SPORTS
Let the Games Begin
Football? Professional hockey? Auto racing? Whatever your preference, chances are the Cape Fear region has your ticket.
10 Things to Know About High School Football
1. Cumberland County's 10 public senior high schools play under the direction of the N.C. High School Athletic Association based in Chapel Hill. All member schools play under the rules of football adopted by the National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations. The phone number for the NCHSAA is (919) 962-2345.
2. Nine of the 10 county schools are class 4-A, the largest classification in North Carolina. Classification is based on enrollment, and schools are realigned in conferences every four years. The only county school not in the 4-A classification is Gray's Creek, which competes at the 3-A level.
3. Four of the 10 schools will have new head coaches this year. Russell Stone takes over at Douglas Byrd, Bobby Bennett moves in at Cape Fear, Haney Catchings is the new coach at E.E. Smith and Milton Butts returns to Westover for his second tour as head coach there.
4. The county schools are experiencing a rare drought in qualifying for the state finals. In 2004, South View reached the 4-AA finals while Jack Britt made the 4-A finals. No school has made it that far in the state playoffs since. Prior to the past two seasons, Fayetteville and Cumberland County have gone longer than a year only once in reaching at least the Eastern finals. That was from 1978 to 1980. From 1981 to 2005, Fayetteville or Cumberland County had a team in the regional finals 25 times.
Who We Are
Contributed photo
Gene Wells How long have you lived in the area? Since 1982 How do you get involved in the community? The Cumberland County schools maintenance worker begins his 25th season following the Douglas Byrd High School Eagles this fall. "We moved into that area when I was in the military and first got to Fayetteville. The kids went to school there. One night, I went to a game and found out I liked it, and I've been going ever since." Tip: Games start Aug. 17. Game time is 7:30 on Friday nights. Tickets cost $6. |
5. In order to promote local rivalries and cut transportation costs, the Cumberland County schools have cross-scheduled with each other as much as possible this fall. Cape Fear, Pine Forest, Terry Sanford and South View are the only county teams that will play at least one nonconference game with a noncounty opponent.
6. Seventy-First's Bob Paroli begins his 50th season as a high school head football coach this fall. With the retirement of Jack Holley at Wallace-Rose Hill, Paroli is again the No. 1 active coach in the state in wins with a record of 361-169-11.
7. While Bob Paroli has the longest career of any active coach in the county, Randy Ledford of South View has been at the same school for the longest stretch. Ledford will begin his 15th season at South View this fall.
8. Gray's Creek will finally open its football schedule to Cumberland County schools other than Terry Sanford. In addition to a long awaited meeting with its natural rival, South View, the Bears will face Pine Forest, Terry Sanford and Cape Fear.
9. All Cumberland County high schools use metal detectors at home football games. Fans are encouraged to remove the following to avoid triggering the detectors: keys, change, metal-rimmed glasses, steel-toed shoes, oversized belt buckles, jewelry, foil in packages of cigarettes, chewing gum and chewing tobacco, chains, studded belts, beepers and cell phones.
10. For questions on eligibility, schedules, residency requirements and other related issues involving competing in athletics at any of the 10 Cumberland County schools, call Fred McDaniel, student activities director, at 678-2444.
Cumberland County high school football teams
Jack Britt
Conference: Mid-Southeastern 4-A
Coach: Richard Bailey
2006 record: 8-5
Douglas Byrd
Conference: Mid-Southeastern 4-A
Coach: Russell Stone
2006 record: 3-8
Cape Fear
Conference: Two Rivers 4-A
Coach: Bobby Bennett
2006 record: 2-9
Gray's Creek
Conference: Cape Fear Valley 3-A
Coach: David Lovette
2006 record: 9-3
Pine Forest
Conference: Two Rivers 4-A
Coach: Bill Sochovka
2006 record: 8-4
Terry Sanford
Conference: Two Rivers 4-A
Coach: Wayne Inman
2006 record: 10-3
Seventy-First
Conference: Mid-Southeastern 4-A
Coach: Bob Paroli
2006 record: 10-4
E.E. Smith
Conference: Two Rivers 4-A
Coach: Haney Catchings
2006 record: 4-8
South View
Conference: Two Rivers 4-A
Coach: Randy Ledford
2006 record: 9-3
Westover
Conference: Mid-Southeastern 4-A
Coach: Milton Butts
2006 record: 1-10
Updated: August, 2007