THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 20, 1995 TAG: 9508170221
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: [High School Football section:] Kickoff '95
SOURCE: Jeff Zeigler
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
When I was writing this column, it hardly seemed like the beginning of high school football season. Temperatures were still in the mid-90s and fall felt like a million miles away.
Even so, while you read this, three area teams will already have played their first game and the rest will open the season this Friday (Aug. 25).
It's tough in all of this heat and humidity to prognosticate about the upcoming season, but I will stick my neck out and do it anyway. Here are the predictions for the upcoming season for the six area teams covered by The Carolina Coast:
Camden County - Was last year's turnaround in Camden just a fluke, or are the Bruins now for real after getting a taste of winning? The Albemarle Conference coaches say that the Bruins are headed for a sixth-place finish in the seven-team league. Camden should have had a better record last year, losing three close games, and should have made the 1A playoffs. Although the Bruins have lost some key players, head coach Scott Jones seems to get the best of what he has. Prediction: Camden County will finish 6-5 overall, 3-3 in the conference, and slide into the fourth-place playoff spot.
Currituck County - The Knights are coming off a season they would just as soon like to forget. Currituck was 4-6 overall and won just one conference game. The Northeastern Conference coaches picked Currituck for fifth place but with many starters back from last year, the Knights have some experience to draw on. Prediction: The Knights will finish 5-5 overall and 2-3 in the conference, including an upset win over Manteo on the road. The record will not be good enough for the playoffs.
Edenton Holmes - The Aces will have experience but will be smaller than normal. Northeastern Conference coaches have picked Edenton for third place in the conference. I feel they could challenge for the top spot if everything falls into place. The Aces lost a few close games last year and with their experience could turn those types of losses into wins this year. Prediction: Edenton will finish 8-3 overall, including an upset win over Northeastern, and 3-2 in the conference.
Manteo - The Redskins had a dream season last year, winning the Northeastern Conference in Punk Daniels' last season as head coach. This year, the conference coaches have picked Manteo fourth in the six-team conference. But don't count out Manteo - they have several key starters coming back and new head coach Steve Basnight is familiar with them. Prediction: Manteo will finish 7-4 overall but three of those losses will come in conference play.
Northeastern - It will be a long year for the Eagles, particularly when they get to the Big East Conference portion of their schedule. The young squad will face many challenges all year. The ace in the hole Northeastern has is that head coach Eric McDaniels has a knack for getting the most out of his players. Prediction: The Eagles will finish 2-9 with lone wins over Perquimans and an upset win over Hertford County. Northeastern will not win a conference game and will lose its last seven games.
Perquimans - The Pirates are hard to figure. Last year's injury bug killed a team that had promise to challenge for the top spot in the Albemarle Conference. If Perquimans can stay healthy, it should reach at least one of the Albemarle Conference's four playoff spots. Prediction: The Pirates will go 7-4 overall and 4-2 in the conference. Perquimans will beat Camden the final week of the season to secure third place behind Williamston and Northampton East.
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by CNB