Today: North Rowan.

At North Rowan High School, football coach Roger Secreast has been eyeing two basketball players for some time but they have avoided the gridiron.

Until this season, when both said, “Marc-us down, coach.”

That’s “Marcus” as in juniors Lawing and Reddick.

Both became household names in Spencer last basketball season when they led Kelly Everhart’s club all the way to the sectional finals. Now, they’ll try to help the football Cavaliers to a playoff spot that eluded them in 1998.

Lawing, a 6-1, 175-pound bruiser under the boards, can do a lot of things, according to Secreast, despite never playing prep football.

“I’ve been trying to get him out since the eighth grade,” said the ninth-year coach. “All of his buddies who play basketball got him to come out. He runs extremely well and has the potential to be a starter for us.”

Reddick, the long-range shooter, is going from hitting the basket to hitting opposing players. He played as a freshman and skipped last year. “He just missed it,” said Secreast.

And what does Everhart, an assistant under Secreast, have to say about two of his top hoops stars playing the rough-and-tumble game?

“I’m tickled to death,” he said. “It can only help Reddick become more physical.”

With a grin, he added of the already-physical Lawing, “I’ll probably be calming him down.”

Those two join hoops players (and quarterback) Mario Sturdivant and mercurial guard (and receiver) Dre Byrd, who are expected to team up as one of the best passing combinations around. BULLET

FREE BYRD: Speaking of that passing combination, Byrd, a junior, and Alphonso Miller, a sophomore, already look sharp. Both have grown.

The chisled 5-7 Byrd is up to 150 pounds and Miller is six-feet, 170. They combined for 63 catches last year, 45 by county-leader Byrd.

NO MOORE: Everhart coaches the kickers and rumor has it he is putting “Help Wanted” signs around the campus.

It appeared as of Monday that last year’s kicker, Daniel Moore, won’t be in charge of that chore this season. The college baseball prospect apparently isn’t coming out.

Everhart mentioned sophomore soccer star Kevin Rutherford as a possible replacement.

A TRANSFER OF POWER: If anyone will benefit from the usual dose of Rowan County transfers, it is North Rowan.

Among those who have come over from nearby Salisbury are senior Michael Blount and junior Chris Phillips.

Blount can be a backup quarterback, a running back or a safety. He has been impressive. (“He’s a large addition,” said Secreast).

Phillips is a pleasant surprise, according to Secreast, who likes his speed. “He is quite an athlete,” said the coach. “He is a nice kid to be around.”

ALL’S WELL WITH ATWELL: Another familiar face returning to North football is girls basketball and softball coach Gary Atwell. Why, after several years away from football, would be return?

“I can’t say no very well,” he chuckled. “I’ve got the time to do it again.”

“I’ve been trying to get him back” said a happy Secreast of his receivers coach.

STEELE CURTAIN: The curtain is coming down, at least this season, for the coaching of defensive guru Robert Steele.

The defense’s “Men of Steele” who were dubbed “The Hit Squad” last year, will have to perform without their long-time leader.

“Coach Steele has had some health problems and thought he needed a season off because he goes year-round in track,” Secreast explained. “Football is pretty taxing. We’ll miss him. You don’t replace people like him — not just because of his knowledge of football but his knowledge of kids.”

Chris Sifford, a North graduate, will take over as defensive coordinator.

YOUNG GUNS: Secreast started eight sophomores and three freshmen last season and will still be young. He has very few seniors.

“You have cycles like that at a small school,” he said. “We’ll be better this year because they know where to line up.”

FOOTBALL FORECAST: At this time of year, a coach is also a meteorologist. Secreast checks the heat index every day by calling a local radio station and plans practice around it. So what was the forecast Saturday?

“The index was above 93 so you better be in shorts, a t-shirt and no equipment,” he said. “And a shorter practice with low intensity.”

SCOTLAND’S YARD: North opens at Scotland County, a large 4A school from the powerful Southeastern 4A Conference that also boasts perennial champion Richmond College, er, County.

Secreast tried to schedule Richmond County but was too late. Had he been successful, North would have gotten $5,000 for the trip. At Scotland County, the school is being paid $4,000.

“That’s a lot of money for us,” Secreast said.

FRONT RUNNER: The only team in the Central Carolina Conference getting more ink this preseason is Gary Whitman’s High Point Central club, who returns a lot of talented players.

“We’re 1-1 against Central,” said Secreast. “We’re worried about beating North Stanly. We’re 0-2 against them.”

Last year’s loss to the Comets cemented North from the playoffs.

“That’s somewhat of a motivating factor to our kids,” he added. “They knew they should’ve gone but you get a little complacent sometimes.”

CAVALIER SPY: Maybe Secreast will have a spy who can get some of North Stanly’s secrets when he hosts the Comets Oct. 29. Cavalier player Jacques Taylor is the brother of new Comet coach Robert Harris.

SUPER MARIO: Saving the best for last, how about Sturdivant, the No. 1-ranked quarterback in the state by the N.C. Prep Football News?

Sturdivant, a 6-foot-4 college prospect, spent most of his summer either as a lifeguard or playing AAU basketball. He has gained just nine pounds and stands around 165. He is coming off a 2,184-yard passing season.