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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.