Rick Vanhoy’s career record as a high school head football coach was a not-so-impressive 17-35 at one point late last season, but the South Rowan coach never got discouraged or frustrated.

Now the Raiders are one of the hottest teams in the area, getting off to a 4-1 start and going 7-1 in regular-season contests dating back to last season.

Vanhoy’s Raiders were 1-7 heading into the final three games of 1999 and salvaged a 4-7 mark, a second-place Central Piedmont Conference finish and a state 4A playoff berth by defeating West Forsyth, R.J. Reynolds at Mount Tabor down the stretch.

Before those three games, the Raiders had gone 5-25 for 1997-99, but Vanhoy emphasizes that the turnaround really didn’t start last season.

“Our ‘98 season: We played teams tough. We just couldn’t catch breaks and we lost some close games,” said Vanhoy, referring to a 2-9 season.

“I think that was probably the turning point as much as last year was, because we’re sitting there with 32 kids. That’s difficult on a 4A level. But our kids never gave up. They kept working. They kept coming to winter workouts. They kept coming to summer workouts and just kept trying to make themselves better football players. I think that’s been the difference,” the South coach explained.

“I think last year our kids saw the light at the end of the tunnel, and our jayvee program turned around the last couple of years. Now those kids are varsity players. They have brought that winning attitude with them.”

Vanhoy’s first two seasons were winners: 6-5 marks in both 1995 and 1996. Then came 2-9 records the next two years and the 1-7 start last year.

Vanhoy, who had a lot of success in football as a player at East Rowan High and the University of North Carolina and as an assistant coach at Lee County High in Sanford, said he refused to get discouraged or frustrated.

“Frustration, no. I thought our kids were giving it all they had. If our kids had been quitters and hadn’t played hard and just kind of given up ... We went through some lean years. When I took the job, I knew there was going to be a couple of lean years. But our kids hung in there. Our kids are fighters. South Rowan kids have always fought hard and played hard. This year it’s just paying off for us,” he said.

Vanhoy takes a lot of pride in his players and his coaching staff.

“It’s a combination of great kids and a great coaching staff. Our coaches work tremendously hard. Those 12 guys that go out there every day and go work with those guys, they are the ones that have made us a better football team,” he said.

n

Last week’s high school prediction record of 10-5 lowered the season mark to 53-11 for a percentage of .828. This week’s choices:

Vanhoy’s Raiders fell to Northwest Cabarrus the past two years. South needs another solid performance to continue its momentum into the CPC race — South Rowan 31, Northwest Cabarrus 15.

North Rowan’s Cavaliers will match their productive passing game against a Salisbury defense that has played quite well at times. The Hornets have been especially tough against the pass, but haven’t faced a quarterback that throws as often as does Graham Hosch. Salisbury would like to knock off the Cavs for the first time in five years — North Rowan 28, Salisbury 18.

West Rowan, off to a fast start, has the second-best defense and second-best offense in the county. The Falcons are solid favorites against a struggling East Rowan — West Rowan 42, East Rowan 14.

Davie County, coming off an easy win over Salisbury, has a tough test when the War Eagles visit North Davidson. It should be close — North Davidson 21, Davie County 17.

Kannapolis A.L. Brown’s defense will need to contain talented Central Cabarrus running back Lamont Reid, but the Wonders don’t give up a lot of yardage on the ground — A.L. Brown 35, Central Cabarrus 10.

High Point Central, after being shutout by High Point Andrews last week, takes its frustration out on North Stanly — High Point Central 49, North Stanly 8.

Other picks:

Concord over Harding, Piedmont over Sun Valley, Ledford over Trinity, Lexington over East Davidson, Mooresville over Hickory, Albemarle over West Montgomery, West Forsyth over North Forsyth, HighPoint Andrews over R.J. Reynolds, and Mount Tabor over East Forsyth.

n

Ed Dupree is senior sports writer of the Post.