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"It's not how you start," Ragsdale coach Tommy Norwood bellowed to the 100 or so players gathered around him at the Tigers' first practice Friday evening, "it's how you finish!"

Here's some quick-hit updates on the Tigers. We'll check in with everyone throughout the next three weeks.

Ragsdale

Last season: 9-3, Mid-Piedmont 3-A champions, advanced to first round of playoffs

-Senior Tim Romer will assume the quarterback position from Matt Heavner, who earned second team All-Area honors last season after throwing for 1,470 yards and nine TDs. Romer, a pro-style quarterback, will likely split snaps with junior DeSean Anderson, who can run the option. The two had success with a similar arrangement at the JV level. Heavner, who's headed to Davidson on scholarship, was at Ragsdale on Friday and said he's hoping to play as early as next season for the Wildcats.
-Bad news: The Tigers lost four of their starting offensive linemen to graduation, including Ryan Kurzec, who's now at Western Carolina. Worse news: Norwood said that's the position with the steepest learning curve for new players. "There's just so much to learn," he said. "You have to react to so many things the defense can do." Good news: The one returning Tiger in the trenches is stud left guard Joey Finison, a 6-foot-4, 289-pound senior who has already committed to Duke.
-Charles Thomason appears to be in line for the bulk of the Tigers' carries early in the season. Thomason was called up to the varsity squad as a sophomore two years ago but transferred to High Point Central last season because of a family move. Norwood said Thomason would have started for the Tigers last year.
-Anderson and Casey Redfern will handle punting and placekicking duties again, respectively. Both should be strong spots.
-The Tigers return eight starters on defense, including six who will be juniors. Norwood saw that unit mature last season. "We started uncertain," he said, "and finished with some confidence."

Eastern Guilford

Last year: 5-7, 1-4 North State 2-A (4th place), advanced to first round of playoffs

-The Wildcats have made the postseason in each of head coach Scott Loosemore’s first two seasons, but it’s still been almost a decade since they had a winning season. This could be the team that breaks the streak. Eastern brings back eight offensive starters including senior quarterback Jason Davis, who gained more than 1,000 yards both rushing and passing in the Wildcats’ option attack last season. “He is definitely exactly what you’d be looking for in the offense we’re running,” Loosemore said. Senior tailback Gerrod Herbin, who ran for 14 touchdowns and almost 1,300 yards last season, also returns. “If we’re ever going to make some noise,” Loosemore said, “this would be the year.”
-The Wildcats return six defensive starters, including 215-pounder Richard Wilson, whom Loosemore called the strongest guy on the team. But they lack size, so Loosemore abandoned the eight-man front he’s used most of his career in favor of a 3-4 scheme. He got a crash course on the system from the coaching staff at Wofford, which has run it effectively for years. Wilson, who played inside linebacker last year, moves to the defensive line in the new system. “We do seem to be a whole lot faster than in years past,” Loosemore said.
-Taking Wilson’s place at linebacker is junior Cedrick Johnson, who was called up to the varsity squad as a freshman two seasons ago but missed all of last year for disciplinary reasons. Loosemore called Johnson “one of the best athletes at the school” and said he’s been a leader in workouts this summer.
-The Wildcats started last season 4-2 but lost five of their last six games, largely because of turnovers. “I think it was young players having a little lack of focus in the second half of the season,” Loosemore said. The coaching staff is hoping another year of maturity and an added emphasis on detail in practice will help the team maintain success. “Just like any coach, I don’t feel like there’s a game we can’t win,” Loosemore said. “But on the same note, if we don’t play well, we could lose every game, too.”

Southern Guilford

Last year: 9-4, 4-1 North State 2-A (2nd place), advanced to second round of playoffs

-Senior Darren Garcia will be the Storm’s quarterback. One problem: he has never played the position before this season. Garcia was an every-snap wide receiver and cornerback last year, finishing second in the state with 10 interceptions. But after Antonio Martin, Southern’s quarterback the last two seasons, got in some academic trouble and left the team, Storm coach Darryl Brown turned to Garcia after deciding none of his JV quarterbacks were ready. “We needed a guy who could move, who was a threat when the ball was in his hands,” said Brown of his team’s shotgun spread offense. “If we kept (Garcia) at wideout with no one to get him the ball, we felt like we’d waste him out there.” Garcia, who will still play cornerback but in a much more limited role, had no reservations about the switch. “He’s the kind of kid who’ll do anything to help the team,” Brown said.
-Garcia won’t be the only new student this season. The Storm lost seven starters on each side of the ball, including three linebackers and their entire defensive secondary. That hasn’t slowed them in practice yet. “We didn’t know how fast we could progress with our stuff,” Brown said. “But I don’t have any complaints with how things have gone.”
-Scotty Wayne, a 6-foot, 200-pound running back, committed to East Carolina this summer and should provide some stability on offense. He also plays strong safety and returns kicks. “Since he came in as a sophomore, we’ve asked more out of him than anyone,” Brown said. “And in return, I think it’s kind of made him a better player. He’s got a lot to kind of live up to now, but I think it does take some pressure off.”

Southeast Guilford

Last season 7-5, 4-2 in Mid-Piedmont 3-A (3rd place), advanced to first round of playoffs

-The Falcons, who won 10 games in 2005 and 2006, are coming off what head coach Fritz Hessenthaler called "a very disappointing year" in which they started 6-2 but lost two of their last three league contests and fell to Erwin Triton in their playoff opener. "It was a lack of leadership, injuries," Hessenthaler said, "and you've got to point some of the blame at me. If we aren't winning, there's nowhere for me to hide."
-The Falcons are thin across the board - they'll only have about 30 players this season - but they return five starters on each side of the ball. "In key spots, we're not young," Hessenthaler said. The linebacking corps and offensive line have the least experience coming back.
-Senior Terrence Topps is the frontrunner at quarterback after playing wide receiver, defensive back, punter and kicker last season. Topps gained the coaching staff's attention last season when he threw the ball impeccably on several fake punts. "God Almighty, the kid can throw," Hessenthaler said. Topps, who will still handle kicking duties for the Falcons, is sharing snaps with junior Kenyatta Robinson in camp. Hessenthaler said he's hoping to throw more this season.
-Returning running back Alex Harrison and wideout Tyrell Anderson should provide all the weapons needed for whoever wins the QB job.
-Brian Webb will move from outside linebacker to free safety, replacing the East Carolina-bound Justin Venable.
-James Pegues, a senior who was second team All-Area last season with 76 tackles and seven sacks, and Chris Nolan, who earned all-conference honors as a freshman last year, will anchor the defensive line, which should be one of the Falcons' strong spots. Hessenthaler said he'll turn them loose this season with less emphasis on reading block schemes and more attempts to pressure the quarterback. "You've got to tweak your system to fit the kids," he said.

High Point Central

Last season: 4-8, 2-3 in Metro 4-A (4th place), advanced to first round of playoffs

-The Bison only return three starters on offense, and they'll start sophomore Drew Adams at quarterback. But head coach Wayne Jones is hoping Adams is helped by the fact that two of those returners - Desmeion Kennedy and Terrance Isley - are three-year starters at wide receiver. "If (Adams) gets the ball in the area, they're going to have a chance to catch the ball," Jones said. The Bison will use a simpler playbook early in the season to help Adams make the transition. "He's got a pretty good arm," Jones said, "and he's a smart kid - I think he's No. 1 or 2 in his class. Hopefully, he'll make good decisions for us."
-Jones hopes a veteran defense will help protect his young offense. Andrews brings seven starters back, including its entire linebacking corps. That unit includes N.C. State-bound senior Ricky Dowdy, a second-team All-Area selection last season with 74 tackles and 12 sacks. It will also add junior Akeem Langham, who recorded 109 tackles as a safety last year, and James Morman, who makes the switch from defensive lineman.
-The Bison lost four games by a touchdown or less last season in Jones' first stint as coach. He's hoping for more consistency this time around. "Just like with players, you look at yourself, evaluate and try not to make the same mistakes," Jones said. "It is a little bit easier. It's nice to call a play and have the kids know what you want."

Northeast Guilford

Last season: 10-3, 5-1 Triad 3-A (2nd place), advanced to second round of playoffs

-Talk about a rough offseason. For an assortment of reasons, almost 10 players who were in line to start for the Rams this season are no longer with the program. Several are now at Northern Guilford under the new district lines. Several others moved out of state for family reasons. "You lose some like this every year," head coach Tommy Pursley said, "but this is definitely the worst I've seen in 30 years." The Rams have picked up a few transfers themselves who could jump into the starting lineup, including junior quarterback Demetrius Phillips, who transferred from Eastern Guilford in December. Still, depth will be much more of an issue for this team than Pursley thought it would be when last season ended. "We're going to have to have some luck," he said.
-Phillips has been a quick study in Northeast's triple option offense, Pursley said. "He's 6-foot, 175 pounds, very athletic, good kid, hard worker," he said. "He's really picking that up fast and getting a lot better."
-Phillips will get help in the backfield from junior tailback Rayshawn Trader, who ran for more than 1,000 yards at the JV level before a call-up to varsity for the final five games of the season. Trader, one of the state's best track athletes, was a key contributor in Northeast's victory over Dudley late last season. He'll try to replace Tyler Woods, who became the school's all-time leading rusher last season after recording 1,798 yards and 31 TDs. Halfback Darius White and fullback Trey Ingram should also contribute, and the Rams plan to start five seniors on the offensive line, including three returners.
-Ingram will also return as a starting linebacker and anchor a defense that Pursley called "small but quick. ... I'd rather be big and quick, but if I've got a preference, I'd rather be quick." Jon Reaser also returns at linebacker.
-The Rams lost three defensive lineman, including four-time all-conference selection Michael Via. But if given the choice, Pursley prefers having experience at linebacker and in the secondary. "That's where people can hurt you quicker," he said.
-Northeast ended up playing four games against state champions last season - Western Alamance, Reidsville and Dudley twice. The Rams beat Dudley by a point and also took down Page in their season opener. They'll play the same four teams again this year, and Pursley said those games "can make or break our year. ... For the last 15 years, I'd say the best football in North Carolina has been played in the Triad."
-Pursley, who has never had a losing season in 15 years as head coach at Northeast, will serve as interim athletics director after John Primm retires following the football season. Pursley, who held the position for 13 years at three other schools, said he'd consider retaining the role at Northeast but won't give up coaching. Currently, Guilford County Schools don't allow someone to hold both positions.

Northern Guilford

Last season: No varsity team (new school), 8-2 JV

-The Nighthawks join the varsity ranks in their second year of existence, a move designed to give more kids playing experience. They won't join a conference until next season, so their schedule is comprised mostly of private schools and the occasional public school with a date to fill. And they're still incredibly young, with no senior class at the school yet. "Nobody can drive. Everyone either rides a bicycle or their parents give them a ride," head coach Johnny Roscoe said. "Our 'veterans' will be sophomores who have never played a varsity game."
-There are two key exceptions to that caveat. Keenan Allen, who started at running back and receiver for Grimsley as a sophomore last season and was at Page the year before, has moved into Northern's district. So has Chris McCain, who was scheduled to start at middle linebacker for Page again as a junior this season. He joined Northern a week ago. Sophomore Maurice Harris, who was Northeast Guilford's presumptive starting quarterback after filling in some there last season, is also a Nighthawk now. He'll split snaps with sophomore Rocco Scarfone, who piloted the Nighthawks' JV team last season.
-Other key returners: linebackers Matt Farris and Austin and Alex Pauley, running back/safety Mohammed Khellar, linemen Eric Hayes, Bailey Dossett, Stephen Machanic and Zack Anderson and wideout Tyler Davis. Bob Hicks, who converted a 47-yard field goal last season, will handle kicking duties again. He'll also play tight end. "We're way behind on strength," Roscoe said. "People are going to be bigger than us, but so long as we're quick, I don't mind."

Western Guilford

Last season: 7-6, 3-3 in Triad 3-A (4th place), advanced to second round of playoffs

-The Hornets return almost the entire nucleus of their run-and-shoot spread offense, a system head coach Chris Causey became a disciple of while watching Steve Spurrier's Duke teams as a player at UNC. Second-team All-Area quarterback Cory McKenna is perhaps the most integral part, back after throwing for 2,372 yards and 13 TDs as a junior last season. "He's developed some touch," Causey said. "He used to want to throw every ball as hard as he could. But some throws need a little bit of touch, and he's learned to lead kids to the ball."
-McKenna will be flanked by returning wideouts Julius Hooks, Aaron Jones and Jabri Ridenhour, whom Causey said could each catch 30 balls this season. The Hornets also add senior receiver Will Owens, a transfer from Northwest Guilford. And they've got senior running back Brandon Easter, who amassed more than 1,600 all-purpose yards a year ago. "We're explosive," Causey said. "We have a chance to score on every play. You never feel like you're in a hole when you feel like you can get yardage in bunches."
-Jones, a 215-pounder, will also start at linebacker, where he'll attempt to fill the void left by UNC-Pembroke-bound Josh Pless. Senior Mustafa Stinson, who recovered seven fumbles a year ago, also returns as a three-year starter. Hooks and Easter will be the safety anchors of a secondary that will need to make up for a lack of size up front. "I've never coached a defense with this much speed," Causey said.
-Other players to watch: Senior offensive lineman Nick Folks, a captain in his first varsity season; freshman Brock Stadnyck, a 6-foot-2, 240-pounder who's in line to start alongside Folks; junior Brandon Shaw, who should see time at defensive back; and whoever replaces kicker Jonathan Blaha, a near automatic option the last three seasons.
-The Hornets find themselves in one the state's toughest conferences, with defending state champions Dudley and Western Alamance joined by perennial power Northeast Guilford. They lost to all three by a combined 85 points last season, more than the combined margin of victory in their seven wins. "It's a good thing (having a tough conference schedule) because when you go to the playoffs, you never feel overmatched," Causey said. "But we want to take the next step. It's wonderful to say you lost to two state champions, but we want to be in the mix. We want people talking about us in the same light. And we've got to earn that on the field."

Bishop McGuinness

Last season: 3-8, 1-7 Northwest 1-A (tied for 8th place)

-The Villains lost linebacker and leading tackler Buddy Lyons to graduation, but they return five three-year starters and have their deepest roster yet. Alex Mason returns as a two-way lineman, and 6-foot-8, 300-pounder Robbie Fitzgerald is also back.
-James Montgomery, who missed half of last season due to injury, Edward Kageorge and McKenzie Adams provide depth at the skill positions. The trio combined to score more than 20 touchdowns a year ago.
-Also watch quarterback Josh Rathburn, who scored 15 all-purpose touchdowns at the JV level last year.

Reidsville

Last season: 16-0, 5-0 North State 2-A (first place), 2-AA state champions

-The Rams were barely threatened last year in rolling to their 16th state championship and third in the last six years. The average score of their games was 48-12, and only twice did their opponents come within three touchdowns. As you can imagine, spring has now become a been-there-done-that time around the Rams' practice field. “I’ve been doing it so long,” head coach Jimmy Teague said, “it’s really not much different. You don’t want them to forget what happened ... but as far as preparation goes, we don't approach it any differently.”
-The Rams have a huge hole to fill with the graduation of running back Tayon Graves, who rushed for 2,173 yards and 45 TDs his senior year and 5,471 yards for his school-record career. Teague knows he probably won’t get that output again, but he thinks the duo of E.J. Foster and Aaron Easton should be good enough to keep the ball moving. Teague also said his team will do more passing this season and will look for different entries to the run, like through the quarterback and slot receiver. “We’ll have to be more balanced,” he said.
-Reidsville also lost leading wide receiver Kerry Hammock and tight end Mike Brown, who averaged almost 30 yards a catch, but the Rams do return one integral part of their offense: Three-year starting quarterback Ray Ray Butchee, who rolled up more than 2,000 yards passing, 800 yards rushing and 40 all-purpose touchdowns last year. “The thing he did best was become a leader,” Teague said of the state championship game MVP. “And he’s truly the leader of the offense this year.”
-Also returning as starters: Wide receiver Niko McGirt, who averaged 25.7 yards a catch, and two-way lineman Jazz Totten. Foster will once again play linebacker, where he recorded 108 tackles and 3.5 sacks last season.
-One more nice thing about winning big: The Rams were able to get their younger players ample playing time during blowouts last year. That's helped put them farther ahead going into this season.

Page

Last season: 7-5, 5-0 Metro 4-A (1st place), advanced to first round of playoffs

-The Pirates knocked off then-unbeaten rival Grimsley by a point en route to their first conference crown in years last season, but don't try telling head coach Kevin Gillespie that the season was a success. The Pirates' four regular-season losses each came by eight points or less, and their season ended with a 54-7 loss to Charlotte Independence in the first round of the playoffs. "We had success, but we weren't as successful as we wanted," Gillespie said. "They're starting to understand how we want it done. It's a slow process, but we're getting there."
-That Independence drubbing is still fresh on the Pirates' minds, as you can imagine. After a Page fumble deep in enemy territory defused an early drive, Gillespie said he could see the wind disappear from the sails of his players, most of whom had never played in a game of such significance. "The focus had better be there after that," Gillespie said.
-Senior quarterback Will Newman returns, a first-team All-Area selection last season after passing for 1,400 yards and 18 TDs and rushing for 720 yards and eight TDs. Chris Jasperse, Juan Miranda and John Spain all return as starters on the offensive line. Senior Brad Workinger will move from tight end to wide receiver. Projected starting running back Lenny Gordon has been nursing a sore hamstring this summer, one of a rash of bumps and bruises hobbling the Pirates. "I hope we're getting it all out of our system now," Gillespie said.
-The Pirates should be a force on defense, with five sophomore starters returning from last year's team that held five opponents to 14 points or fewer. Linebackers Demarcus Ferguson and Chris King were already going to be difficult to replace, and the unexpected transfer of junior Chris McCain to Northern Guilford last week didn't make things any easier. But Chris Knight, an honorable mention All-Area choice last year, still remains, and he'll get help from Chase Johnson, Josh Black and Deandre Leach. They'll have veteran help on the line from Gabe King and Tony Rustin and in the secondary from T.J. Todd and Alonzo Campbell. "We've got a pretty good nucleus on both sides of the ball," Gillespie said. "That helps."
-More Gillespie sound bytes: "These kids act like they want to be here. It's not a chore. ... We're hard hat and lunch pail. We roll up our sleeves and go to work."

Dudley

Last season: 13-3, 4-2 Triad 3-A (3rd place), 3-A state champions

-Dudley sent six players from last year’s team to play in college, but you’d never know it to look over the roster. The Panthers bring back their entire “Four Horsemen” defensive line - Darius Hall, Kelton Shepherd and three-year starters Josh Jones and Chris Neal - and they’ll be joined by linebackers Major Bryant and Tevin Williams for what Davis says could be a better unit than the one that allowed 148 points in 16 games last season. “It could be the best front seven I’ve had since I started coaching, period,” Davis said.
-Senior quarterback Ricky Lewis Jr. returns, too, a year after he threw 17 touchdowns without an interception. Lewis, a running back his freshman year, moved to quarterback when the Panthers adopted the zone read offense perfected by West Virginia and Appalachian State. “You don’t have to be a great runner. You don’t have to be a great passer. You just have to be smart enough to make the read,” Davis said. “I would have been the first to say he wasn’t a great passer, but he doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.”
-Four-fifths of the offensive line is back as well, in the form of Jones, Shepherd, Tavorus Standback and Cameron Ingram. Junior Stephen McCain rounds out a group that should open plenty of holes for new starting running back Fred Overby, a senior.

The junior quarterback/receiver/cornerback/punter suffered a concussion Friday after being hit during a scrimmage at Eastern Guilford.
"I had a massive headache, couldn't see straight," said Anderson, who was at practice Tuesday afternoon in street clothes and a wide smile.
Anderson, who has had two negative CT scans and is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Wednesday, will likely miss half the season and said it's possible he might not play at all this year. The injury deprives the Tigers, one of the favorites in the Mid-Piedmont 3-A, of perhaps their most versatile weapon. Anderson was scheduled to take about 20 percent of Ragsdale's snaps at quarterback, providing a mobile threat to complement pro-style senior Tim Romer.
It’s Anderson's second such injury in six months — the first came during baseball season, when he ran face-first into the center-field fence while trying to make a catch.
This injury wasn't as bad as his first one, and perhaps he's learned some things about recovery since then. In his first game back from his first concussion, Anderson took a called third strike and hit himself on the helmet with his bat. He had to sit out another week.

Rockingham County

LAST SEASON: 4-7, 2-5 Triad 3-A (6th place).

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: The Cougars have more than 90 players in their program this year, by far the most in head coach Lin Stadler’s seven seasons. It’s the culmination of efforts by Stadler and others to get youth football off the ground in the area. “We’re just starting to reap the benefits of the investment of a lot of people in the community,” Stadler said.
BACK IN FORCE: The Cougars return eight defensive starters: lineman Jacob Dickerson, cornerback Elijah Russell, safeties Eric Kennedy and Clay Reed, and linebackers Nick Key, Lance Hall, Sage Lawson and Shakel Gant. They’ll be under the direction of new defensive coordinator Mike Gebbia, who came from Trinity.
ON OFFENSE: Jake Wall will handle most of the quarterbacking, and he’ll be flanked by returning receivers Lance Hall and Travis Long. Long, who missed almost all of last season with a torn meniscus, has been clocked near 4.3 in the 40.
SEEKING ANSWERS: The Cougars missed out on the playoffs lsast year despite having four players go on to college scholarsips. “I really searched my soul,” Stadler said. “When you feel like your opponents outworked you and wanted it more, that’s kind of humiliating. So I arrived at the conclusion that maybe we were being too easy on the kids, we were letting them get spoiled, not having them set goals, not expecting enough. So I really put the screws on them. Anyone who doesn’t want to do what we want to do is not with the program anymore.”

Morehead

LAST SEASON: 5-7, 2-4 Triad 3-A (5th place), advanced to first round of playoffs.

OPENING IT UP: New head coach Jason Smart brings a no-huddle shotgun spread to his alma mater. “We’ve got athletes,” said Smart, the 2006 North State 2-A coach of the year while at McMichael. “We can get them the ball in open space and cause some damage.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Quarterback/defensive back Joe Glasgow, linebacker/offensive lineman Matthew McFatter and running back/wideout/linebacker Dante Perkins and Tyson Scales. Also watch sophomore quarterback/defensive back Jawaan Winfield, whom Smart says has “huge upside.”
GAME TO WATCH: The Panthers host McMichael in their third game of the year, the school Smart spent the last seven years at. He never beat Morehead while with the Phoenix, and now he’ll be coaching against many of the same staff he worked with there. “As a coach, you’ve kind of got blinders on,” Smart said. “But yeah, it will be weird.”

Northwest Guilford

LAST SEASON: 3-8, 1-4 Metro 4-A

HOW YOUNG WERE THEY? The Vikings were so young last season, now-second-year head coach Joe Woodruff said, "I didn't know whether to bring diapers to practice sometimes." They're reaping the benefits, with nine starters back on offense and eight more on defense. Running backs Chris Kennedy and Sean Ples, who combined for more than 1,700 yards last season, will run behind an offensive line that's intact from last season. That should help take some of the heat off the new quarterback tandem of senior Dan Bernard and junior Mclean Godley.

WELCOME BACK: Seniors Spencer Thompson, Chase Hoke and Carlo Gagliardo return as anchors on the secondary. Classmates Adam Scot and David Harrison will return as a defensive lineman and outside linebacker, respectively. Woodruff will blitz more and has shuffled some of his personnel to put more speed on defense, where the Vikings will see a spread offense most weeks.

BETTER LUCK THIS YEAR: Northwest might have set a state record for heartache last season. The Vikings lost their opener to Southwest Guilford despite having the ball on the half-yard line down five with under a minute left. The next week, they lost to Western Guilford after fumbling the ball away six times. They lost late in the season to High Point Central when the Bison scored on the game's final play, then made a two-point conversion to win by one.

Smith

LAST SEASON: 0-11, 0-5 Metro 4-A (6th place)

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: There's nowhere to go but up for the Golden Eagles, who have lost 21 straight games. There's a new energy around the program with first-year head coach Rodney Brewington, in everything from the new weight room installed last year to the new equipment donated by private sponsors to the 40-foot eagle that adorns midfield at the school's stadium. "The kids were ready for the direction," Brewington said.

QB TALK: Quarterback Jabril Davis will be the focal point of Brewington's Wing-T offense, which will use plenty of misdirection in the backfield. Davis has already emerged as an emotional leader of the team. "When in doubt, put your best athlete at quarterback," Brewington said. He'll get protection from senior linemen DeMaris Bowe and Shaun Neal and will have a big target in all-conference tight end Brandon Carrington, who also plays defensive end. Nick Burns should see most of the carries at running back.

YOUNG BUT STRONG: The anchor of the Eagles' defense could end up being their all-underclassmen linebacking corps. Freshman Marlon Hughes, who can already deadlift 400 pounds, will play in the middle, with sophomores Duke McCoy and Antoine Nevious to either side. "They're as good as any linebackers you can have," Brewington said. "They're growing up quick." Hughes, who will also see time at tailback, offers a big smile but few words. "I like to hit," he said.

Couple big upsets tonight (Western Alamance, we hardly knew ye!) and a lot of one-sided games. Some quick thoughts before I swan dive into bed:

-Eastern Guilford took a big step forward tonight by knocking off Southeast. The Wildcats are going to be able to score points in bunches with Jason Davis and Gerrod Herbin, so you can never really rule them out of a game. Even money they beat Northeast next week.

-I watched the Rams get handled by Page tonight in their opener. Northeast is clearly young and it showed, but they're talented and they'll still win their share of games with running backs like Reyshawn Trader and a defense that's got some playmakers.

-The Pirates? Wow. I know Grimsley's looked good two weeks in a row, but I'd have to take Page as Metro 4-A favorites right now. Their defense looked darn near unbeatable for most of tonight, and Will Newman is about as good a quarterback as you're going to see at the high school level. Some very nice playcalling tonight, as well.

-Just got off the phone with Northwest coach Joe Woodruff, whose team beat Western 14-13 tonight despite 17 penalties. That was a huge concern for Woodruff, who said he went on a "galactic meltdown on them at halftime." Still, big accomplishment for Northwest, which is 2-0 for the first time since 2001, the last season it beat Western. The Vikings are on the road next week at Ragsdale, which also needed a little luck to stay undefeated tonight. Woodruff said he'll be up at 4 a.m. to start planning. "That's why God created energy drinks," he said.

-Big, big win for Dudley tonight rallying past Richmond County. A road win against a perennial power like that at this point of the season should be all the proof anyone needs that this team can contend for the state title again.

-Two other Grimsley players who impressed me but didn't get mentioned in Friday's story: Linebacker Andre Oliver, a big hitter who moves exceptionally well for his size, and kicker Joe Rossabi, a first-year soccer convert who's 12-for-12 on extra points and deserves some love after I misspelled his name in the paper.