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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.”