Saturday’s onfield championship celebration so special was the presence of so many former players and their families. While the win didn’t give them the state title they fell short of, for all of Warrior Nation, Saturday’s win provided some vindication for those teams.

-Offensive coordinator Jeff Snuffer called a marvelous game less than three days after losing his brother to cancer. I know when there is a war raging overseas, using words like courage and strength outside of that context can become trite, especially when it comes to sports. But the fact that Snuffer was able to focus and be there for his team, and the Warriors to be there for him, showed real grit.

-If you thought there were a lot of those ‘WA’ stickers on cars around town before Saturday. Just wait.

-Never again will any Western Alamance player or coach have to field the question of when will they win a state title. Now they’ll get asked about winning a second one.

Here are a few newsflashes for you…

Western Alamance is good at football.

Some people disagree with President Bush.

The Bowl Championship Series has some football fans concerned.

Levon Curtis makes plays.

Britney Spears has made some questionable lifestyle choices.

Gas is expensive.

Donald Britt is hard to tackle.

Barry Bonds may have done steroids.

The Middle East has problems.

It doesn’t rain much anymore.
Western Alamance is good at football.

Yeah, Western Alamance. They’re pretty good.

I know Thanksgiving was last week, but here are a few things in the area sports journalism world I’m thankful for this time of year.

I’m thankful the forgettable football seasons of Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State are over.I’m thankful the potentially unforgettable basketball seasons of Duke, North Carolina,
N.C. State and Wake Forest have begun.I’m thankful that the Times-News Holiday Classic is still a month away. I’ve got a lot to get done between now and then.

I’m thankful that our area prep coaches are always respectful and classy toward me while I try to do my job. I’ve learned that’s not always the case elsewhere.

I’m thankful for the Times-News readers who provide valuable feedback in all its forms.

I’m thankful for agate clerks, who never get enough respect.

Most of all, I’m thankful for my mom and the other nine people that read this blog. Your Christmas cards are coming soon.

Ok, so I get cold easy. Sue me.

You can call me all the names you want, but this I will own.

One time, my Maryland-born mom, tired of the lack of crisp autumn days and fresh, flowery spring mornings around here, bemoaned the lack of four distinct seasons.

Screw that, give me 80 degrees every day. No rain. I’ll pack the sunscreen.

If I could, I’d retire to Florida at age 29, wear Tony Soprano shirts, tear up par-3 courses and eat dinner at five. I don’t think my fiancé is down with plan, but if I win the lottery, it’s on.

So when Western Alamance was playing Hertford County in 40-degree temperatures on Friday night, I was a shivery mess while those of heartier stock around me were not.

On that note, here’s a short list of things as cold as I was at A.M. Primm Stadium on Friday night…

-Britney Spears’ career.

-The Duke-Notre Dame football rivalry.

-Bill Belichick’s heart.

-Michael Waltrip Racing.

-Dick Cheney’s Q rating.

So, yeah. I was cold. I’m going to go to the break room and stick my hands in the coffee to warm them back up. Don’t tell anyone.

So earlier this week I did something I hadn’t done … well, ever. I’ve been voting in the statewide prep football poll for The Associated Press for about six years now and one thing has remained constatnt.

Ok, Class 4-A, No 1. Charlotte Independence. Good. One spot down…

But this week, after Independence lost 21-20 to Matthews Butler, a seismic shock to the high school gridiron around here, I had to move them to … gasp … second.

It was strange.

It was like going to Zack’s and not getting a hot dog.

It was like a Western Alamance home game with only a modest crowd.

It was like a state championship weekend in football without an  Alamance County team.It was like someone other than Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson winning a NASCAR race.

It was like seeing a Cummings team that runs the ball. (Wait, we’ve seen that.)

It was like me playing No. 15 at Southwick and not taking at least double.

Needless to say, it felt really weird.

Come to think of it, a combo dog does sound good right about now.

This week, the Friday night lights will shine on several games across the state that have crucial playoff implications. With the regular season wrapping up this week, teams will be playing for conference titles, perfect seasons and for the right to keep playing.

But for many teams, this week merely marks the end.

Three teams in our area, Bartlett Yancey, Southern Alamance and Williams already know what they’ll be doing when the playoffs under way.

All three will be on the outside looking in.

So when the games get started Friday night, they will be playing for pride.

Southern Alamance coach Daniel Barrow and Williams coach Sam Story said their teams have shown plenty of fight in practice this week.

“We’re treating it like our bowl game,” Barrow said.

Both coaches spoke of how the seniors would like to go out on a winning note and that a victory this week would set a good tone for spring workouts and next season.

But before that, they’ve got one more thing to take care of.

One more Friday night.

Jeez, these gas prices have been killing me. I’m sure I’m not alone. But you know who hasn’t had to complain much about a transportation bill?

The Southern Alamance football team, that’s who.

Here we are a few days shy of Halloween.

Western Alamance is playing its final regular season game and high school basketball coaches are making final preparations before practice begins and, oh yeah, the Patriots are venturing outside of the county lines for the first time this season.

Southern Alamance played all six of its home games already. Their only road games have been at Cummings, Western Alamance and Eastern Alamance.

Sure the Patriots finish with lengthy road trips to Northern Vance on Friday and
South Granville next week, but up until now, Patriots fans and players have been spoiled with short trips.

Frankly, I’m jealous.

As for this week, there’s a full slate of interesting games on tap. The only fly in the ointment could be rain. Drought implications notwithstanding, go where you go and do what you do so we can keep the weather clear so we can get these games in.