Can you feel it? Can you smell the football in the air? Im ready.
Im ready to hear the rumble of High School Bands playing as I pull up into a parking lot. Im ready for chili in booths, long passes, excited student fan bases….fish fry and cookouts in the crisp autumn breeze on fall Friday nights.
Dont get me wrong, I love Summer. Its my favorite season of the year. But if there is one thing I look forward to in the Fall…its football, High School Football in particular.
This season, WSJS Sports Hub Triad will undertake massive coverage to bring the Piedmont Triad the best High School Football Coverage around. Each week, during the 2019 season, I will bring you MY top five. These are the top five High School Football teams in the Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point listening area for Sports Hub Triad. Polls will be revealed online at sportscarolinamonthly.com and every Saturday morning on The Rundown with Desmond Johnson. Lets go…..
- East Forsyth – Last season finish- 15-0, won NCHSAA 4A state title over Scotland County. The Eagles, fresh off of their 2nd State Championship in school history look primed to add another one. A large portion of last year’s state title team returns, led by Junior QB Ty Lyles, QB (2,254 yards passing, 25 touchdowns, 408 yards rushing, 2 touchdowns) and Senior RB Ahmani Marshall, (1,134 yards rushing, 20 touchdowns) . The coaching staff, led by Head Coach Todd Willert, returns as well. East Forsyth opens on the road, travelling to Asheville to take on AC Reynolds.
- Greensboro Dudley – Last season finish – 10-4, lost 3rd round of 3AA playoffs to SE Guilford. Head Coach Stephen Davis has another monster brewing in East Greensboro. Returning players in skill positions include Senior WR Michael Hyman and Senior QB Alston Hooker. On defense the Panthers have DL Payton Page, who finished his sophomore season with 80 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 10 sacks to earn N.C. Associated Press All-State honors last season. The Panthers averaged over 270 yards in the rushing game last season and will attempt to do the same in 2019. Dudley starts with a tough road game against West Forsyth in Clemmons.
- Reidsville – Last season finish – 16-0 won NCHSAA 2A state title over Elizabeth City. Reidsville won its 20th state title in 2018, cementing their nickname of Titletown in the state of NC. Junior QB Kyle Pinnix returns. Reidsville also has Junior WR/DB Breon Pass and you dont. Pass became the ultimate do-it-all guy for the undefeated 2A state champions last season, totaling 1,321 all-purpose yards as a receiver and returner with 15 touchdowns. He also made an impact on defensive with 32 tackles and seven interceptions. Reidsville opens the season with a matchup on the road vs High Point Central.
- Southeast Guilford – Last season finish – 14-2 lost NCHSAA 3AA state title game to Weddington. The Falcons came one win short of capturing a state title last year. On offense they will lean on Junior star RB Jalen Fairley, who rushed for 1133 yards in 2018, averaging a whopping 6.2 yards per carry. There were a lot of seniors on the 2018 team so it will interesting to see how the Falcons start 2019. The season begins with 2018 4A runner-up Scotland County.
- West Forsyth – Last season finish – 8-4 lost NCHSAA 4AA 1st round to Reagan. The Titans have a bad taste in their mouths. Their 2018 season ended with a loss to conference rival Reagan, a week after defeating the Raiders in the 2018 regular season finale. Titans head coach Adrian Snow has a potential state contender on his hands. West Forsyth is known for having a very solid run game annually and this year will be no exception with Senior OT Jared Wilson and Senior RB G’mone Wilson, who both hold multiple Division I offers between the two of them. West Forsyth hosts our 2nd ranked team Dudley to open the season in Clemmons.
Outside looking in – Greensboro Page, Grimsley, Parkland, SW Guilford.
Rankings will be updated each Wednesday of the 2019 HS football season. Catch the best games in the Triad on Sports Hub Triad every Friday night 7pm.
