SAC / First Game Predictions

[BearFan1]

There is action by the NC Legislature that wants to force Charter Schools to play up at least one level due to there recruitment of athletes added to their "territory" sometimes being the entire State.
I am not against private schools such as Charlotte Catholic, Bishop McGuiness, etc that agree to play by the same rules as the regular public schools.

But the idea that Charter Schools are not the rage a segment of the political classes is accurate. Especially the way the legislature is approving and supporting the for profit charter schools.

At my core, I believe it is the duty of the state to provide ALL Students the opportunity for a equal quality education. That is not possible when the private for profit charter schools suck the money away from public schools, especial in more rural and smaller school districts.

And in answer to canadarican's question, last years 1A NC State Champion was the Mt Airy Granite Bears. We lost only 4 starters from last year and are rated Number 1 so far this year.
Our primary running back only scored 49 TD last year, two players commitmented to Virginia Tech, and at least 4 more True D1 Prospects and several more D2 prospects.

9 players have sub 4.6 40s with 4 4.5 or better.

[LRBearsfan]

BearFan1 what do they have in the water up around Mt. Airy and Pilot Mtn? It is crazy the number of good football players from East Surry and Mt. Airy the past few years. LR is getting a heck on an athlete in Jahreece Lynch from North Surry, I had a chance to see him play a lot of basketball- very strong/athletic.

[LegalRam]

Some of the public schools do a wee bit of that too....how the heck else did Independence stay so dominant for a decade ;)

Yeah, it's starting to get a little out of hand. Some parents/players have always tried to skirt the rules within the county (see the Independence Glory days) but now I am seeing players switching to whole different counties. Like I have seen a recent influx of transfers for kids to go to Reidsville. No disrespect to the city of Reidsville, but if it wasn't for football what adult would really want to uproot their family to move within Reidsville's school zone boundaries?

[LegalRam]

There is action by the NC Legislature that wants to force Charter Schools to play up at least one level due to there recruitment of athletes added to their "territory" sometimes being the entire State.
I am not against private schools such as Charlotte Catholic, Bishop McGuiness, etc that agree to play by the same rules as the regular public schools.

But the idea that Charter Schools are not the rage a segment of the political classes is accurate. Especially the way the legislature is approving and supporting the for profit charter schools.

At my core, I believe it is the duty of the state to provide ALL Students the opportunity for a equal quality education. That is not possible when the private for profit charter schools suck the money away from public schools, especial in more rural and smaller school districts.

And in answer to canadarican's question, last years 1A NC State Champion was the Mt Airy Granite Bears. We lost only 4 starters from last year and are rated Number 1 so far this year.
Our primary running back only scored 49 TD last year, two players commitmented to Virginia Tech, and at least 4 more True D1 Prospects and several more D2 prospects.

9 players have sub 4.6 40s with 4 4.5 or better.

They need to do something to level the field for these charter and private schools that are sports focused. I mean take Charlotte Catholic for example. They could recruit plus they also were able to cap enrollment which allowed them to rack up some titles at the 2A and 3A levels over the years. At least they have been put back in 4A to somewhat level the playing field (granted they have also won a 4A title I believe).

South Carolina is also facing a similar problem with the charter and private schools running through all the sports in the lower divisions. However, the SC high school coaches aren't taking it laying down and there are plans to forfeit some games this upcoming season to send a message. It sounds crazy, but at the point these charter and private schools are recruiting, capping enrollment, and winning the vast majority of state championships across all of 1A and 2A in SC so I don't blame these coaches and schools.

A couple of examples of why these SC charter and private schools should be playing on a higher level: In 2021 the eventual 2A State Champ Gray Collegiate (Charter School) only lost to the eventual 5A State Champs Gaffney by 3 points when they played earlier that season. In 2022 the eventual 2A runners up Oceanside Collegiate (Charter School) only lost by 1 point to eventual 4A state champs South Florence when they played earlier that season. I at least give some of these SC charter schools credit for scheduling tough out of conference games, but once conference play starts they are able to run through their conference and don't meet tough competition again until they have made it deep into the playoffs.

https://statelinesportsnetwork.net/2...harter-school/

[BearFan1]

Mt Airy and East Surry have been "blessed" the past several years with all home grown athletes. And the Lynch kid from North Surry (half Brother of current Mt Airy ALL State Runningback Tyler Mason who is committed to Virginia Tech) is the absolute real deal in both football and basketball. He will be the best basketball player at LR the minute he steps on the campus.

The Witt kid from East Surry (redshirted last year) should make a real difference for the Bears this year. And while Kelin Parsons is from just down the road West Stokes HS, what a talented and gifted player.

Mount Airy has 5 or 6 players that LR should be all over this year and over the next 2 years. I do not mean just players, I mean stars! But you can not get them if the recruiting does not start early.
I was talking with Virginia Tech Committed Dandy (Defensive End, 6'3" 235 with a 4.5 40) about LR two years ago and he was interested until the Power 5 teams started calling.

Our Little League Football Program really starts the building process and all the middle schools follow the high school programs.

And then you have to have the coaching staff. Mt Airy head coach (JK Adkins) is a State Champion Coach, as is his chief assistant (Kelly Holder 2008) who also was the head coach at Mt Airy for 19 years, and the defensive head coach has a record almost no one can match. The past two years, Mt Airy has allowed a total 5.4 points per game to be scored against us. It is really hard to lose a game when the other team can not score.

While a high school can only have 8 (I believe it is 8) paid coaches, Mt Airy has a staff of 15. And each and every one of them has a role and set of responsibilities. AND they do them like a well oiled machine.

But the REAL REASON that Mt Airy excels is because of the H&R Block Block of the Game Award that is given each week. I am told it is the most coveted and talked about award each week. The person that is responsible for the giving of this award (not making the selection) is surely a wonderful, thoughtful person with Lenoir Rhyne ties, I am pretty sure. LOL

[Eagle74]

In the NC college recruiting wars, schools such as Tarboro, Clinton, Whiteville, New Bern, Wilmington Hoggard, Richmond County, and Shelby always get a lot of attention. Same can be said for the larger Charlotte and Fayetteville area schools.
Lots of very good football talent all across North Carolina.

[canadarican]

In the NC college recruiting wars, schools such as Tarboro, Clinton, Whiteville, New Bern, Wilmington Hoggard, Richmond County, and Shelby always get a lot of attention. Same can be said for the larger Charlotte and Fayetteville area schools.
Lots of very good football talent all across North Carolina.

it is always interesting to see how it goes in waves. It's also hard to keep up with classifications now. And I've barely kept up with NCHS foot all since going to college.

Crest used to be very good year in and year out. When they would play Shelby it was always a goodie.

Newton Conover would be great one year and turd the next. Hickory used to be solid. Maiden and Bandys used to be really good almost every year. Hibriten too.

When I was in HS we were in the same league as AC Reynolds and Watauga. Both of them used to be solid.

Burke County football died when they went to 4 HS. I know East Burke has had 1 good season since they went from 4A to 2A. Draughn playoff run last year was more miracle than skill. And I still don't care one bit about the Patriots at Free-Dumb.

My sister lives in Bryson City. Swain used to be a 1A powerhouse but has slipped the past several years.

And that's not even getting to the Charlotte schools plus Richmond and Scotland Co. Richmond and Scotland used to be TOUGH.

[Eagle74]

You're correct, I meant to list it as Shelby -Crest / Shelby (both schools typically have some very good players)

[Eagle74]

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