— by Jeff Jenkins
Following a close 20-14 Optimist Bowl victory over Northern Vance last Friday night, Southern Vance finished the 2017 football season with a 6-5 overall record — the Raiders’ first winning season since 2011 ! Although the Raiders’ 5-3 Northern Carolina 2A Conference record was not quite good enough for a playoff berth, first year head Darry Ragland and his team hope to carry some momentum into the offseason, with plans to rebuild around a crop of young players who will return without their senior leaders: QB Elijah Stewart, WR Kyree Ford, RB Tyrese Henderson, and wounded warrior Zamari Ellis, who missed the entire season with a foot injury.
Meanwhile over at Northern Vance, first year head coach Antwain Cook and his Vikings will remember the 2017 season as one of mostly disappointments, but with evidence of better things to come. Their offense, which had to completely regroup after Elijah Stewart and Kyree Ford transferred to Southern Vance, was shut out in 3 of their first 4 games, but improved over the last two-thirds of the season, scoring points against Warren County, Roanoke Rapids, and Bunn, and collecting their two wins against Louisburg (17-14) and Webb (33-13). Almost as sweet as another win, the Vikings led Southern Vance 14-0 at the half of last week’s Optimist Bowl, and the outcome was closer than most anyone predicted!
AND NOW the playoffs begin, with undisputed Northern Carolina 2A Conference champs South Granville (11-0) seeded #3 in the 2AA East, Bunn (8-3) at #8, and Roanoke Rapids at #13. Granville Central, only 5-6 overall, but the NCC’s 1A champs (via their win over Louisburg) is seeded #4 in the 1AA East and has a Bye this Friday, while all three 2A teams play their first round this Friday.
Check out this same spot on the Web next week for a report on which NCC teams survive the first round.